MAY ORLANG
Weavers
Willow weaving was the chosen activity for this month. Christine brought in a beautiful example of a basket holding seasonal bluebells, seeds, plants and herbs. The first song she gave us was "The Gard'ner Wi' His Paidle". The first verse was very fitting and lead us into thinking about the month of may
When rosy May comes in wi' flowers,
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers,
Then busy, busy are his hours,
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.
Christine also brought us a copy of "Yellow on the Broom" by Betsy Whyte. The group had many memories of travellers in bygone ages. The work that they did on the land, sharpening blades, the baskets and clothes pegs that they made and sold and the bendy tents that they used through the summer.
The group read the poem "Balmerino" by Eunice Buchannan, it has some beautiful references to the birds and flora of the month of May.
Balmerino by Eunice Buchanan
C’wa wi me tea
Balmerino wuids
Stey quiet there. Knee-deep
in bluebells
Mangst the trees an
let a senses sweetin
Like nimmle fishes in
a sea o blue
Taka tent an hear the
croo o cushie doo
The cheetle a chaffie
and the pipe o wren
Awa in the verra
hicht o the tallest beech
The craw o corbie, an
the jackdaw’s keik
Syne hunker doon
unner the vaulted green
O leaf an branch, spy
oot the hidden gems
O speedwell,
tormentil an celandine.
Tak in warm breith o
the livin airth.
Come doon the brae,
feel saft ablow yer feet
A hunner year o
simmer sun an growth.
Quicken tae drifts o
meysies on the banks.
Staund – an let yer
heid dinnie wi the smell.
Christine read "The Seal Woman" a story with a tradition of the selkies at its core. It was spellbinding.
Isn't it interesting how having a story read to us at any age can transport us, and how the word yarn, meaning a story, can bring us round to the subject of weaving.
Maureen then introduced the group to willow. To become familiar with the texture and properties of the materials everyone started with intertwined rings.
It is a treat to see the ability of old hands transcribing previous hand skills to some new facility. Some of our members were skilled woodworkers and knitters and it wasn't long until muscle memory confidently took over.
Christine had introduced the subject matter of the sea in her selkie story and the song "The Fish Gutters Song" The group talked of the bygone fishing traditions and the Silver Darlings.
The group set out to weave there own wee silver darlings from willow.
Like he was born to it! This is Ian, confidently showing us how to do it.
A great sense of achievement was felt as we hung up our finished products for all to see.
The group are already working out how they can transfer these skills to produce some Christmas crafts.
