Threads 26: A celebration issue

After several months, and with the help of my assistant Melissa and my son Tony, we have launched the new Lanark Highlands Basketry Museum website, and also an eBay store, now with two basketry kits.

The website had not really changed since the museum opened five years ago, so it was time for a new look. And you’re here now!

The basketry kits are a new idea. Being unable to teach for the two seasons, I thought it might be interesting to sell small kits to encourage people to go out and collect local materials.

The first, a little soap trivet, made of dyed round reed to teach the technique of making a tension mat. The instructions include ways of collecting materials and making more soap trivets from found materials. These include grapevine, willow, shoots from shrubs and bushes.