We are now taking commissions for bespoke made to measure and choice of colours and design log baskets to go next to your wood burner,Order now before winter sets in
WILLOW CHRISTMAS ANGELS
We are now taking orders for willow christmas light up angels
keepsakes made from offcuts
All our coffins are tailor made and designs chosen by the familys.There is generally little waste regarding materials when we make our willow coffina and baskets.The offcuts we have left over from the coffins can be made into keepsakes for the familys to remember their loved ones.The different examples are a flower basket,handbags with leather straps ,and willow dragonflys or butterflys.
We provide a willow dragonfly with each of our coffins ,but extra ones can be made for other family members.The photo below shows our new design ‘PEACEFUL PEONY” and the family ordered an extra 9 willow dragonflys.
Please email for more info
what flower arrangements are appropriate for a funeral
Lilies
As one of the most popular floral choices for funerals, lilies represent the restored innocence of the soul of the departed.
Gladioli
Tall and majestic, gladioli convey strength of character, moral integrity and sincerity
Carnations
White carnations convey pure love and innocence; red carnations represent admiration; and pink carnations stand for remembrance.
Chrysanthemums
In many European cultures, chrysanthemums are only used as funeral flowers as they are symbolic of death. In the US, chrysanthemums represent truth and are typically regarded as a cheerful way to honor someone who lived a full life.
Roses
This highly popular flower carries different meanings depending on the color; White roses express reverence, innocence and youthfulness; Red roses convey respect, love and courage; Pink roses signify love, grace and gentility; Crimson roses denote grief and sorrow; and yellow represents friendship.
Orchids
Pink and white are traditional orchid colors used to express one's sympathy and typically represent eternal love. Phalaenopsis and dendrobium orchids are generally the most appropriate types of orchids used as sympathy flowers.
Now that you know the meaning of some of the most popular funeral flowers, you can incorporate them in your arrangements. The tradition of adorning the casket with fresh flowers (called a casket spray) is typically selected by the closest family members - spouse, children, siblings, parents, etc. They are beautiful displays of one or several types of flowers and greens that sit on top of the casket. Full casket sprays are suitable for closed caskets, while half casket sprays are used for open casket services. Casket inserts and garlands are other types of floral designs that are selected by the immediate family.
made to measure bicycle baskets
we can make any style,design, shape and colours and taylor made bicyclebasket to fit your bike rack,back or front.
our baskets are strong and sturdy,we now use a wooden base so the basket can be bolted onto the rack and also held in place with handcrafted leather straps,as a few friends have had their baskets stolen from the bike,we can fix the basket on so its difficult to get off
We can make for your bike
a pet basket
foraging or veg basket
lunch basket
butchers bike baskets
removable small picnic baskets
how is the COVID 19 affecting our business
This current situation regarding the corona virus is bizzare and frightening.there are worrys about our health and all of our financial situation.We have had all our shows cancelled where we rely on seling baskets and handing out leaflets for our coffins,and taking a coffin on tour to show the visitors to the shows what we do.
Also we had to cancel all our workshops much to the dissapointment of all our students.So our income for the basket sales and workshops has been non existant,we have had a few coffin orders come in which has kept the wolf from the door,and managed to do a few jobs where we have bartered or done skillswaps which we love doing that kind of trade,
One good thing about the current situation and i can speak for most of us is that we have had extra time to focus on getting things done around the home regarding improvements,and we have started up a small market garden and am going to grow flowers for funerals to add to our coffins,
in the meantime we here at cradle to grave are learning new designs of weaving our baskets,and have time to play and experiment with willow,make stock for when ever the shows will return ,and keeping healthy and happy
woodlands.co.uk film coffin making by cath at cradle to grave
i had the pleasure of inviting Jemma Cholawo to come and make a short film for the woodland.co.uk film channel,
Jemma came and spent the day in the yurt and over at our willow bed filming me making a willow coffin from our homegrown willow.
i was calm and relaxed and feeling on good form,we went ahead and filmed as i made a coffin for the first time in 15 years using homegrown willow.i was very pleased at the film jemma put together
thankyou jemma
Willow planting complete.
We have finished willow planting for this year and now have about 20 different varietys so far.we hope to be able to create some beautiful colourful baskets and coffins in the years to come.its a slow process as it takes about 3 years for the willow to get established .it will get cut back every year in the winter as cutting it back will encourage the plant to produce lots of new shoots and gradually the cutting that was first planted will develop into a stool and will produce anything up to 60 rods between 3 and 9 ft in height.what a truly amaizing plant willow is
