Tag Archives: oak

Swill basket making course

Swill basket makingIn today’s internet world it’s a treat to find a craft that’s particular to one region and still being carried out in the same way as it has been for hundreds of years. Last week I had the chance to learn some of the skills of a traditional Cumbrian craft for myself. Continue reading

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Oak Garden Bench

In Cumbria there’s a long tradition of harvesting oak bark for tanning leather and last spring I took part in a group day with the local Coppice Association to harvest bark from Moss & Height’s Spring Wood. The bark is … Continue reading

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Willow chair seating

I wanted to learn how to weave the willow seat that I had found on the chairs made by David Drew. They had aged beautifully during their time in the Castle Drogo cafe and worn extremely well so I knew … Continue reading

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Pickled oak chair

So me and my Castle Drogo chair (the only furniture I owned at the time) moved to Cumbria. In time I decided that I would make this one-slat chair part of  my new range of handmade green wood chairs. It … Continue reading

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Rescuing the Castle Drogo chairs

In 2008, a visit to a cafe set in motion a series of connections leading to my newest chair design. I was at Castle Drogo, a National Trust property in Devon where I was living at the time. After a fairly … Continue reading

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Cleaving oak for signs

Yesterday I was planting oaks on a farm just north of Kendal and today Charlie Whinney & I were working with mature oaks making some new signage for the Halecat garden nursery which opens soon. To give a strong, organic … Continue reading

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