Court Barn Museum, Church Street, Chipping Campden, GL55 6JE

Sat 28 March – Sun 26 April.

Open Tuesday -Sunday 10-4pm

Nature woven into contemporary practice.

Learn something new from a group of women makers working with natural fibres: from home‑grown willow basketry to flax‑woven vessels, miniature rush pieces, willow sculpture, and traditional straw craft. This exhibition will showcase traditional weaving processes, and there will also be opportunity to purchase original wares.

Fancy something extra special? Come along to our weaving demonstration on Saturday 4 April 10am-1pm.

Sat 4 April 10am-1pm

Weaving Demonstration

Enjoy the opportunity to watch weaving first-hand! In this session, three professional weavers will be on hand to demonstrate their processes and to talk about their weaving. Whether its willow, rush, or flax there’s something new for everyone to learn. Come along between 10am and 1pm.

The Art Pavilion, Mile End Park
London E3 4QY
17 – 26 April

Open 11:00-18:00 daily

This year’s exhibition explores the hidden meanings embedded in words: their origins, their shifting forms across centuries, misunderstandings, transformations, and cultural echoes.

Through the language of stitch and the limitless possibilities of textile materials, the artists investigate new ways of expressing ideas, developing fresh interpretations and unexpected constructs, using everything from cloth to stone, silk to steel.

Lots of free workshops available too.

Come and visit me for Oxford Artweeks alongside ceramic artist Etta Rain and textile artist and weaver Cassandra Smith. See below for dates and times

Join Penny Maltby and have a go at making a Harvest Knot during this event.

As part of UK Meadows Day, the meadows are open to the public, offering bug hunting and meadow plants guided tours, educational activities, and a chance to explore these vital habitats. This event will celebrate the beauty and importance of wildflower meadows. 

Duration: 11:00am−15:00pm

Price: £3 per child (under 2s and accompanying adults free) - No need to book, drop in, pay on arrival

On May 31st, we are delighted to host a full-day workshop with artist Penny Maltby. As part of Bradwell Windmill Project, this in-person workshop will introduce participants to the basics of straw and corn dolly work so you can gain a good understanding of the materials and master a variety of straw working skills.

Address

The Oxfordshire Museum
Fletcher's House
Park Street
Woodstock
OX20 1SN 

Dates

Saturday 11 Jul 2026, 10.15am-4.15pm

Price

£105 and includes lunch, coffee and tea and all materials

Audience

18+

Join straw artist Penny Maltby for a hands-on session exploring straw working techniques. Learn how straw has shaped our land, communities and customs. Penny will also share some of the history of corn dollies and the harvest during the workshop

In this workshop, you will learn how to prepare the straw ready for working, how to tie a straw workers knot and have the opportunity to create your own traditional harvest knot—a small, decorative token once made to celebrate the harvest or to give as a gesture of affection. We will then work on creating a corn dolly sampler using a variety of plaits and techniques such as the bullwhip plait and traditional 5 and 7 end plaits. There will be a selection of dried flowers and ribbons for you to use to decorate your sampler and harvest knots.

Thursday 16th July, 2026

Celebrate the harvest of our heritage wheat at Oxford Botanic Gardens, by creating your own harvest trophy. Traditionally, ‘harvest trophies’ or ‘corn dollies’ would be made to celebrate the harvest and displayed at the harvest home supper. At Christmas or Plough Monday it would then be burned, scattered or ploughed back into the land, fulfilling the ancient belief of ‘what comes from the land must be returned to the land’. As well as being an endangered craft, working with straw is a very mindful activity, with benefits to general wellbeing and mental health.

Price: £40       Duration: 10.15am - 12.15pm

Thursday 16th July, 2026

Celebrate the harvest of our heritage wheat at Oxford Botanic Gardens, by creating your own harvest trophy. Traditionally, ‘harvest trophies’ or ‘corn dollies’ would be made to celebrate the harvest and displayed at the harvest home supper. At Christmas or Plough Monday it would then be burned, scattered or ploughed back into the land, fulfilling the ancient belief of ‘what comes from the land must be returned to the land’. As well as being an endangered craft, working with straw is a very mindful activity, with benefits to general wellbeing and mental health. 

Price: £40       Duration: 13.15am - 15.15pm

Monday 3rd August 2026 for 3 days

Creative Bookmaking techniques are used by many artists and hobbyists as a form of communication and artistic expression. They can be interactive, portable, challenge conventional book forms, and made from a wide variety of materials.

They range from simple folded shapes to more abstract and sculptural ones. This course will give you an introduction to this art form as well as insights into how you can incorporate it into your own creative practice or hobby. It is suitable for all, whether you are a practicing artist, a budding book artist, an avid card maker or simply someone who loves to make things with paper. It can also be a fantastic way to use printing off cuts or other left-over bits from projects.

Participants should be comfortable using a scalpel and steel ruler to cut paper and card to attend this course. Please note this is not a bookbinding course.

Friday 7th August

Learn about the humble material of straw and how it can be used to make decorative and functional objects. Straw skills have been practiced for hundreds of years in farming and folk crafts around the world. Straw work and Corn Dolly making are both Red Listed Endangered Crafts after falling out of mainstream practice due to the mechanisation of crop harvesting.

Today, there has been a resurgence in interest as people appreciate the pleasure of working with a natural and sustainable material and the mindful aspect of working with straw. Some manual dexterity is needed for this course and it is suitable for beginners and those with some previous experience who would like to revisit or improve their skill set.

This course will introduce you to the basics of straw and corn dolly work so you can gain a good understanding of the materials and master a variety of straw working skills. Working with heritage wheat, you will learn how to prepare it and experiment with different plaiting techniques. The aim is to go home with 2 or 3 finished pieces to hang in your home or for gifts.

Inspired by summer rituals, celebration and folklore, design and make a midsummer crown.

The Coaching Barn, Wantage.

Cost - from £120