I I have found a new passion,dying white willow blue, and mixing the blue and white willow together,it makes a wonderful combination and looks very ‘costal’.
The handles are twisted hazel and they come from a local wood and are collected by an old friend and champion hurdlemaker of dorset ‘ern steele’
This basket has been lined with a lovely blue and white print fabric
white willow anddyed blue willow laundry basket with a twisted hazel wood handle
some of our beautiful coffins made in 2018
GREEN WILLOW
Is dried willow with the bark left on and is olive green in colour.
WHITE WILLOW
Is freshly cut during early spring and is left to stand in shallow water until sap rises.it then is stripped (july time) it is then srtipped without boiling to get the white colour
BUFF WILLOW
Is boiled and then the bark stripped off,and leaving the willow a buff colour(orangy brown )
STEAMED BROWN WILLOW
Is steamed fo 2 hours,and giving the willow an intense dark brown chocolaty tone
This is one of our new coffin leaflets advertising our unique handmade willow coffins specifically designed for green woodland burials,and cremations,they can be used in any type of funeral ceromony in the uk.the coffins are not mass produced,they are lovingly made at our home in north dorset and are made individually for the person that has died.
Our new design wooden hand printed shields have been designed by tosh and added to our ship to make it look even more authentic.this ship is about to be sent off to a customer in london.Complete with an authentic welsh dragon flag,we are hoping the customer will be very pleased with this ship
we have recently purchaced a few acres of land in Dorset and are planning on planting some willow beds,so we can use our own willow to make all our products.We have just been granted permission to make a gateway ,and a parking area.this winter and spring,we will have to plant about 300 yards of mixed native wood hedges,dig out a wildlife pond,plant the willow and get a veg garden on the go,and also a fruit tree orchard and a hazel wood and ash wood coppice ,as well as some trees.
It will be hard work but very rewarding so we at cradle to grave are looking forward to getting stuck in
today i made these two beauties for a customer.using white and dyed blue willow i have named them coastal baskets as the curves in the basket represent the waves and the blue colour for the sea,they look like wicker willow cornishware.we will attempt some different shapes using driftwood and maybe some rope for handles,
We are incredibly proud to be the winners of the “Coffin Supplier Of The Year” award at the Good Funeral Awards in 2015, in 2021 and for the third time in 2023.
Read more about our award.
