"Bridal Bouquet"
Worked and Photographed
by Janet Twigger
Here are some books that would be useful to beginners and advanced
workers.
A Handful of Straw
The Corn Dolly Newsletter Team
Paperback / Published 1995 / ISBN 0 9525464 0 X
Suitable for both beginners and advanced workers alike.
Written by some of the best practitioners of straw craft and
writers of the Corn Dolly Newsletter. It has
very clear instructions and diagrams.
Complete Book of Straw Craft and Corn Dollies : Techniques
and Projects
Doris Johnson and Alec Coker
Paperback / Published 1987 / ISBN 0 486 25249 3
This book is both a reference book and instruction book. If
you want to know how to make a plait this book will show
you.
Golden Stalks made into Corn Dollies
Christina Best
Paperback / Published 2007 / Self published
Intended as an introduction to straw work. It has 28 pages in A5 format, with illustrations in black and white and colour. The price is £4.99 with £1.00 for postage (overseas postage will be extra). If you would like a copy please write to her:
Mrs Christina Best,
Sunnyside
Criggan, Nr Bugle,
St. Austell, Cornwall PL26 8QX
Discovering Corn Dollies
M. Lambeth
Paperback / First Published 1974 by Shire Publications /
ISBN 0 85263 283 5
No. 199 in the "Discovering" Series
This book is part reprint of A Golden Dolly: The Art,
Mystery and History of Corn Dollies (see below).
Swiss Straw Work: Techniques of a Fashion Industry
Veronica Main
Paperback / Published 2003 / ISBN 0 9541795 0 1
Published in German in 2004 as Zauberhaftes Stroh / ISBN
9541795 1 x
This is THE definitive book on Swiss Straw work. Both the
writer and illustrator (Gillian Nott) are City and Guilds
medallists in straw work so they have the practical as well as
subject knowledge. Every motif (more than 120) is described in
fine detail and the working diagrams are easy to follow. The
book is well structured; it builds on the basic technique for
the different elements and moves effortlessly into the more
advanced techniques.
Details: Main Collins Publishing, PO Box 926, High Wycombe,
HP15 7ZQ
Telphone / Fax: 01494 714141
Email: mcpublishing@aol.com
German edition details: Freiämter Strohmuseum, Kirchenplatz,
5610 Wohlen, Switzerland
Email:
Strohmuseum@wohlen.ch
The Book of Wheat Weaving and Straw Craft: From Simple
Plaits to Exquisite Designs
by Morgyn Geoffry Owens-Celli
Hardcover / Published March 1997 / Publisher: Lark Books /
ASIN 1 887 37420 5
Paperback / Published August 1998 / Publisher: Sterling
Publications / ISBN: 1 579 90078 X
This book is full of projects for both modern and
traditional designs. Full colour photographs and black and
white illustrations help you create some stunning designs.
"Marches Fan"
Worked and Photographed
by Antony Gay
Books Out Of Print:
These books are out of print but are worth searching for:
Decorative Straw Work and Corn Dollies
Lettice Sandford and Philla Davis
published by B. T. Batsford, Ltd. (1964) no ISBN
This is generally still regarded as the definitive book for
straw workers.
The Craft of Straw Decoration
Alec Coker
Hardback / First Published 1971 by The Dryad Press / ISBN 0
85219 078 6
Alec Coker was a BBC Outside Broadcast engineer before
becoming a teacher and maker of Corn Dollies. He was the first
editor of the Corn Dolly Newsletter (with
Janet Twigger as secretary, the post she still holds) but sadly
died before the founding of the Guild of Straw Craftsmen.
Like all books on straw craft this book is aimed at the
craftsperson with projects on straw stars and marquetry as well
as Corn Dollies.
The Art of Weaving Corn Dollies
Stephen J. Reid
Paperback / Published 1976 as part of the Leisure Series by
Lutterworth Press /
ISBN 0 7188 7004 2
A Golden Dolly: The Art, Mystery and History of Corn
Dollies
M. Lambeth
Hardback / First Published 1969 by John Baker (Publishers)
Ltd / ISBN 0 212 98365 2
This was the first book I bought about Straw Craft and is
one of my favourites. It is an excellent book with lots of good
information and many anecdotes relating to the growing of corn,
the varieties to use, plaiting tips, the makers and village
life.
The book touches Harvest Customs, German Stars, Straw Hats
and Straw Marquetry as well as Corn Dollies.
Interestingly Minnie takes time to say who or where she got
her information and acknowledges the source of designs,
pictures and information.
Straw Work and Corn Dollies
Lettice Sandford
Hardback / First Published 1974 by Batsford Books / ISBN 0
7134 2874 0
Lettice Sandford was one of the great exponents of straw
craft in the modern age. She gave talks to Women's Institutes
as well as organising courses at her home at Eye Manor in
Herefordshire. Many Guild members attended her courses and
remember them with great affection. After her death her large
collection of straw work was given to the Hereford Museum so
that it could be displayed for the benefit of others.
The book has very clear instructions with lots of diagrams
and photographs.
Your Book of Corn Dollies
Joan Rendell
Hardback / Published 1976 by Faber and Faber / ISBN 0 571
10841 5
If you are unable to find the book you want, a good selection of Out of Print books is available from The Green Room. Please write for details to the address below, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.
The Green Room
Higher Bejowan
Quintrell Downs
Newquay
Cornwall
TR8 4LJ
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"Bygones"
Worked and Photographed
by Janet Twigger
This photograph appeared on the cover of the first Corn Dolly
Newsletter
The Corn Dolly Newsletter
- The Corn Dolly Newsletter (issued twice a year) has been published
for over 20 years. Articles cover all aspects of straw work from
profiling straw workers to ideas for designs (for both beginners and
advanced workers). This magazine is always searching for new
techniques and styles. Swiss Straw Work was introduced to people
outside Switzerland by the CDN team.
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"Dicks Field"
Photographed
by Andrew Nott
Bridge Farm Barns
- Monks Eleigh, Ipswich IP7 7AY. Tel. 01449 740456
Bridge Farm Barns are able to send straw through the post.
Please allow up to 3 weeks for delivery (This is not because they are
slow but 3 weeks is the time it takes Parcel Post to deliver the
goods!!).
Elaine Lindsay
- Something Corny, Rowan Cottage, Inveramsay, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 5DQ. Tel. 01467 681330
Something Corny supply Dyed
Straws, Bleached Straws and Natural Straws. These items are available
by post from Elaine Lindsay.
Elaine is a member of the Guild and is experienced in many aspects of
straw craft.
Inthatch
- Higher Whatley, Otterford, Chard, Somerset TA20 3QL. Tel. 01460
234477
Inthatch is a
family business run by George and Edwina Wakley and supplies thatching
materials and accessories to thatchers, builders and house owners
throughout the British Isles and Worldwide.
Rosemary Sault
- 85 Lightwood Road, Yoxall, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE13 8QE. Tel.
01543 472629
Rosemary grows wheat, oats and rye, here's what she says about her 2007 harvest:
WHEAT
- Maris Widgeon: a thin walled, pale straw with large white ears. The straw is medium length and is suitable for all types of straw work.
- Squarehead's Master: a long thin walled straw with reddish brown ears. A very old variety.
- Bearded Squarehead's Master: Straw is the same as Squarehead's Master but the ears have long awns (whiskers).
OATS
- Golden ears are good for decoration and floral displays,
whilst the straw is suitable for marquetry.
TRITICALE
- A hybrid between wheat and rye. The straw is medium length, and hollow, so suitable for plaiting. A good substitute for bearded wheat.
Rosemary sells prepared straws in multiples of 100 (400, 800 and 1,000 are the most popular multiples). Buying prepared straws takes away the drudgery of preparing your own straw and having to clean up afterwards.
Due to the size of sheaves postage is expensive but sheaves can be collected but it is important that you contact her beforehand to arrange collection.
Rosemary is a member of the Guild.
You can read all about growing and preparing straw here
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Are your classes studying Harvest Festival as part of your school curriculum? Are your Brownies or Cub Scouts looking at nature crafts or traditions of our past? Are you setting up an Arts & Crafts display and would like a bit of help and guidance?
The Guild has available for short term loan Borrow Boxes that contain about a dozen small simple examples of corn dollies, tied straw work and basic straw marquetry, many of which can be made up from instructions already available on the Guild’s website. If you are interested in more details, please contact us through the link to the
.
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Elaine Lindsay
- Something Corny, Rowan Cottage, Inveramsay, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 5DQ. Tel. 01467 681330
Something Corny supply Plastic Straw Splitters, Star Frames and Instruction Books. These items are available by post from Elaine Lindsay.
Elaine is a member of the Guild and is experienced in many aspects of
straw craft.
Gordon Thwaites
- Garth Nest, Kentmere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9JF
Tools for straw splitting, marquetry and Swiss straw work.
Gordon is a clock maker by profession and so his tools are made to very
high standards. All his tools are works of art in themselves.
A catalogue now available so please write to him for details
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"Marquetry Box"
Worked by Gillian Nott
Photographed by Veronica Main
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