Tom Hare and Greenwood Days

Tom is a willow sculptor based north of London, England in the Midlands. I have been a huge fan since my first visit to England, when I went to Wakehurst Place with John Waller, who was was teaching a course. Wakehurst is a house and botanic gardens owned by the National Trust but managed by Kew-Royal Botanic Gardens. Wakehurst is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank. The largest wild plant seed bank in the world. Tom Hare has installed a series of willow sculptures along a walking path across from the seed bank depicting all manner of seeds and seed pods.

Check out this link:
 http://blog.tomhare.net/post/44776306812/uk-native-seed-hub-at-wakehurst-place

I was in awe of his work the first time I laid eyes on it. Still am. I honestly think I might be Toms biggest fan... I emailed him when I returned home to VT after that first trip and received a kind, encouraging reply to keep pursuing my dreams to be a willow weaver - sculptor- artist- basket maker- craft person. I have followed Tom's blog and sent occasional emails along the way to ask questions or applaud one of his new sculptures. When my trip last fall was confirmed I wrote asking if he might be teaching a course during the time I'd be in England. The answer back was yes! Tom has developed a very unique method of weaving willow sculptures, and I was so excited that I was going to learn it from the master!

So. In early October 2016 I boarded a train in West Malling headed for Derby. I traveled by way of St Pancras International Train Station-- train travel is always a fascinating experience for me. I love train station architecture. St Pancras is HUGE! And there were people playing grand pianos as I walked from one platform to the next--that was cool! My Airbnb host Laura collected me from the station in Derby. My room at Laura's was truely wonderful plus she cooked me breakfasts and dinners but my favorite part, was the hours and hours we spent talking. Talking and eating. Talking and drinking coffee. Talking and tea.

Tom's course was being run at Greenwood Days where courses are run in a beautiful woodland location--under large canvas covered lean-tos. Peter Wood is the guy in charge there, and he was running a pole lathe course at the same time, so there were lots of us bustling about each day.

Peter's pole lathe class -- our lean-to across the way was just the same.

giant teakettles, giant pot, giant spoon

Peter cooks--check out that spoon!

My delightful classmates -- (L-R) Angie, Ann & Julia

Lunch provided every day-a hearty soup and bread

I'm getting started...

Tom and Angie

Julia

Ann

I'm half way there!

Me. In heaven. Weaving away.

Eventually, my piece was finished and shipped on home to me in Vermont. The UPS guy said it was the most unique package he had ever delivered!

And now, it is hanging in an old windswept appletree on a farm in Woodstock, Vermont!

LandART Lab at the King Farm, Woodstock, Vermont

I'm leaving you with links to Toms website:
http://www.tomhare.net/

And
Greenwood Days website:
http://www.greenwooddays.co.uk/

Please check them out!
until net time-
susie