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

10/10/2026

Another building from Chiltern Open Air Museum - Heritage Attraction last weekend. I had a busy day demonstrating but did have a quick look inside this wonderful tin chapel which has been decorated by the volunteers for harvest festival. Isn’t it glorious?
There are also straw items inside from the museums collection.
farming

05/10/2026

Yesterday I spent the day doing one of my favourite things, making hat plait with straw and talking to people about this endangered craft. I was situated in Leagrave Cottage which is thatched with long straw and was one home in the mid 1800’s to Joseph and Rebecca Thomas - agricultural labourer and straw plaiter and their children: Emma (17), Esther (12), Caroline (6), straw plaiters, Joseph (3) and Dinah (7 months).
A great museum full of history and in a lovely setting. Thanks for having me Chiltern Open Air Museum - Heritage Attraction

03/10/2026

Come along and say hello Chiltern Open Air Museum - Heritage Attraction on Sunday 4th October where I will be demonstrating straw hat plaiting.

29/09/2026

Last week to view the straw tassels Waterside on view until the end of the week as part of the ‘What is precious’ exhibition in conjunction with Design-Nation UK

22/09/2026

plaiting and harvest = dream combo
I love this 4 end rustic plait.
Let me know what yours is in the comments
Or add me to your favourites by going to my profile page, click the drop down under the following tab and then click the star box, that way I should appear in your feed more often apparently 🌾😁

08/09/2026

More from Tear Up - Willow & Fibre Festival and the fantastic class I took with Delia Fian - thank you for your wonderful instruction and help, loved every minute of it.

📷 1 and 2 Delia Fian

02/09/2026

More from the weekend Tear Up - Willow & Fibre Festival , fun workshop with rope taught by the wonderful Splice+Fid | Laurence Knoop. Thanks Laurence - it was great and fab to have a go at splicing too.
Thanks to my patient other half who embraces the basket and craft madness🥰

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.

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

Address

Cumnor
Oxford

Website

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

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