Monday 30 May 2011

Bad news

Hmm...
This is as far as our building work's got in the last two weeks
Like a set out of Pirates of the Carribbean.
Can't pour concrete footings as the ground's too soft 1.5m down and deeper.  We can't afford to have the piling done that the council require and can't even rebuild what we had before unless we do the piling.  Talk about rocks and hard places!

I think we'll fill up the trenches with rubble and put up a fence.

Oh yes - and the truck's playing up badly.  Could be the fuel pump.

Sunday 15 May 2011

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Had a great day yesterday at Weird and Wonderful Wood.
 Good crowds, lots to see and buy and I met and chatted with a lot of the usual suspects.

Nick Gibbs, editor of Living Woods magazine, was demonstrating making whirligigs on his stand up shavehorse.

I bought a couple of nice old spokeshaves...
The small one has a convex sole - useful for shaving into curves.
The larger one is a Stanley No 53 type although there is no makers mark.  The sole is hinged and allows for fine adjustment with the brass screw - a tool much beloved of John Brown and James Krenov.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Builder's Bum?

Finally, after what seems like years of planning, they started our kitchen extension on Monday.

The conservatory is being demolished and rebuilt properly.  The kitchen wall with the door and window is being taken out and we'll have a nice big kitchen.
Also the lean-to at the back is going to have a new roof, double glazing and a shower installed - can't wait.

Here comes the groundwork team with the mini digger...
and the compulsory...
!

Monday 9 May 2011

2012 Workshops, Courses & Events

 Here is our list of this year's Diary Dates.  There will be more added later but these are all confirmed.  Anyone interested in Workshops or Courses please contact us for full details.




JUNE
9th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included. 10am-5pm*

10th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125  per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*

16th Harpenden Common Discovery Day a free Event  Hertfordshire with rural craft demonstrations and displays*

17th Spoon and Spatula Carving £75 per person, bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10.30am-4pm*

24th Fairhaven Festival a Green Event in the tranquil woodland watergardens on the Inner Broads, Norfolk with rural craft demonstrations and displays

30th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*


JULY
1st Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*

7th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*

8th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*

14th Spoon and Spatula Carving £75 per person, bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10.30am-4pm*

15th Medieval Revels, Redbourn Village Museum, Redbourn, Hertfordshire.  A family fun day with hog roast, music and locally brewed ale.

22nd Tree Listening - an interactive free event in The Vines in the historic walled garden in Rochester, Kent*

23rd Ashford, Kent.  Woodland Wonder Open Day.  Free event with lots of woodland activities for all the family.

28th Linslade Canal Festival a free Event between the lake and canal in Bedfordshire with rural craft demonstrations and displays, music and dance*




AUGUST
4th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*

5th Introduction to Green Woodwork  £125 per person,  bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10am-5pm*

11th Spoon and Spatula Carving £75 per person, bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10.30am-4pm*

12th Spoon and Spatula Carving £75 per person, bring your own lunch.  Tea, coffee, biscuits included.  10.30am-4pm*

18th Epping Forest Burial Park Working Woodland Day a free Event in North Weald, Essex on the edge of Epping Forest with interactive rural craft demonstrations and displays

25th HeARTwood Summer Festival a free Event near St. Albans, Hertfordshire with interactive rural craft demonstrations and displays for all the family.*

27th Ashwell Village Show an Equestrian Event in it's 90th year with rural craft demonstrations and displays in Hertfordshire



SEPTEMBER
23rd Highwoods Big Birthday Bash free Event to mark their 25th Anniversary with rural craft demonstrations and displays in Colchester, Essex*

29th/30th Countryside Live in the Lea Valley Park an exciting Event at The WaterWorks, Lammas Road, off Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London E10 7QB with interactive rural craft demonstrations, Arena events and displays for all the family.*



OCTOBER
20th Ely Apple Day a free Event with Apple tastings, identification with rural craft demonstrations and displays on Palace Green, Ely, East Cambridgeshire* 

* Well behaved dogs are welcome at these Events!

Bodger's Ball

Had a great weekend in Herefordshire at the Brockhampton Estate (won't mention the dog incident).

This is the Dandelion Clock Marquee before Mark Allery got cracking with his scything demonstration.

My favourite entry in the craft competitions was this Tiggywinkle made from a Teazle with pins for eyes and nose.  Unfortunately I didn't find out who made it.


The best bit of furniture, to my mind, was this stool by Will Wall.
The seat is made from fresh (cut last week) Willow logs, legs are Chestnut fitted into dovetail slots and the seat is held together by these two dovetail splines...
Well done Will - great stuff and also very comfortable!

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Forest News

The Forest is looking great at the moment in it's new cloak of Spring greens.

We often come across Ray Mears style shelters but never a ladder before.
Of course I had to climb it...

Got close enough to photograph this dragonfly basking in the sun on a Hornbeam.
There were a lot around considering it's still quite early in the year.

 A sight I've never seen before is this thick layer of Beech blossom carpeting the Forest floor.  I suppose it's a combination of the very dry conditions this Spring (please rain soon, but not this weekend!) and the high winds we've had lately.

Monday 2 May 2011

Future Craftsman

Jake came on Saturday and really enjoyed his Introduction to Green Woodwork day.

He turned a rounders bat from Chestnut...

...and carved a Willow spoon.

He showed a strong aptitude for this type of thing and has been encouraged by his dad, Mark, who came with him and took these photos on a lovely sunny day.

He would like to become a musical instrument maker and I wish him well - we need to encourage our future craftsmen (and women) at an early age.

Sunday 1 May 2011

Bergh Apton Sculpture Trail 2011

Been a bit slow in getting the 2011 Diary Dates together but this is an interesting looking event we've been invited to demonstrate at in May (21/22nd & 28/29th).