Wayside Willow
Chaz Friend
Whole Day Willow Craft Courses
2025
Short Willow Craft Courses
2025
Garden Obelisk Day course (£90)
April 12th 10:00 - 3:00 @ Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton CV11 4ED
This course is suitable for beginners.
Make a robust 6 ft obelisk ( you can make them smaller if you want) . Then you can choose to repeat that and make a second or move on to learning how to create willow weaved decorations to adorn and enhance them as a feature in your garden. (small flowers or leaves or fish etc) Alternatively you can build on the morning’s learning by repeating making a second obelisk and further develop your skills and understanding of the technique.
NB - when making your obelisk, bear in mind the capacity of your vehicle when you set the size!
Together for Change is a charity , in partnership with a collection of Nuneaton Churches and Christian Organisations who are passionate about bringing community transformation to the heart of Nuneaton. They run the Saints project and cafe.
Bird Feeder Course (£45)
Saturday 8th March 10:00 - 12:30 @ Saints Community cafe, Newdegate St, Nuneaton CV11 4ED
In this willow weaving bird-feeder Course, you will use a jig to create a spirally woven bird feeder for holding fat balls in the garden. This type of feeder works particularly well for the small birds. These can also be used for supplying nesting materials for birds in the early spring when birds are nest building. (its a great way of making use of some of that excessive dog hair) Alternatively, these bird feeders can be used as kitchen containers for items such as garlic or small oranges, looking particularly attractive on the kitchen wall. (Often for kitchen use, they will be scaled down a little.)
This course is suitable for absolute beginners as well as those with some experience of willow weaving. You may find it challenging if you have issues with your fingers (eg arthritis.
The Venue: Saints nuneaton
Course Description:
Here are descriptions of my courses, but to book, you need to go here to my shop, where you will find more images and the point of sale.
Small Shoulder Bag Course (£85)
SaturdayJune 13th 2025 9:30-3:30 @ Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton. CV114ED
This course is suited to beginners as well as those who wish to develop further their willow weaving techniques.
In this willow weaving basket making course you will use a small pre-made hoop to weave into, to create a base, and add in the stakes, before adjusting the side stake angle to create the desired aperture for the mouth of the basket. You will use several weaving techniques to weave the side and then add the D ring into the weave to attach the strap ( which is provided), prior to closing the border.
You will have a choice of varieties of willow to use in order to create your own personal and uniquely crafted shoulder bag.
Spring Swallows (£45)
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Saturday May 10th 2025 10:00 - 12:30 pm @ Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton CV114ED
In this course you will create these elegant swallows in flight. They are always such a delight so see in the sky as they migrate to our shores with a promise of better weather to come. You will use a jig to size and shape the wings and then match an appropriate body size to go with them, creating your own demand before completing with a figure of eight weave. Finally you will attach wings and body together before moving on to your next bird. I would anticipate that you will make 2 or even 3 of these birds in the time we have.
You will have different varieties of basket grade willow to choose from, so you can make each one unique or matching.
Click on the big green button below to access more information about these in-person courses and book a place.
Willow Weaved Sculptural Wall Flower Course £85
August 16th 2025: 10:00 - 3:00.
Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton. CV114ED
This course is suitable for beginners, and especially those wishing to explore basketry techniques later on. To make these large and impressive sculptures for walls or fences inside or outside, you will create a “slath” in which to weave to create the head of the flower. This is the same as you would do to make a basket base, so you will be developing some useful basket making skills.
Once the head is made, petals are added and there is a choice of styles that can be applied. A plaiting technique is used to create the stem, before using the figure of 8 weave to make the leaves.
This course pulls many key willow weaving techniques onto one compact space. Such a good experience to develop your willow weaving techniques.
Willow Dragonfly Course
Saturday July 11th 2025 10:00 - 12:00 pm @ Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton CV114ED
This course is suitable for beginners, but is not recommended for those who experience regular pain in their fingers or hands.
Learn to make, and take home with you, a willow dragonfly, made with several different colours of willow. You will make the body and the wings separately, before combining them and weaving detail into the wings to finish this popular garden sculpture. This dragonfly can be attached to fences, walls or trees or suspended to enhance your garden, courtyard, or an interior space. These can last many years in the garden, especially if coated with a wood oil once fully dry.
Online Courses:
I also have some online courses through Udemy.
Buy once - access anytime. these courses are mainly short videos that take you through all the stages you need to to make these willow items and acquire these skills. There are numerous variations and tips for teaching others in some of this content.
1/ Beginning with willow:
Learn to make a number of simple items from willow. A great place to start for anyone keen to discover willow weaving. (Tips for teaching to groups ( children, scouts etc)
2/ Living Willow:
Learn how to install and maintain living willow structures. (Domes, tunnels and arbours)
3/ Garden Obelisks and plant cages.
Learn the craft - tame the garden. Great skill acquisition for the seasoned gardener.
Swedish stars £45 Course:22/11/25 10:00 - 12:30
Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton. CV114ED
In this course you will learn how to make the Swedish star that has become very popular on social media over the last couple of years. This is a 60cm wide star that will make a fabulous focus on a prominent wall, or in a large window. The star can be displayed inside or out and is particularly partial to a generous covering of fairy lights, especially when positioned outside.
All materials and tools will be provided, along with some seasonal refreshments.
Sculptural Hare Course £90
13/09/25. 09:30 - 3:00 @Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton. CV11 4ED
In this course you will make a hare by forming hoops and building willow around them to create a ridged scaffold structure. As the central structure is established, you will be able to direct the willow to create the body shape. When the legs are added your hare will be self supporting. The ears frames are embedded tightly into the head, before being filled with a cross cross lattice style weave.
Your hare is now ready to take up its post either in your house or garden. If outside, once dry, its longevity can be extended by coating in a good wood oil.
This course is suitable for beginners as well as those seeking to develop their willow weaving skills.
Berry Basket Course £90
09:30 - 3:00 @Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton. CV11 4ED
This willow weaving basketry course offers the perfect introduction to basket making and is suitable for complete beginners. You will make a small basket ideal for collecting small items harvested from the garden or foraged from the woodlands or hedgerow.
The basket is around 6 inches at the base and some 4-5 inches high.
You begin by making a slath ( a star like frame) and into this you weave the base of the basket. Sticks are inserted into this structure to be brought up to form the side frame of the basket ( often called a cage) Thix is then woven into your firm the sides. A simple border is brought down before a handle bow id inserted and the handle id wrapped.
Many key basketry skills are covered in the making of this basket. There will be a number of willow varieties available for you to chose from to make your basket uniquely yours.
Christmas Items Willow Weaving Course. Saturday December 6th 2025 10:00-3:00 @ Saints, Newdegate St, Nuneaton. CV114ED
On this popular Christmas Willow Weaving course you will make a large 60cm high angel (or a smaller one if you prefer) during the morning. In the afternoon you will learn how to make reindeer and Christmas trees. As soon as you have learned these items your time can be allocated to working on those items that you most wish to invest your time in.
( There are also other regular items that I make for Christmas that I can show you on an individual basis during the course of the day when I am not addressing the rest of the group - simple stars, spiral decorations etc)
All materials and tools will be provided, but bring a big bag to take away your treasures.
You can bring your own lunch, but food can be purchased from Saints.
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