Hacer una nasa con esta técnica de anudado requiere bastante tiempo y por eso desde el primer momento previne a los alumnos sobre la dificultad de acabarla en cuatro días. No hubo problema, la mayoría de ellos estaban especialmente interesados en aprender la técnica y no pasaba nada si la pieza no se acababa. Decidimos empezar por fabricar un pequeño cesto con el fin de que ejercitarnos en el anudado y así no sumar esa dificultad a la que trae conseguir las formas de la nasa, especialmente las de la 'gambina', una nasa pequeña pero complicada de realizar bien en un primer curso. La idea funcionó tan bien que dos alumnas quedaron encantadas con el cesto y decidieron continuar haciendo otro y dejar de lado de momento la gambina.
El resto puso empeño en la nasa pero como era de preveer no pudo acabarla, tan sólo, Leilah, una de las alumnas, lo consiguió. En cualquier caso, todos quedamos muy contentos de la esperiencia y desde aquí saludo a todos mis alumnos (Mary, Eddie, Kathryn, Bunty, Ruth, Mieke, Lorraine y Leilah) por su gentileza, paciencia con mi mal inglés y buen trabajo, confío en que esta técnica les de mucho juego cestero.
La semana del 9 de abril podría decir que 'inauguré' mi nueva residencia y taller en Caballar (Segovia) con un taller particular para dos alumnas muy interesadas en la cestería y que por diferentes motivos necesitaban un curso intensivo. Lo fue, y muy agradable e interesante contar con su estancia en el nuevo taller. En las próximas semanas iré elaborando un calendario de cursos a impartir en Caballar del que iré informando en este blog. Me sería de mucha utilidad que los que estéis interesados en recibir algún tipo de curso y/o en algunas fechas en especial me lo hagáis saber con el fin de reunir información e intentar hacer un programa que os resulte interesante. Muchas gracias.
English version by Nacho Gil
York
Every year, the Basketmakers Association, organizes some spring courses in the city of York (England) and this time the people invited to teach them were: Felicity Irons, Ane Lyngsgaard, Hilary Burns, Anna King, and he who writes this. Felicity gave one about the work with rushes; Ane worked with wicker on preparation of ‘petticoat’ baskets; the Hilary students, also with wicker, made a pair of traditional English baskets; those of Anna King were engaged to make small objects in the spiral technique, and my course it was about the technique used by Mediterranean fishermen in the elaboration of fish traps. Joint with this, conferences and common life among all participants during the four days that last the courses and which take place in a school of the city, the Mount School. A very interesting experience, very well organized and in which, besides the lessons, we share plenty of information and friendship. Making a fish trap with this technique of knotting requires a long time and that’s why from the first moment I warned my students about the difficulty of finish it in four days. There was no problem, most of them were especially interested in learning the technique and it was ok if the piece couldn’t be finished. We decided to start by making a small basket in order to practice on the knotting and thus not add up this difficulty to that which brings achieving the forms of the fish trap, especially those of the ‘Gambina’, a kind of small fish trap, but complicated to be well done for a first course. The idea worked out so good that two female students were delighted with the basket and decided to continue by making another and set aside the ‘Gambina’ for the moment. The rest of the students put effort into the fish trap, but as it was foreseen they couldn’t finished, just only Leilah, one of the students, she succeeded. In any case, we all remained very happy with the experience and from here I greet all of my students (Mary, Eddie, Kathryn, Bunty, Ruth, Mieke, Lorraine y Leilah) for their kindness, good work, and patience with my bad English, I trust that this technique will give them a lot basket-maker play. The week of April 9th I might say that ‘I opened’ my new home and workshop in ‘Caballar’ (Segovia), with an especial course for two female students who were very interested in basketry and for different reasons they needed an intensive course. So it was, and very pleasant and interesting to have their stay in the new workshop. In the next weeks I will arrange a schedule of courses to be taught at Caballar, of which I will report in this blog. It will be very helpful to me that those of you who are interested in taken any kind of course and/or in any particular date, let it me know in order to get the information together and try to fix a program that you all find interesting. Thanks a lot.
English version by Nacho Gil
York
Every year, the Basketmakers Association, organizes some spring courses in the city of York (England) and this time the people invited to teach them were: Felicity Irons, Ane Lyngsgaard, Hilary Burns, Anna King, and he who writes this. Felicity gave one about the work with rushes; Ane worked with wicker on preparation of ‘petticoat’ baskets; the Hilary students, also with wicker, made a pair of traditional English baskets; those of Anna King were engaged to make small objects in the spiral technique, and my course it was about the technique used by Mediterranean fishermen in the elaboration of fish traps. Joint with this, conferences and common life among all participants during the four days that last the courses and which take place in a school of the city, the Mount School. A very interesting experience, very well organized and in which, besides the lessons, we share plenty of information and friendship. Making a fish trap with this technique of knotting requires a long time and that’s why from the first moment I warned my students about the difficulty of finish it in four days. There was no problem, most of them were especially interested in learning the technique and it was ok if the piece couldn’t be finished. We decided to start by making a small basket in order to practice on the knotting and thus not add up this difficulty to that which brings achieving the forms of the fish trap, especially those of the ‘Gambina’, a kind of small fish trap, but complicated to be well done for a first course. The idea worked out so good that two female students were delighted with the basket and decided to continue by making another and set aside the ‘Gambina’ for the moment. The rest of the students put effort into the fish trap, but as it was foreseen they couldn’t finished, just only Leilah, one of the students, she succeeded. In any case, we all remained very happy with the experience and from here I greet all of my students (Mary, Eddie, Kathryn, Bunty, Ruth, Mieke, Lorraine y Leilah) for their kindness, good work, and patience with my bad English, I trust that this technique will give them a lot basket-maker play. The week of April 9th I might say that ‘I opened’ my new home and workshop in ‘Caballar’ (Segovia), with an especial course for two female students who were very interested in basketry and for different reasons they needed an intensive course. So it was, and very pleasant and interesting to have their stay in the new workshop. In the next weeks I will arrange a schedule of courses to be taught at Caballar, of which I will report in this blog. It will be very helpful to me that those of you who are interested in taken any kind of course and/or in any particular date, let it me know in order to get the information together and try to fix a program that you all find interesting. Thanks a lot.
Y Costillas, técnica no muy estendida entre la cestería popular española (tan sólo en las zonas pirenaicas y País Vasco se encuentra o encontraba bien asentada) pero muy interesante y versatil por sus diferentes aplicaciones en formas y materiales. Este curso lo tengo anunciado desde hace tiempo en este mismo blog en el apartado de la derecha pero como ha habido bastante gente que me pedía fotos sobre las piezas para hacerse una idea de lo que se iba a hacer, pues lo anuncio aquí también con sus dos fotos para los que lo pedíais o querais ver. Ánimo que quedan pocas plazas y pienso que el curso os interesará. Contacto y más información: 
