What is willow peel and how can it be used?
Willow peel is willow. It has been debarked and cut into strips (like skeined willow). It is off-white in color and the width can vary slightly. Willow peel should be soaked in hot water before use or mellowed (wet briefly and wrap in damp towel until flexible enough for use). Soaking will cause more shrinkage to occur than if it is mellowed. Willow peel can be used as an accent, lasher, wrapping handles, anywhere that skeined willow is used, or on ribbed baskets. You may want to scrap off some of the pith (inside of the plant) that is on the underside of each piece, especially if you plan to use it as a lasher. Willow peel is flexible, but not in the same way as reed, due to the uneven thickness of the pith. Try these books: The Handmade Basket Book – Board Basket Making – Barrett to the top of the page Natural Walnut Stain • Q: How do I make a stain from walnut hulls? A: Making walnut stain is really very easy. If you have a place to work and don’t have to worry about splashing the s
