A Handful of Straw

The January meeting marked our 95th birthday. Yoxall WI, like the Queen, has two birthdays. One in January, which marks our formation in 1920, and another in June which celebrates the restart of our meetings after the end of World War 2. We wished everyone a Happy Birthday and a Peaceful New Year.

Three visitors were welcomed to the meeting and several thank you letters were read out. We celebrate members’ 'big' birthdays and anniversaries with flowers and cards. Every year WI members have the chance to put forward issues as 'resolutions' for inclusion in the national body’s campaign. There are seven resolutions this year for us to consider and these range from 'cutting back on food waste' to 'curbing the use of antibiotics'. Members were asked to vote for one resolution and the result of this would go to County.

Our speaker this month was Peter Shelley who gave a talk on straw work, not just corn dollies but a whole lot more. Peter's interest in straw-work started in 1974, when as a teenager, he visited an exhibition of straw-work in Shropshire. He recalls being totally amazed by the standard of work. A WI lady called Lettice encouraged his interest, and, following the display, Peter went on her mailing list. In the middle of July that year, Peter received a postcard, with the message 'the corn is ready'! Peter fetched the straw, set off for home and a lifetime of working with straw began.

In Great Britain straw is used from wheat, oats, rye and barley. With the advent of the combine harvester, the old-fashioned, long-stemmed and hollow-stemmed wheat varieties were replaced with knee-high pithy varieties. However, a number of farmers are still growing the traditional varieties of wheat, such as Maris Wigeon, mainly because they are in great demand in thatching.

Traditional corn dollies are named after counties or place names , such as the Stafford Knot or Suffolk Horseshoe. Peter showed us many examples of his work and items he had purchased on trips abroad. There was a beautiful wedding crown from Belarus, a nativity scene made out of wheat and rush from Mexico and a Christmas angel from Mexico.

However, straw craft is not just about corn dollies. Peter has branched out into the other facets of this traditional craft. Straw craft includes marquetry, tied straw figures, plaited work and so much more. Rye straw can be dyed and split and used to decorate cards. Peter showed us a fabulous collection of Christmas cards that he had produced using this technique.

Straw marquetry is a craft very similar to that of wood marquetry, except that straw replaces the wood veneer. To mimic the varying shades of wood veneer, wheat or straw has to be split, soaked in water and the strips can then be dyed. We were all fascinated by the intricacies of the pieces that Peter had showed us, most of which he had made himself. It was a thoroughly engaging talk.

Our next meeting is on the 11th February. This is a members’ evening and we are hoping to raise money for our June Birthday party and have an opportunity to socialise. If you would like further details on Yoxall WI please contact Penny Bailey through the link below.