Make a Straw Harvest Trophy with Penny Maltby

Join straw artist Penny Maltby for this half day workshop exploring straw plaiting techniques.

During this workshop, Penny will teach you how to tie a straw workers knot as well as learning how to prepare the straw and plait it using techniques such as the universal hair plait and the arrow plait. Penny will also share some of the history of corn dollies and the harvest during the workshop. You will be using heritage wheat to create your own heart or oval ‘harvest trophy’.

These ‘harvest trophies’ or ‘corn dollies would have been made to celebrate the harvest with customs and patterns varying around the UK. Traditionally they would have been taken to the harvest home supper or back to the farm for display. It would likely have been kept until Christmas or Plough Monday when it would be burned, scattered or ploughed back into the land, fulfilling the ancient belief of ‘what come from the land must be returned to the land’

As well as being an endangered craft, working with straw is a very mindful activity and crafts such as this have been shown to be beneficial to general wellbeing and mental health. You will leave this workshop having experienced the joy of this heritage craft and with your own hand plaited harvest trophy to display or gift to a loved one.

Date & Time: Saturday 18th April, 10am – 12:30pm

Venue: Chisel Studio, New Brewery Arts

Price: £65

Please note that this workshop is for those aged 18 and over.

To find out more and to book your place visit https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/make-a-straw-harvest-trophy