Ministry of Straw

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Ministry of Straw

A place for learning about straw, working with straw, plaiting, corn dolly making and plaiting. Workshops and commissions available

06/08/2026

A day of prepping and sorting ready to teach endangered straw crafts to a new group of budding straw workers and straw plaiters tomorrow. We will be experimenting with different plaits and making some traditional corn dollies and harvest trophies as well as talking about harvest, farming traditions and folklore.
If you would like to join a class or learn more about straw then why not sign up to my mailing list check out my events page?

Link in bio .

01/08/2026

Today is Lammas day, a time of celebration of the harvest, rituals, gathering and thanks for the food which will sustain us and the seed which will grow again in the spring.
This year the harvest has been exceptionally early and the yield is much lower.
This first picture is a harvest maiden made from oats and simply dressed, traditionally other names used include Ivy Girl, Kirn and various spelling versions of this such as Kern, Kurn and Kyrn. Sometimes paper clothes were also used.
Picture 2 is a small harvest wreath made from oats, heritage wheat and rye, hat plait and recycled metal, beads and sequins. The background print is one of my own hand carved print blocks.

17/07/2026

What a magical setting for a workshop yesterday. It was such a pleasure to teach two groups in the magical setting of University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum tracking the sun and sitting in the shade. I love teaching outside when I can and the gardens were looking amazing. They have also been testing out growing a range of wheat, rye and oats - do pop in and see those -quick before they cut them!

There was also a lot of chatting and plaiting and walking and plaiting..well done and thank you to everyone who came and to all University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum who made the workshop happen.

If you would like to learn more about working with straw please like, follow, share and sign up to my newsletter for more.
Links in my bio.🌾

24/06/2026

I recently delivered a workshop for the Bradwell Windmill Project Milton Keynes Arts Centre - what a fantastic day and such a pleasure to pass on straw skills to such an enthusiastic and interested group. Thanks for having me and to all those who took part.

📷by Chris Henley Chris Henley

23/06/2026

Want to learn a traditional craft this summer? Why not join me for a day course on corn dolly and harvest trophy making? You will learn how to tie a traditional straw workers know and an assortment of straw plaiting techniques. At the end of the day you will go home with new heritage craft skills and 2 or 3 finished items

21/06/2026

Happy Summer Solstice to you all ☀️

You can also join me in a few weeks time and make your own crown Modern Makers Collective summer school.
☀️

03/06/2026

Spent a fantastic day last weekend running a workshop for and . As always wonderful to be passing on the skills and stories of my

06/05/2026

Straw, ‘basketryness’ … yes just made that up and more from recent trips to Geneva and Bilbao.
Loved the Museum of Ethnography in Geneva and the esparto donkey was also a spot out and about in Geneva.
The rest were in The Guggenheim in Bilbao.
Basketry everywhere makes me happy.

Fellow makers - is your photo feed filled up with stuff like this too?
Let me know

01/05/2026

Happy May Day!
Beltane blessings to all
Looking forward to summer

23/04/2026

Why not join me for a straw workshop and learn some straw plaiting and corn dolly making skills?
I will be teaching a one day introductory straw course
Friday 7th August
£70 per person.
Hope you can join me for a day of hand craft and making.

Address

Cumnor
Oxford

Website

http://www.ministryofstraw.co.uk/

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