Redstone Willows News
Snow halts harvesting!
After three days with snow, we've had to temporarily abandon the willow harvest. It's not that we mind working in the snow but we can't cut low enough because of the snow! Can't waste the lovely willow!
St Johns Primary, Sandbach Heath Eco Day!
A fabulous day out for your family and it's free too!
St John's Eco Day Poster, downloadable pdf
'Farmer John' Photographs
Farmer John and his farmyard friends as installed at the Farmer John Pub, Streetley
Seasons Greetings
Redstone Reindeer welcomes visitors to Rode Hall
Visitors to Rode Hall for 'Glimpses of Christmas Past', will be welcomed by the Reindeer created by Simon Redstone. The Reindeer is shown below, both on our site and with Simon Redstone at Rode Hall.
We really enjoyed the research for this sculpture and visited Tarvin Sands Reindeer Centre and Fishery to get to know the Reindeer up close! Below is Paul with one of the Reindeer:
Mayfield Primary create a Dinosaur with Redstone Centre and Redstone Willows!
Children from year 4 created the willow dinosaur in their Lytham St Annes school as a part of the creative curriculum. They studied Dinosaurs, all designed one and then worked together to create the 'baby' dino in their school grounds. During the process they learned about the history and process of coppice willow, the seasons and also touched on some engneering principles, pliant and resistant materials. The photograph below shows the dinosaur after the children's school day finished. Parents then came in force to help with this manouth task and more than15 parents and their children worked on the dinosaur until lack of light stopped play!
The children will be chosing a name for the dinosaur who will be keeing a watch over the children through the school windows!
Simon Redstone, Redstone Centre, with the dinosaur.
Christine Redstone on BBS Radio Stoke:
Listen to Christine Redstone, willow artist talking about willow work in schools.
St Gregory's, Bollington create Dancing children!
Children from St Gregory's School in Bollington worked with willow artists, Simon and Christine Redstone, Redstone Centre, to create a sculpture of dancing children in their school grounds. The sculpture was commissioned by 'Magpie' as a part of Bollin Valley Sustainability Week.
The children worked in small groups to create the sculpture which can be used as a play feature.
Mulberry commissions Cheshire willow artists for store window displays
English luxury brand Mulberry commissioned Cheshire based Redstone Willows to create a series of window installations based on the brand’s Autumn Winter 2012 season.
The window concept was looking at the habitat of mysterious woodland creatures, so Redstone Willows designed a series of willow pods and spheres that could house additional visual elements.
Mulberry’s Head of Visual Merchandising discussed at length the concept of the windows and the design ideas in order to set the brief, including the challenges of designing oversized installations for a window space.
Christine Redstone, sculptor: “It’s been an amazing experience. It needed us to do a lot of thinking outside of our normal comfort zone.”
The installations were also used as seasonal displays in Mulberry’s head office and showrooms in London.
David Ferguson, Head of VM, Mulberry: “
Redstone Willows have trained a core of talented local sculptors to enable us to fulfil challenging commissions nationwide. Willow sculptor, Christine Redstone said “Contemporary Willow Work is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. This is our busiest year since 2002”. Artistic talent obviously runs in families. Following a year spent teaching English, woodcarving and art in the kingdom of Tonga, Simon Redstone has now joined the family business. Tongan culture is expressed with a distinct fondness for creativity and art through the medium of natural resources. Simon said “We are keen to utilise sustainable resources wherever possible, including using some of the many varieties of willow and regenerating species found on our site. I love working with my hands and creating art from the natural materials around me. Whenever I am out on our site I am constantly seeing inspiration in my environment”
... and here is Christine outside the Mulberry store in Spinningfields, Manchester!
New member of staff cuts down time for maintaining living willow
Sophie cuts down the time to tidy living willow sphere! Personally we think weaving in is better but she did enjoy it!
Now working on a heavier weight Farmer John!
Frinton in Bloom win Silver Gilt for their Flowerbed entry.
Colourful planting and an eyecatching willow sculpture caught the judges attention, resulting in Frinton in Bloom being awarded a silver Gilt Medal at RHS Show at Tatton.
After the show, Terrance will make his home in Frinton.
Terrance the Archer, Willow Sculpture with Carved wood, RHS Tatton 2012
Our Willow Archer at RHS Tatton 2012 is the centrepiece of Frinton in Bloom's show garden. Shown here on site prior to planting, The archer willow sculpture is attracting lots of interest!
Terrance leaves for Tatton Park 2012:
Unable to fit into the tardis like Volvo, Terrance is riding on top to be the centrepices of Frinton in Bloom's show garden at RHS Tatton. Terrance was created in Redstone Willows studio using materials sourced where possible from our own land, including our willows and timber. The rush came from Felicity Irons in Bedford as we can't grow it here!
The Borders Gardening Club Visit.
Members of the Borders Gardening club enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at the Redstone centre. The day started with a tour of the willow beds and finished with them trying to get the plant supports that they had made into their cars. Unfortunately I missed those photos!
Willow Sculpture for RHS Tatton
We are currently working on a sculpture for the RHS Tatton. The sculpture will combine willow sculpture and greenwood work. That's all we're saying for now !
Squarework Course with Roy Youdale
We are delighted that Roy Youdale will be coming to the Redstone Centre for a Squarework Course, 28th to 30th May.
Participants will make two baskets over the three days but must be experienced basketmakers. The photographs below show the types of baskets that we are making. If you are interested in joining us please email christine@redstonewillows.co.uk for details
January 2012
A series of willow spheres created by Redstone Willows are to be installed at Trentham Gardens. The spheres are to be hung in the trees in an area being developed to add interest and encourage perception. Three large dragonflies created by us will also be installed to hover over the lake.
Photograph below by Mark Mordecai
