Playing with rush

My Sister in Law recently went on a Basket Making and Rush weaving course and she bought back some supplies. We spent some of last week down on the South coast with her so we got the opportunity to learn something new. The Rush got a good soaking in the Bath to make it pliable - which did look quite amusingly strange. We whiled away many hours of one evening weaving and wrapping.

My Husband made a Teacup and my Sister in Law a beautiful bowl. The boy was all about measuring and being precise and worked very neatly as my Sister in Law taught us the ropes. They both used traditional methods of weaving and the results are beautiful.

 I, on the other hand, couldn't work within constraints of instructions! I just had to do my own thing...

I went with wrapping the Rush into a Rustic heart - it took a surprising amount of Rush to complete the heart, but I'm really pleased with it, even if tradition Rush weavers would shudder in horror at my attempt! It was really nice using a natural product to make something and it was amazing how it could be manipulated and worked. I can't wait for the Rush to turn a warm Barley colour and when it's fully dried I am going to hang it in our home. It was a mighty fine way to spend an evening and I am glad that my Sister in Law shared her new found skill.