Monday 7 October 2013
PRESS RELEASE
Museum Course Weaves its Magic
Saturday 9 November, 2013, 10am - 4pm

Winter arts and crafts courses launched at Museum
 Sign up quickly for popular workshop
Black Country Living Museum is hoping visitors will put all their eggs in one
basket and will make a scramble for its highly popular Beginners’ Willow Basket
Weaving Course, which takes place on Saturday 9 November from 10am to 4pm.
Back by popular demand, the one day workshop, which sold out in record time
when it first launched in May, encourages people from a variety of backgrounds
to branch out and unlock their creativity.
Expert tutors Kalvern and Helen Stanley will guide participants step-by-step
through each stage of the process and, using traditional techniques, will help
them create a finished round basket to take home.
Helen Stanley, said: "We have twenty years’ experience in the craft, are
members of the Basketmakers’ Guild and run our own company Twig Twisters
and Basket Cases. We enjoy nothing more than passing on our knowledge to
others. The willow is organically grown and is soaked for a week before it can be
used for weaving. It is a British tradition, we use British materials, it is British
made and uses British techniques."
Willow has a highly versatile history. Before the advent of plastics, willow was
widely used to make a variety of containers, from general basketry to specialised
applications such as lobster pots and bee hives. Healing infusions also used to
be made from the bark as a remedy for cold and fevers and to treat inflammatory
conditions such as rheumatism. Young willow twigs were also chewed to relieve
pain.
Mel Weatherley, Head of Learning at Black Country Living Museum, said: "This
course has been designed with the absolute beginner in mind. It offers something
truly different and is an opportunity to learn one of the country's oldest and most
creative crafting traditions."
There are 8 places available and courses cost £45 per person and are prebook
only. Please contact the Museum's Booking Office on on 0121 520 8054 or book
online at www.bclm.com
-EndsPhoto Opportunities
Museum demonstrator with willow weaved basket.
Note to Editors:
About the Museum
Established in 1978, Black Country Living Museum is one of the UK’s leading
open-air museums. Designated by Arts Council England for the quality and
national significance of its collections, it is a remarkable place to explore, enjoy
and spend time. Set in 26 acres with over 150 historic buildings and features,
and attracting c250,000 visitors each year and almost 8m people since it first
opened, it offers a glimpse into 200 years of history like no other. The Museum
(a registered educational charity) records and exemplifies the contribution and
impact of the Black Country region since the 18th century to the development of
the modern industrialized world. Black Country folk changed the world, and the
Museum tells the story of a very special time and place in history and some of
the most hard-working, ingenious and influential people you could imagine. It
offers a visitor experience that few others can match. www.bclm.com
For further information please contact:
Fiona Carding, Public Relations Assistant, Tel: 0121 521 5692 Mobile: 07901
575995 Fiona.carding@bclm.com