Basketweaving: Making a Melon Basket Extended Masterclass

Extended Masterclass

Basketweaving: Making a Melon Basket

Brought to you by The Diggers Club

Your Extended Masterclass

Learn how to weave a melon basket that can be a valuable and beautiful addition to your home. The Melon Basket has had many names through the ages, the name usually refers to the basket's shape. Learn a bit about the history of this basket and a whole lot more in this informative and practical day-long workshop.

What you will explore and discover:

A hands-on experience using a range of natural materials such as iris, red hot poker, bulrushes, watsonia, and willow
Information about how to collect, dry, store, and rehydrate your own natural plant fibre to use at home
How to weave a small melon basket using the traditional basketry technique of ribbed construction

This workshop includes a colour handout outlining the step-by-step process of weaving a melon basket.
Please bring an apron and secateurs (if you have them).

No experience is needed, beginners are welcome. Suitable for both adults and teenagers.

Numbers are strictly limited. Morning tea and lunch provided.

Member price

$175

Non member price

$189

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Your Presenter

Jodie Goldring is an Artist & Teacher a notorious gleaner who has a broad range of creative experiences to share. Jodie identifies as a sculptor who uses basketry techniques to create and exhibit a small number of works each year in what she describes as a slow art practice.

Jodie taught art in secondary and primary schools for over a decade. Since 2015 she has supported people of all ages and abilities to weave in diverse environments. She currently teaches adults how to make baskets for several community centres and cultural organisations due to to greater interest in basketry.

The workshops are alined to the seasons when plant fibre is best harvested and prepared for basketry. Many natural fibres provided are grown by Jodie and others are sourced from friends' gardens and from the roadside in the Central Highlands of Victoria.

"I suggest the appeal is these workshops allow participants to slow down and experience the satisfaction of creating something hand-made in a social and informal environment."

The Location

Featuring over 4 acres of food, cottage and bush gardens each season provides different delights and inspiration to both experienced and aspiring gardeners. The gardens are filled with plants which thrive in central Victoria’s cold winters and hot dry summers. A huge range of daffodils, hellebores and other flowering bulbs bring the garden to life in spring.

Visitors can admire the colour and beauty of our perennial flower borders throughout summer and autumn with hardy, long flowering perennials creating an amazing cottage garden display amongst our Australian bush setting.

The Garden has been certified organic since 2008 and Digger’s range of perennials, bulbs and heirloom vegetables are grown at St Erth using the best organic methods. Seasonal produce from our kitchen gardens is served at St Erth café throughout the year.

See more information on The Garden of St Erth

Extended Masterclass