Author Archives: Steph

A few years ago I was asked to make a replica of a cane coastguards helmet that the Isle of Arran Heritage Museum had on display. They wanted a replica that they could use on school visits and that the …Continue reading “The Mystery of the Woven Cane Coastguard Helmets”

Visit to Isle of Arran Heritage Museum Last week I spent a day at Isle of Arran Heritage museum to see what I could find out about the use of baskets on Arran, where I live, and also to see …Continue reading “Julie visits Arran Heritage Museum, November 2012”

Members of the Scottish Basketmakers Circle came from many places and travelled many miles to arrive at the very northerly point of the Isle of Lewis. This was to attend one of three courses on offer plus the AGM.Our accommodation …Continue reading “SBC Autumn gathering, Lewis, 16-21st October 2012”

Collected by Erskine Beveridge, the plata mhuillin or plata shil from Heisker, or the Monach Isles, had an old brown label inside suggesting that this wonderful grain basket, so densely woven that it protected its contents from sea and spay, …Continue reading “At last the Plata Mhuillin, Leith Customs House August 9th”

Steph and Jon were due to fly to Shetland on 2nd August and spend Thursday afternoon and all Friday with Ian Tait from the museum, looking at material in the stores. The plan was to follow this with a trip …Continue reading “Research trip to Shetland, 2-7th August 2012”

Today, Lyndsay and Irene Mackay were in the stores. Irene is a former curator of the National Museum, who really systematised the basketry collection. The photographs we feature on this site from NMS were all commissioned in her time, and …Continue reading “Leith Customs House 26th July”

The National Museum of Rural Life lies south of Glasgow, in the Central Belt and is a part of the National Museum of Scotland. It has been built up on what was formerly a working farm, and so in many …Continue reading “Kittochside – the National Museum of Rural Life. A visit with Lise Bech, 25th July”