Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Final count!

Together we have raised
£1340
for the Caithness Heritage Trust!!

Fantastic.

Thank you everyone.

My husband Joe, successfully bid on this one:

Friday, October 2, 2009

watch the paper boats sail by!

Oh, and I should warn you, it's a force 10 on the ocean - so the boats sail by quickly!

video

Friday, September 25, 2009

Top Secret!!

The fundraiser was launched in style on a cold but crisp January day with allthe volunteers who run Mary-Ann's Cottage, turning out to make a paper boat outside the the cottage.

Paper boats sailed in constantly for the next 7 months- hundreds of them! from 122 different boat yards in 25 different countries.

Quite exciting when the postie arrived each day! A fantastic response to our request for paper boats, I was really quite flabbergasted!

All the boats then went on display in Caithness Horizons, Thurso, and all boatswent on sale by secret silent auction. Bids came in from near and far, aseverything was also on a dedicated paper boat blog. At 6pm GMT Thursday 24thSeptember, the auction was closed and no more bids accepted. Now, you can imagine the excitement, wanting to know how many bids came in, did all boatsfinds a new home, and did we make any money for The Caithness Heritage Trust volunteers who run Mary-Ann's cottage!!?? And did I get the boats I bid on!!

Beki Pope, manager of Caithness Horizons, has the unenviable task of sorting all this out ! We helped to re-pack boats for their potential new owners. It was quite like a bizarre kind of bingo - Beki calling out numbers, while wecollected envelopes and boats from up a ladder on the wall or on the table -this was a very busy harbour!

Caithness Horizons are contacting the successful bidders over the next few days. We are going to wait until all boats have been collected and money in, before making our announcement of how much money was raised in total. The initial signs are good, as you've all been so generous, so again, I'm flabbergasted at what we've managed together - from just a paperboat.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

All bidding now Closed !

A big thank you to everyone for joining in the paper boat fundraiser fun!

All bids are now in and bidding is now closed!

If your bid for a boat was the highest - we'll be in touch with your over the next few days!

I am delighted to be able to tell you that ALL paper boats will have new homes.


It will take us a few days to do the final count, so check back soon to find out how much money we raised for the Caithness Heritage Trust to help them keep Mary-Ann's Cottage open for future generations.

Brilliant!!

A few pics taken on the opening night by Sheila Moir - Thanks Sheila.



And here's a few more pics of the paperboats exhibition!





1 hour left!! Bid for a boat!!!

1 hours left to bid!
Paper Boat Auction
Get your bids in before 18:00 GMT on Thursday 24th Sept.
in Caithness Horizons, Thurso and on-line.

Boats are listed by lot number.
There are 122 lots.
The lot number is beside each boat maker - so scroll down to see them all!
Some lots consist of more than one boat. If you are bidding on a lot number with more than one boat and are successful, you get all the boats in that lot number!

Start bidding from Friday 4th September at 18:00 GMT.
Bids will be reviewed after the exhibition has closed, at 18:00 GMT on Thursday 24th September.
Only successful bidders will be contacted.
The minimum bid is only £2.00
All bids must be made in pounds sterling.
Payment will only be requested from successful bidders, and could be cash, cheque, card or Paypal.
Please make sure you leave your postal address as well as an e-mail and telephone contact.
Name:
Postal Address:
E-mail:
Telephone number:
Date and time of bid:
Boat No: Bid Amount: £
Boat No: Bid Amount: £
Boat No: Bid Amount: £
You can bid for as many boats as you like!!
It's a secret silent auction - so we're not telling you which boats have bids already!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

NEWS FLASH!!

BBC Alba filmed the exhibition and paper boat fundraiser today.
Watch on-line if you live in the UK.

It will be broadcast on Wednesday 9th September.
You can watch live and then only 24 after first being broadcast.

Here's what to do!

Go to this website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/ then go to the box headed Naidheachdan (its on the lefthand side )and click on the link for An La (It's on the righthand side). There are two programme options available, one is for watching live (8pm - 8.30pm) and the other is for the most recent programme played. An La is Gaelic for The Day. An La is a news programme. Our paper boat fundraiser is one of many news items broadcast.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Setting up the exhibition!

I'm busy setting up the exhibition in Caithness Horizons.. ...........
To get you in the mood, watch me being interviewed in Mary-Ann's cottage by Nick Hand.......with a few of your boats!
Click on the photo of Mary-Ann's Cottage to watch!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

BBC Alba to film the paper boat exhibition!

BBC Alba travelled north and filmed the launch of the paper boat fundraiser on a cold day outside Mary-Ann's Cottage in January!



BBC Alba are to return...........and will be filming the exhibition in Caithness Horizons during the first week it is open. I'll be adding links so you can watch it online tooooooooo........

Friday, August 21, 2009

Harbour Gates Have now Closed!


Thank you to all the boat makers from around the world!

122 - UK - Elaine Allison


Hi Joanne, here are my boats! Hope they make it!

Elaine.

Now on the gallery wall!

121 - UK - George and Linda




Two boats from West Lake Orchards in Devon. One is the apple boat - on a Maori flax basket with apple sail. This sybolizes our farm's main business and the other is the bee boat and symbolizes our love of beekeeping and our hives. Linda and George
www.west-lake.co.uk (apple juice & cider)

120 - UK - Jane Bregazzi


Dear Joanne, I have some paper boats for you from lots of different playgroups/artworkshops. The children loved becoming involved in your project and got a lot out of it. Good luck with your fundraising for Mary-Ann’s cottage. Very best wishes Jane Bregazzi.

The boat makers were:
Brora Gaarfields August 2009 3yrs – 13yrs
Golspie Feis July 2009 8yrs – 12 yrs
Golspie Sutherland Easter 2009 Art and Storytelling
Strathpeffer July 2009 5yrs – 11yrs
North Kessock – August 2009
Culbokie July 2009 5yrs – 11yrs
Isle of Barra (Feis) July 2009 3yrs – 13yrs
Invergordon August 2009 5yrs – 11yrs
Dornoch Allsorts Summer 2009 5yrs – 12yrs
Golspie March 2009
The photograh is of boatmakers in Golspie, and was taken by Clive Grewcock for their local newspaper.

119 - Croatia - Tina Zec and friends



Joanne, Good luck and success with your fundraiser and other creative endeavors. With best wishes Tina Zec and friends. Zagreb School of Economics and Management

I had been working on this project for you in March. I made some myself using directions posted and got so excited about all the variations of paper boats possible that I did it as an art workshop for my daughter, Josie's 2nd grade class here in Zagreb. I but luckily my daughter is bilingual so she helped tell her classmates what to do. My son Darian also helped to get ready for his pirate birthday party on March 8. I found your site looking for directions to make for his themed event.
I got my college class involved as a warm up activity and used it to explain the power of an idea (yours).
The boats are made from Croatia: Croata Kravata Tie Company catalogpages decorated with the Croatian horroscope symbols from a localmagazine, a toy catalog, Lider Magazine, FT How to spend it magazine,and construction paper boats which were used for Boys Birthday party decorations.
The boat makers were: Tina Zec and friends from:- primary school(Class 2B at Kuslanova Primary School which included Josephine Zec (age 8) and 19 others.- college class (Customer Relationship Management course members at Zagreb School of Economics and Management including Dora Preloznjak,Valentin Descamps, Sanda Milunovic, Jean Baptiste Lafitte, Ana Paulina Zamudio, Arnaud Mounes, Elena Plavetic, Kata Zovkic, Luka Sepcic, and 10 others).
I am so glad that they finally set sail for your event.

118 - UK - Caithness - Mick O' Donnell





Joanne,

It has been a long journey, while was William Young was on the maiden voyage of the ‘Westland’, we were on the maiden voyage of our new house ‘Burifa’. We are now ship-shape, safely tied up and on firm ground ready for the future.
The ‘Rolling Home’ is made from local sycamore (Thurso Scotland) with an artists brush for the mast. We wish her ‘Bon voyage’ wherever she may sail.


Brough
Thurso
Scotland.

http://www.woodturning.uk.com/Caithness/ncaithness.html
(Still shows the old house!)

Mick

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

117 - UK - Deirdre Nelson


Paper boats with a postcard printed with knitted fish from Deirdres collaboration with Unst Peerie knitters - an afterschool knitting club in Shetland.
Hi Joanne, My boats at last!
My boat is made from paper printed with fisherman’s gansey patterns.
“ A fisherman’s gansey was once his most distinctive feature. A navy blue jumper, patterned on the top half and part of the sleeves was a proud possession. It was likely to be knitted by a loved one and carried a pattern characteristic of the fishing port of the family.” Project looks great. Deirdre.

Click here to see lots of photos of Deirdre work.

Monday, August 17, 2009

116 - New Zealand - Beth and Chris Garey


1. Red Boat by Beth Garey (11) Printed from an original design by Beth after a printmaking session with Lynn Taylor. All of the icons have special meanings to Beth.

2. Foil Boat by Beth Garey (11) with seagull.

3. Poety boat (handwritten in pencil on the boat).
Small wooden planks neatly assembled into a tree, into paper, into a boat, a dinghy.
The boat is slow to age and slow to rot .
The weather hammers, the weather beats upon the wooden prow, the curving sides and the slender oars.
The rain lashes it until the oars fall in the water and the boat sinks.
Beneath the silent water there is a peace, there is a calm, from wave to sand, battered wood surfaces on some far off shore like a beached message. And then it rots far up the beach onto the land, and the soil builds up into a tree. Into a boat.

by Beth Garey (11) Broad Bay

4.Memories of My Grandmother by Chrisine Garey Broad Bay, Dunedin, NZ
28th July 2009

For the grandmother you gave me, for the mother you gave me, and for the daughter you gave me - the precious women in my life - I cherish your memory, Greatgrandmother of mine. Safe voyage home to the old country.

Though I never met you, gentle soul, you are much remembered and much loved,

Christine x

Click on text to read.

I'm holding the boats.

115 - Brazil - Barbara Benz


My boat's travel.

Hello Joanne, My boat is made from an ordinary print paper, with the image of ship containers from internet news, and some stamps. A little joke between light paper boat and heavy cargo ship, traveling from Brazil to UK.

I have a blog, I am a beginner. I post my impressions about the piece of world around me, sometimes what I see, I feel, I think; my arts also. Sorry it is only in Portuguese!

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande du Sul, Brazil

www.barbarabenz.blogspot.com

Friday, August 14, 2009

114 - Brazil - Daisy Maciel

Dear Joanne, love your paper boat project. I found it in the FiberArts magazine. Please find enclosed my contribution for your project. My boat is made from phone threads, glass beads. To tie the box, old paper thread. The “sea” is handmade felt. This paper is handmade – I made it. My name is Daisy Maciel. I’m from Porto Alegre, a city in Rio Grande du Sul, Brazil. All the best with wishes with your project fundraiser. Daisy

A love poem
Just to be simple
Don’t need anything more
Don’t ask nothing
No buy things
No need more
But have only one need
Love.

Daisy e-mailed me some more info:
"What a amazing surprise to see your carefully and delicacy, the photos are very beautiful. Thank you very much. I enjoyed your project in many points, one of that is its remind me my own roots. My ancestors came from Portugal and France (by boat of course) in the final of century XVII.They were farmers and cattle-raiser in a field called "IBIROCAY" almost frontier line with Uruguay. The history sheep's and my state send to beginning of colonization. They were originated from the crossing between the sheep brought the Jesuit priests and other imported races since the Portuguese colonization. They are called CREOLE SHEEP and in 2001 were recognized at an economic and social importance function.and creator numbers are growing around the country.
I made the "sea" hand made felt with Creole wool and I'm very involved with wool rescue.To explain better : the box tie is paper used to envolved thread phone antiques."

Thursday, August 13, 2009

113 - Finland - Tarja Trygg

This little boat has had quite a journey…….starting in the snow in Helsinki, then a short stop with Roderick Wathen who lives in Mary Ann’s Cottage on the Isle of Skye………thanks Roderick for re-launching Tarja’s boat and sending it to me!!
Tarja Trygg
Licentiate of Art University of Art and Design Helsinki TAIKSchool of Art Education Helsinki.

112 - USA - Rhona and Sheena MacDonald



Ok some folks will go to great lengths to send me a paper boat from far away……. Sheena and Rhona are from Caithness, but in the USA for a short time…….

Dear Joanne, Here is our attempt at paper boats. Rhona used the cartoon page from the ‘local’ paper ‘The Tri City Herald’ and she has managed to set the ships cat (Garfield) just in the correct place - looks like he is heading for a snooze! Inspiration for the other one came from watching the fast boats race on the river last weekend. What a short journey it would have been it NZ if they had one of those boats! Speak soon. Sheena and Rhona.

Monday, August 10, 2009

111 - UK - Becca Thompson

Dear Joanne, I hope my boat reaches you in time. I grew up in Wick. I knew Mary-Ann wnen she lived at the Seaview nursing home. I helped look after Mary-Ann when she was still a sprightly 90yr old. I now live in Southampton. My boat is made from George Mackay Brown’s poem, ‘The fishermans Bride’ and holds a cargo of fish. Good luck with the projectBecca

110 - UK - Caithness - Emily Millard

Emily Millard
Age 9
Thurso
Caithness

109 - UK - Linda Cracknell



Francis Drake’s ‘Pirate’

‘Pirate’ was a ketch built in Stromness, Orkney in 1888 by G & P Copeland. In the same year she transferred ownership to Robert and Francis Drake who ran the last sailing coasters, delivering coal, slate, etc around the British coasts from Braunton, North Devon. Sadly she foundered off Lavernock Point after a collision with SS Druidstone in 1913 on passage between Cardiff and Bideford, carrying coal.

My mother’s mother was a Drake from Braunton. Every Drake generation had its ‘Francis’, although my great Uncle Frank in Sidmouth, merchant seaman, was last of the line. We like to say that we are descendants from that original ‘Pirate’ of Elizabeth I (although I find it best to keep quiet about this ancestry in some parts of the world).

My boat is made from paper that has on one side a chart of the north coast of Scotland and on the other side a 19th century map of the Braunton area - each end of the journey the Pirate must have taken from Stromness to Braunton.

‘Pirate’ believed to be by J H Harrison, quayside painter, from the book: Braunton – Home of the Last Sailing Coasters by Robert D’Arcy Andrew


Linda Cracknell
Aberfeldy, Perthshire, UK
http://lindacracknell.blogspot.com
http://walkingandwriting.blogspot.com

The Searching Glance, short story collection:
http://www.saltpublishing.com/books/smf/9781844714414.htm

A Wilder Vein (editor), non-fiction anthology, November 2009:
http://www.tworavenspress.com/HTML%20Pages/Forthcoming%20titles.htm

Saturday, August 8, 2009

108 - Australia - Iona Bulford and Mary-Jane Walker



Dear Joanne, I came across your paper boat project in FiberArts magazine and thought it was a wonderful idea, uniting the world by encircling it with paper boats all sailing their way back to you. I hope my late entry makes port in time!

I lived in Scotland in the 1980’s, while doing my PhD in evolutionary genetics at Edinburgh University and have loved it ever since. I met and married my husband there and though we live back in my home country, Australia, we retain a real connection to your beautiful country through visits and family and friends. Two of our four children have Scottish names and I have a strongly Celtic background.


My little boat, in it’s silk organza sheerness, represents the fragility of our Earth. The ecosystem balances precariously on rough seas, the planet apparently thrown overboard. It is made from silk, linen and natural dyes with a bit of paper as well.

Although I trained as a scientist, I now channel my passion for the environment into my work as a textile artist. My boat brings a cargo of hope and all the best wishes for your project to succeed. It is a wonderful thing you have done inspiring people all over the world and it is just what we need in these times. Just as the Westland set sail with courage and high hopes, united we can achieve great things. Good Luck with your voyage.
Kind regards
Mary-Jane Walker.
PS. My daughter, Iona, was also very taken with your project and encloses a ship full of Australian animals for you!!

107 - USA - Duane Beard and Ben Moran



SS Maize
Handmade maize paper tugboat and barge.
As the fishing fleet was integral to the coastal population, the tug and barge were integral to the inland waterways.
Our SS Maize and barge is crafted from handmade paper created from corn husks.

Maize has always been the staple of the America’s and today it is no less important to the livelihood of farmers, boatmen, merchants and everyday people.

May the beauty of the corn bring our best wishes for Mary-Ann’s cottage and the Caithness Heritage Trust.
Duane Beard & Ben Moran.
Monte Alto, Texas, USA
surfbunnydesign.blogspot.com

Friday, August 7, 2009

106 - UK - Anne Fitzsimmons - Mary-Anns grandaughter

Dear Joanne,
Here are our paper boats! I enjoy reading your blog spot. Anne

Boat on the left: Anne & Jim Fitzsimmons
(Grandaughter of Mary-Ann)
Boat on the right: Paul Fitzsimmons(Great grandson of Mary-Ann)

Photographed at Mary-Ann's.

105 - Denmark - Jytte Rasmussen

Mary-Ann's front door.
Dear Joanne, Good luck with the exhibition!
Jytte is a member of www.iapma.info
See some of her work here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandart/2833182092/

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Soundslides - By Nick Hand

Nick's soundslides are brilliant - click on the photo to hear my interview and see inside Mary-Ann's cottage!



".............Nick Hand is currently on a bicycle tour around the coast of Great Britain to raise money for Parkinson's Disease Society. As he travels, he is making short documentary films using still photography about local artisans and makers. These are called Soundslides.....

You can find out all about the trip at http://www.slowcoast.co.uk/ "

Nick stayed here earlier this week, a really nice bloke on an amazing journey. Let him catch his breath to edit and upload the latest batch of interviews ............I took him down to Mary-Ann's cottage to check out William Young's Sea-Chest and told him all about the paper boat fundraiser.
That's Nick, arriving at my house.

104 - Denmark - Elisabeth Hansen

Good luck with your project. It is very exciting.

My house sign!

103 - USA - Sandra Hamilton

Sandra’s boat is held by paper hands cut from a map of Arkansas.
Her boat sailed from Little Rock Arkansas.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

102 - USA - Kim Bredberg and students at Waterhouse

Summer at last.
The teacher has set her boats a sail. My sister-in-law discovered your blog last fall, forwarded the address right away with this message: “This sounds perfect for Waterhouse”. She was right, of course.

This past winter, twelve students, aged 9 through 14, in my arts based home school cooperative each created a paper boat embellished with pages torn from the dictionary, complete with a tiny “lifeboat of words” and an original poem on a ghost ship of velum. The children lovedthis creative endeavor. Later in the spring, five of my students who participated in a longer, one-day workshop, crafted paper boats inspired by Henri Matisse’s Goldfish. The children are thrilled that their boats are sailing to Scotland.
I wish we could take a field trip to Caithness for the fundraising event, but am grateful for the virtual opportunity.
Many thanks. Kim Bredberg, Director, Waterhouse, California. USA

101 - Australia - Colleen Drew

Hi Joanne, I came across your project on the IAPMA website and found that boats and their stories quite enchanting. So much so that, at this late stage, I’ve been tempted to enter. I’m a papermaker and also enjoyed the IAPMA meeting in Tasmania this year. My boats are not on handmade paper because I felt the texture of my paper didn’t do justice to the fine script on the documents I was copying. The paper wallet is made from ‘handmade Butter’ paper from Thailand.

There was a time when everyone who came to Australia came by ship. My mother was one of them. As a child of five, with her mother, a sister and three brothers she left London in 1913 on a long and to a child, I imagine a most exciting journey.

Two of my boats relate to that journey. The sailboat is made from a copy of the ticket for the family’s passage on the SS.Beltane. To this boat I’ve added photos of the members of my mother's family, taken in the NSW town of Orange some years after they settled in Australia. There are no photos from the period of their journey. The second, a two masted boat is made from that part of the ships’s passenger list which contains their names. The third boat, more like a steam boat, relates to my mother's life in Australia. The Welcome Wall is an initiative of the National Maritime Museum and honours the contribution of migrants to our nation. It stands on the end of the Museum wharf at Darling Harbour, Sysdney, opposite ‘The Rocks’ area where my mother lived as a child. Migrant’s names can be inscribed on the Wall which has an associated online database which stores historical information about them: when and how they came, who they came with, and where and how they lived. This forms a fitting tribute to those whose hard work and honest endeavour, while possibly never attracting headlines, provided the foundation of Australia’s growth and prosperity. The third boat is made from paper on one side of which is printed my mother’s entry and on the other, the insignia of the welcome wall.
I’ve included copies of the paper for your information. These could be dislpayed with the boats if you wish.
I look forward to following the progress of the project and wish you every success for the auction. Best wishes Colleen Drew.
I took these boat to Dwarwick harbour to photograph.

Monday, August 3, 2009

100 - Ireland - Suzie Sullivan

Brilliant............from the 100th boat maker.........something completely different!!

Paper boat earrings - hand dyed silk paper embellished with beads and metallic thread.
Made by Suzie Sullivan

Sunday, August 2, 2009

99 - USA - Akua Lezli Hope




I photographed Akuas paper boats in the Seadrift visitors Centre Dunnet hanging from the whale bone! Click here for info about the Highland Council Rangers guided walks and events in Caithness and Sutherland.

Dear joanne, made these boats ages ago then wanted them to be – more and failing that forgot about them. Then today on the IAPMA site saw your call and realized there was still time to participate. Wish you and your endeavour the best. This is milkweed stuff paper. My paper site is : www.artfarm.com/papier.html Joy in the making!Akua Lezli Hope

Click on the photo to read Akua's poem printen on her own handmade paper.

98 - UK - Rachel Hazell


Dear Joanne, having motivated numerous boat foldings, apologies for being so late in sending them. First is a series, a flotilla, made by the bookbinders on the ‘Maps, Charts and Other Discoveries coverings’ course at Bressay Lighthouse. Shetland in April. So there are a lot of er maps and charts and…..of course chocolate consumption.

Shetland Lighthouse workshop participants: Hazel Gray, Emma Gibson, Lauris Morgan-Griffiths, Ama Bolton, Isabelle Ting, Hilary Leckridge, Hammie Toppenden, Janey Paterson, Sue Lewington and Kelly Kellie.

My own personal contribution to your wonderful project has been created from several pages on manuscript from
Horatio Clare’s book ‘A single Swallow: following an epic journey from South Africa to South Wales. He discarded the sheets after a reading during an Arvon Foundation writing course, and willingly consented to my recycling plan. The words are painted over with earth and sand colours. Boats of imagination.

It’s been a treat to watch the world wide wishes for Mary-Ann’s croft wing in . Well done you!
From Rachel - the travelling bookbinder.

97 - UK - Isabell Buenz




Dear Joanne, I have sent my paper boats today and hope they’ll arrive safely at your place and will help contribute towards your fundraiser. I am a member of PaperWeight ( www.paperweight.org.uk ) and make mostly one-off books that contain my own text and images. The boats are printed on inkjet paper showing photographs I took when visiting some of my favourite Scottish harbours and beaches. I live near the Scottish Borders and am currently working on my website www.isabellbuenz.co.uk which will hopefully be up and running soon. Until then you can see some of my photos on www.flickr.com/photos/isabellbuenz/

Good luck with the auction
Isabell Buenz
I photographed Isabells boats on the wavy wall next to the main carpark of Dunnet Beach.
The wall was commissioned by the Dunnet Millennium Committee. With help from local artist, Liz O' Donnell, and Senior Ranger Mary Legg, local childrens art work was engraved onto Caithness slate by David Mackay, Lybster, and incorporated into the wall built by Mac Calder of Westside Dunnet.
Click here to see more pics of the artists at work!!

96 - UK - Maggie Le May

‘Ghost Boat’ made from tissue paper and pva!
Maggie Le May in Edinburgh.

Photographed on Caithness slate.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

T V interview! - you can watch Lynn on-line now!

Click on the photo to go to NZ TV Channel 9!
It is available to view online from Sunday 26th for one week!
Lynn's interview is about 10 minutes into the programme!

On wednesday July 22nd at 5 pm Lynn will be on television - Channel 9 in New Zealand - live! It is a five minute interview and I was asked to send in 6 images of my art - so I have sent one of the beginning of the project showing the big brainstorm I did, 4 images from my log and one of paper boats so I can talk about Mary Ann's Cottage and the paper boats project.

Apparently this can be viewed from Sunday (for a week) on their website ch9.co.nz under Dunedin Diary. Charlotte from Channel 9 said it can be tricky to find but hopefully you can find the podcast. Already nervous.

95 - UK - Caithness - Ormlie Community Association

Sue Rainbow made paper boats with
boys and girls ( 7yrs – 12yrs ) from the CPP groups -
Ormlie Community Association, Thurso, Caithness.
Sunny in Caithness today!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

94 - USA - Pamela Suzanne Gibson


On the 16th May, 1774, just months before the start of America’s Revolutionary War, a ship set sail from Stranraer, Scotland bound for New York. The “Gale” of Whitehaven carried a number of Scottish families from the Parish of Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, including a bachelor named George McWilliam (25) and the family of John and Elizabeth McCracken Milroy. Their daughter Mary, then just 12, was to become the wife of George McWilliam some nine years later.

At that time the new country was opening up along New York’s Mohawk River. Once the Scots reached Schenectady they packed their personal effecs and household goods on horses and began the treck, cutting their way through the forest. Many settled in what became known as Galway – they town’s name to remain forever mispelled – while others settled in what came to be called Charlton.

In 1776 the Scotch Street Settlement (West Charlton) developed as settlers from Scotand established farms along what is now Sacandaga Road. It was on this road that my immigrant ancestors settled a 114-acre tract; the title to the farm was held in the McWilliam family name until 1967. I was fortunate to see the handsome 22-room white clapbord home before an architectural salvager desmantled the structure in 2005.

The McWilliam homestead commanded a spectacular view of the Hudson River Valley and mountain ranges in the states of New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. Because of this , during WWII the home was chosed as an early aircraft warning observation post. When I visited this beautiful setting I was touched by a view of the spire of Scotch Church in the vallery below.

Along with many friends and family who sailed from Scotland, George McWilliam and Mary Milroy McWilliam, are buried at Scotch Church Cemetary, Saratoga County, New York.

Some family facts:
George McWilliam (s) b. 15Mar 1749, d 24 Nov 1812.
Mary Mil(l)roy b. 15 Feb 1762, d. 1 May 1840.
George and Mary – both born in Scotland – were married 6 Feb 1783 in Schenectady, N.Y. Some of their eleven children are also buried at Scotch Church. I descended through their son, Abner James, born 1797, New York.

Perhaps this wee boat will reach a dsitant cousin or a family historian who knows of the parents of George McWilliam or details of th eMilroy family. Like those who set bottles adrift in the sea, I am sending my boat off with a wish for correspondence.

All papers made by the artist; the boat is printed with a copy of the 1813 McWilliam Family household inventory.

Pamela Suzanne Gibson
Thistlepaper Press
Colorado

Boat book photographed on Caithness Slate.

93 - UK - Jack Smith and Rachel Hunter


Hi Joanne, determined to get these boats to you in time for the deadline. I hope the exhibition goes well and helps raise funds as hoped. Boats on blog look great – really exciting to see so many people getting involved and from so far and wide.

Three boats:
1.‘House boat’ by Jack Smith, Peebles, made from computer paper with ink stamps.
2.‘Love boat’ by Rachel Hunter. Peebles, made from a old workshop handout covered in sequins. I like the idea of converting something work-related into something art-related – and sequins are just an excuse for a bit of glitter!
3.untitled – by Rachel Hunter and Jack Smith. I printed out your instructions, so rather than waste the paper, Jack suggested making another boat!

Photographed on Caithness slate.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

92 - New Zealand - Julie Whitefield


Ahoy there, Julie Whitefield’s boat sailing from Dunedin, New Zealand to you! My boat is based on the shrimp net experiments that my paternal grandfather (Eric Croft) did in the 1960s to create a more efficient design for catching ability and ease of escape for undersized catch. He was awarded the MBE for his efforts. All his life he was associated with the sea and lived in Pilling, Lancashire. This paper boat has an enlarged version of his original text which he wrote on his typewriter and the drawings of some of the trial nets. Walnut ink made from the walnuts in my garden has been used to introduce a New Zealand link to the boat’s construction.
Julie

91 - USA - Valorie Harlow


From right to left!! Click image to see details.

Green/black boat is made out of a silkscreen that I made. That has a wold image on in. Boat name – SEA WOLF.
SS.MIA – is made out of a Minneapolis Arts Institute Advertisement.
Fish Dream – Tin foil boat with purple fish.
Plain Manila envelope used for “House Boat” Me and my dogs at home.
Bone Adventure. Nikki and Max – cut out from black paper.

Good Luck!

90 - USA - Joyce Bamman


Click on images to see all the boats !!
Dear Artist, I hope this finds you well. These boats were made from a free publication called Skirt magazine. I found your request online one night when I could not sleep. I recently graduated with an MFA in Theater Costume Design form the university of Memphis. I hope you have a wonderful show and fundraiser! Oh, my husband and I watched Monarch of the Glen on netflix and we think your counry is beautiful and hope to visit the area where it was filmed. Joyce.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

89 - UK - Loretto Cloud (Nee Kaar)


Dear Joanne, I came across your website while searching my family name (maiden) recently. When I read about your residency in Taiwan I realised that you must be the relative an aunt in Ireland told us about – married to a cousin. My uncle emigrated to Manchester when I was a child and I haven’t met those cousins since. I myself came to London years ago.

It has been interesting reading about your paper boat project and I have a couple of boats for you. One is an A4 printout of a photo I took in the glasshouse of the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Wisley near where I live. As it is a ‘boat’ containing beautiful flowers it seems appropriate. The mini picture above helps to show that. I painted the other side with acrylics to match the flowers.
I made the other boat by printing a photo of the bark of a Scots pine tree at the end of my garden. Being wood it is a suitable material but with the added bonus of the name! Then, I lined the inside by pasting yellow tissue paper on the reverse side – yellow being my favourite colour. It conjures up the rising sun and is a warm and welcoming colour; good to imagine those people being welcomed in New Zealand In the nineteenth century.

The ‘golden’ boat’ is made from wrapping paper double layered. I include it to wish you good fortune in raising money for Mary-Ann’s cottage.

The sailing route starts on the River Wey in Surrey; this joins the River Thames and on out to the North Sea!

With best wishes Loretto Cloud (nee Kaar)

I photographed my husband, Joe Kaar holding the paper boats!

Monday, July 20, 2009

88 - USA - MaryLouise Ott


Hello from Portland Oregon!
I was captivated by your paper boat project for Mary-Ann’s Cottage after reading about it in FiberArts magazine and visiting your blog. What a lovely idea to bring people together from around the world for a worthy cause.

For several days now I’ve been creating paper boats. The group of five I’m sending were inspired by digital photos I have taken of Neskowin, a little village on the oregon Coast and one of my favouite places. The images printed on the outside are of sand, shells, grass, driftwood and sand dune plants. Those on the inside are of flowers growing in village gardens (and one of me with the ocean as a backdrop).

Your project connected with a message of peace that is dear to my heart. The words of the American Spiritual Peace like a River kept going through my head as I folded boats, so I printed some of the words on three of them:
Peace like a river
Joy like a fountain
Love like an ocean.

I also wrote a post on my blog www.seedsofcreativity.blogspot.com about your project. The following in an excerpt:
“The challenge of creating a little fleet to send off to Scotland made out of digital photos I’ve taken on the oregon Coast is only part of the allure. It has more to do with participating in something bigger than myself that brings together creative people from around the world who are forever connected by the simple task of folding paper. When we feel a connection with those in distant places we realize the differences between us are not what matters. Helping to save a cottage in Scotland by folding a paper boat touches on the essence of what makes us all the same.”

The digital iamges are printed on HP Presentation Paper uisng HP Vivera ink. All the best to you and to Mary-Ann’s cottage.
Blessings and Peace.
MaryLouise Ott Portland Oregon.

I photographed these boats on the turnip slicer at Mary-Ann's cottage.

87 - Italy - Elisabeth Oberrauch

Dear Joanne, Now I have made the ship for your exposition. I hope that you like it.
In 2005,2006,2007 and 2008 I have organised a workshop for visual artists, created works of art inspired by the rehearsals and concerts of the musicians of the Schlern International Music Festival.
http://www.schlernmusicfestival.org/
We are six of these artists who are now exhibiting a selection of our work in a gallery.
http://www.schlernmusicfestival.org/gallery/photo_gallery/art_exhibition

Nearly every day I remember to the beautiful and interesting days with you, your husband and your parents and Chip of course. I hope that you and your family stay very well. I thank you once more that it was possible for me to work one day in your studio and that you explain to me so much about the paper and your art.
Now I send you my best wishes. Please give my regards to your parents. I love to read the book by your parents, it is very interesting. Best wishes for your and “PFIATI” for your parents!!

Elisabeth.
PS You will be welcome to Italy , so you and your husband and your parents come to visit us in Meran!
Elisabeth's boat is on the peat stack at Mary-Ann's Cottage.

86- UK - Caithness - Sara and Maeva Donaldson





Here are our boats from not that far away – looking over Thurso Bay from Glengolly in Caithness. We are Saran and Maeva Donaldson, mother and daughter. After you taught me to make paper I have experimented a bit. The pinky purple paper is made from recycled envelopes with an inclusion of stamps. The white paper is a mixture of recycled paper, half-stuff and a few cinnamon tea-bags (paper tea and all!) Something exotic to hint at the travel by Caithness folk. One boat is made from plain A4 paper – on the side an example of fractal artwork which takes up most of my time, another is a sheet from a geneology night class I teach. Good luck with the fundraiser, Mary-Ann’s cottage is a special little place by one of the best bays in the couunty. All the best Sara and Maeva Donaldson.

I photographed the boats on the pig house at Mary-Ann's cottage.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

85 - Ecuador/UK - Tatiana Serrano



One boat - back and front views!

Tatiana is originally from Ecuador and now lives in Dunfermline. She studied visual art at the Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito in 1993 and more recently graphics/printmaking at Carnegie College in Fife. Recently she has become a full time member of the Fife, Dunfermline Print Workshop. Her piece was made using a lino print through the intaglio inking process plus a relief rolled collagraph. Finally some hand colouring using Stabilo Carbothello ( water soluble) pastel pencils , was added”. Here is a link to Tatiana's blog.

http://www.tatianaserranoartist.blogspot.com/

Ecuador/UK

84 - USA - Judy Wise




Judy made her boat with: paper, acrylic, amber shellac and encasutic medium. www.judywise.com

83 - UK Caithness - Sharon Pottinger


“Immigrant dressmakers such as Elizabeth Joyce, Ann White, or Julia Creasey, in choosing to emigrate, gambled on the unknown promise of a colonial future as the only alternative to deteriorating health and an insecure livelihood if they stayed behind.” A woman of Good Character: Single Women as Immigrant Settlers in New Zealand.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

82 - UK- Caithness- Angela Lewis



Dear Joanne, Here is a “Memory of the Westland” – as you said in your invitation to make a boat “….even knit it!”
The sail is undyed wool similar to that used to knit fishing boot socks. The ridge, pennant, ridge and rib pattern is from a Caithness Gansey – crewmember William Young would have worn one on the voyage. The full pennant design is the Thurso flag pattern; slightly different to the half pennant on the hull which is the Scottish flag pattern.. The ribbing at the head of the sail is the pattern used for a Gansey neck.
As the Westland sailed from here, then she just had to fly the Scottish Saltire at her mast head!
I also send a copy of William Young’s sea chest – the log book that was in it, is still in transit!
Very best wishes for your exhibition
Angela E Lewis, Caithness.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Message from the harbour master

Only 4 weeks to get your boats out of the boat yard and sail them off to me!
The harbour master needs time to organise this armada and get them ship-shape for the boat sale! Don't miss the boat!
Yes, that's me in the red! I started learning how to be a harbour master many moons ago!
Brough harbour in the 1970s'. My dad and brother are in the boat.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

81 - USA - Diane Apple


My boat is made from teabag papers, sewn together. The “letter” paper is handmade by the artist of iris leaves, cotton linters and recycled papers. I am a mixed media artist from Lebanon, Tennessee.Diane Apple.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

80 - Holland - Wilma Bouwmeester



Dear Joanne, This boat set sail from Holland, where my dear friend M. lives. He once sent me a recording of the (Scottish?) song ‘The False Bride’, which could have been an account of our own love, asking if “strawberries grow in the salt-sea”, and “How many ships sail in the forest”. The poem is written on the inside, the boat carries it’s forest on the ouside. Indeed our love seems impossible, as after 30 years it has yet to find a way of fully expressing itself………. Just let her go. Sailing off into the future. Wilma Bouwmeester, West Linton, Scotland.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

79 - UK - Caithness - Castletown Primary School

It was a very high tide last night!!



Click on the photos to see the paper boats in more detail.
Photos taken at Castlehill Harbour, Castletown. Visit Castletown Heritage Centre for info about Caithness slate and more.........

Rhiannon and Leoni. We chose to do spots and stars because we like them. We chose to do it in the colours that we did because we like to use colourful pens.

Natalie S-W. I did lines, squiggles and swirls all over my boat.

Leoni S. age 10. I chose this pattern because it is my favouite and my best friend suggested to write L.S since it is my initials.

Emma G. age 11. I chose to use blue, red, yellow and orange for my boat because they are my favourite colours.

James G age 10. I chose the flag of New Zealand because my cousins live in New Zealand.

Connor F. I like patterns.

Alex F. age 10. I chose blue, white and purple because it is the colour of the sea and the white is an effect of waves.

Georgia McL. Age 10 . I chose these colours because they are my favourite colours. I chose spots because they are my favourite patterns.

Dale McP. Age 10. I made this boat because I like yellow. I used a recycled timetable.

Alex – has a red and orange boat.

Caitlin F. I chose contrasting bright colours and dark colours.

Caitlin F. Age 11. I chose the colours because they are really bright and colourful.

Rhiannon. I chose to use an olf athletics program because I thought it would be different.

Duncan D. Age 10. I called my boat “ Cool Boys” because I am a boy.

Greg S. Age 10. I wrote my name on my boat because I like writing my name on things and I drew the Scotland flag on it because I am Scottish.

Georgia McW. The reason I put Joanne Kaar, recycle and Mary-Ann on my boat is because Mary-Ann liked to recycle and Joanne is helping keep Mary-Ann’s cottage open!

Scott S. I used a scotland flag because I like drawing flags and I am Scottish.

Laura D. Age 11. I made my boat out of old magazines that I wove myself. I chose to reuse materials because Mary-Ann did a lof of reusing.

Jack M. Age 11. I chose to do my boat in a pattern because I like patterns.

Nicola G. Age 10. The WK1 Rainbow Rider is made up of lots of differently decorated paper boats in varied sizes. It is decorated with bright and colourful flags and is supposed to look like a boat in a gala or festival.

Sam A. Age 10. I picked black, red and yellow because they’re my favourite colours. I picked the size because I like little things. (look careflully in the photo to find these boats!)

Alex. I made lots of boats from work taken home from school!

Miss S. Watson (class teacher). My paper boat is made using a sheet of music manuscript. It contains the first two pages of a string quartet called “Mary-Ann Calder”, written by by sister Katrina Gordon and premiered in Wick in May 2009. She wrote the piece about a day in the life of Mary-Ann, after working as a volunteer guide at the cottage.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

78 - Taiwan - class teacher Cheng and his pupils


Hello, I am a special needs class teacher. These kids graduated from junior high to senior high school , June 15th 2009. We made the paper boats together. In the Chinese saying “ every period of life is like a boat’s journey", and hope they journey of the kids can go smoothly. The paper boat are from the indigenous area in Taiwan, East Asia.
I photographed these boats on the official sign at Mary-Ann's Cottage.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

77 - Hong Kong - Jessica Lee







Dear Joanne, I’m 12 years old, and my name is Jessica Lee. I live in Hong Kong . I am half Scottish and half Chinese. Most of my boats are inspired by Hong Kong Harbour. I was going to take some photos but I’m waiting for a sunny day. (My flat looks over the Hong Kong Harbour). Here’s some photos. To be honest, I’m not the crafty person, I usually sketch and paint. Here’s more photos. Any way, hope you like the photos.
From Jessica Lee.

76 - USA - Donna Eyring

This “Cayman Boat” is made from a colour copy of fabric purchased on Grand Cayman and lined with a sheet of my handmade palm fiber paper. The sail is made from Cayman silver thatch palm plaited about 35 years ago by my dear friend MS. Valentine Wood. My husband and I lived and worked on Grand Cayman in the mid-1970’s. At that time Cayman was home to some of the most sought after merchant seamen in the world. This boat is made in celebration of the Caymanian people and their graciousness and generosity to us while we lived their.

This “Sail Ho Boat” is made from an Arizona map backed with a piece of my handmade yucca fibre paper. The sail is a piece of cactus skeleton. When my husband and I were dating nearly forty years ago he would take me to a night spot to hear a local singer, Dolan Ellis perform. (He since has been dubbed Arizona’s Official Balladeer.) Dolan sang a song titled “Sail Ho” about three gold miners being lost in the desert around the Superstition Mountains. They saw sailing ships coming to rescue them. The masts of the ships in the mirage were probably cactus. This boat celebrates our 39 years of romance.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

75 - UK - Shetland - Brae Primary School P3 & P4







These boats were made by Primary 3 & 4 Brae Primary School , Shetland.
Freya, Connor, Carly, Aidan, Ethan, Lewis, Matthew, Bethany, Scott, Chiara, Francesca, Luc, Finnley, Summer, Lilly, Chance
Each boat sailed to Caithness on it's own sea........I photographed them on Dunnet Beach.

Monday, June 22, 2009

74 - UK Shetland - Kit Mowat

Dear Joanne, My name is Kit Mowat and these boats have sailed from Ollaberry in the Shetland Isles to Caithness. They are mainly made using photos printed on plain paper. With a few additions.






These images were taken in the Baltic 2 months ago. The image seemed timeless. It could have been taken any time in the last 100 years in any northern country.




The image of the killer whales was taken in Yell Sound, Shetland. We spent about 1 ½ hours with a pod of 7 whales. The houseboat is printed using various seashore images and finished with peerie animals.



Several years ago we painted our boat in rainbow colours. This is The Welcome and my husband fishing mackerel.



‘Tammie Norries’


Ships in bottles! Kit labelled each boat with it's own ship-in-a-bottle, on the back is the info!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

73 - Holland - Adrienne Van Hovell


Envelope decorated!


Log book completed!

June 4 2009. Dear Joanne, How are you? Here is my second contribution for the cottage born out of crochet-mood! Plus a recycling spirit! Warm greetings .Adrienne.

This boat has been crocheted with plastic bags in the Netherlands by Adrienne Van Hovell Lynden.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

72 - Singapore - Michele Elliot

These boats sailed from sunny Singapore and were made by Michele Elliot.
The small brown and white boats area made from wax tjap’ed paper using traditional Javanese tjaps.

The yellow and bold boat is made from paper used for offerings in Buddhist temples.

The blue and white paper boat is made from some lovely wrapping paper depicting astrological charts.


The final one (blue thread) is hand stitched on hand made paper from kalimpong in West Bengal. I visited a beautiful small paper production centre there and was given a tour on the workshop. They mostly use daphne plants.

Michele is an artist from Australia, currently living in Singapore.
For more info you can visit her website: http://web.me.com/micheleelliot/

71 - Singapore - Alison Wilson





These boats sailed from sunny Singapore and were made by Alison Wilson.
Alison’s boats were made with handmade banana fibre paper bought in Yogjakarta, Indonesia. The small boat has a Bondhi leaf as a sail. There is a stamp (or tjap) of an Indonesian wayang kulit (puppet) character on the sail of the larger boat. The larger boat is waxed.

Alison is a member of www.iapma.info

Monday, June 15, 2009

70 - France - Jan Fairbairn-Edwards

Boats still in France........but looks like they are about to set sail - high waves and a rough sea.

Arrived safely - I photographed them in dry dock in my kitchen!


Joanne, Good luck with the project. These Fairbairn boats were made by three generations of the Fairbairn family, Andy Fairbairn aged 44 Emma Fairbairn aged 5 and Jan fairbairn aged 64, in memory of their Great Great grand father who was captain of a packet steamer that sailed regularly from Newcastle in the early nineteenth century. Jan Fairbairn-Edwards
See more of Jans work here:


Jan is a member of
www.iapma.info

Thursday, June 11, 2009

69 - UK - S1 pupils at Thurso High School Caithness

Alexandria Downing - fishing
Alexandria Downing - American/Japanese boat


Heather Woods - woollen canoe
Heather Woods - sailboat

Ryan Houston-Green - canoe

Sasha Curlis - Titanic
Grace Mackay - Castlehill Trail

Class S1 at Thurso High School in Caithness have been following the paper boat blog with their teacher, Pat Owen. So I was delighted when they invited me to the school to meet the class and collect their boats.
It's quite a few years since I was a pupil at Thurso High School!!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

68 - USA - Christine O'Brien

Greetings from Los Angeles,
To support the theme of recycling I have recreated 3-D images with 2-D watercolour compositions. This paper boat was shaped from plastic (fruit net) used as a weft/warp base unified with cut strips from watercolour compositions.

The mast is 300 pound watercolour paper painted in burnt umber. The rigging is cotton crochet yarn with rice paper sails. The mast is attached to a cork from a Californian winery. My husband, a hobby yachtsman and former commodore of the Los Angeles Yacht Club did all the rigging. My friend, Mae Moosa took the photos using one of my 2-D watercolours of Elba Italy as the backdrop and blue silk fabric to simulate water.


Christine O’Brien


There is also a rolled up Western Union message on the ship - which I unrolled to see inside!!
Christine printed the picture on the greetings card she sent with the boat.
Christine read about the paper boat fundraiser in the current issue of Fiberarts magazine - contemporary textile art and crafts.

Friday, June 5, 2009

67 - Ireland - Dominique Lieb



Dear Joanne, 2 salmon boats, a mother with it’s off-spring. Good luck with the fundraising and all the best to your museum. Dominique.

Now these are made from salmon skin! Dominique saved the skin from smoked salmon she bought in Dingle Co. Kerry. She dried the skins before folding.

Domnique uses traditional equipment and skills in her letter press studio:

66- UK - Chris Elliott


Dear Joanne, Please find enclosed ‘Christ n a Coracle’ (or Moses in the Bullrushes, or simply a baby in a basket) for the fund-raising auction. Best of luck, Chris.
It's tiny, so I photographed it next to the card to show you the size!

Monday, June 1, 2009

65 - USA - B/T


Hello! These boats come from the mountains of North Carolina, USA. People call me B/T. I made these boats to fill the long lonely hours this winter when I was between projects. To make three of the boats I re-used graph paper with doodles on it. Two of these I embellished further: One with ink and acrylic paint , the other with hand carved stamp. One was made from woven paper. One was made from plain white paper and ink. One was made from an index page from an atlas and ink. You can see more of my work at www.flickr.com/photos/bigsocktramp
Thanks for the inspiration!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

64 - Cape Breton Canada - Grade 5 WG Coxheath Elementary

I photographed these paper boats at Mary-Ann's cottage hanging on the wooden frame used for drying fish. Dear Joanne, here is a fleet of paper boats from the Grade 5 WG at Coxheath Elementary School in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Nancy McLean (art teacher).
Nathan: My design has orange, red and yellow polka dots.
Mitchell B: My boat is a blend of colours, on one side it is blue orand purple and red, then on the other side, blue, yellow and green.
Starry: My design represents free living.
Brittany: My boat has rainbow swirls.
Jared: My boat has a zig zag pattern with the colours of the sea.
Christian: I made my boat to be a count general boat.
Morgan: I wond the Regional Spelling Bee so I decided to name the boat after it.
Chris: My boat has warm colours on it.
Owen: My boat design consists of triangles.
Riley: My boat represents hockey on one side and flowers on the other.
Madison: One side of my boat shows a heart pattern and the other is bubbles.
Ali: My boat shows a wavy skyline, the sun and the moon.
Sarah: My design has three triangles on each side.
Tara: My boat represents freedom and peace.
Nick: I called my boat the SS Chocolate Milk because it is healthy for you and I love it.
J.J: My boat has red, green, black and light blue lines on it.
Jason: I liked my boat because it has flames on it.
Tylisha: My boat design shows bubbles and heats.
Georgia: My boat is called the SS Peace because it brings peace wherever it goes.
Rebecca: My boat has colourful polka dots on it.




63 - New Zealand - Alf Reider

My recycled paper.

62 - Holland - Trudi Van Greenbrock


Dear Joanne, I was touched by your plan of the paper boats. Usually I was busy with the boats of my two sons. They are sailors. So I printed out some of the images on your blog, one on the other as you can probably see. And I folded two boats. Here they are. I hope the exhibition will be successful. I am a member of IAPMA. Best wishes Trudi.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mary-Ann's Cottage



Mary-Ann's Cottage is now open for the season.

Open - daily 2pm - 4.30pm

Usually closed on Mondays .

Click on the cottage for more info and directions.

Monday, May 18, 2009

61 - Cape Breton Canada - Coxheath Elementary Grade 5 class (5LC)



Dear Joanne, here is a fleet of paper boats arriving from the Grade 5 class (5LC) from Coxheath Elementary School in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The students have included some brief notes about their designs. 2 have also consructed a paper boat with the words to a lovely Cape Breton tune – and photos of the students from both Grade 5 classes at Coxheath Elementary . Wishing you every success with your paper boat project. Nancy McLean Art teacher.

I'm holding the boats down at Brough Harbour......these rocks are a favourite place for seals.

Jessica: My boat design makes me feel happy because I love hearts and diamonds.
Lauren: My boat is called 'The Bubble' because I put bubbles all over it.
Caitlyn: This boat is designed using my favourite colours.
Jeffery: My boat is a 'hippy' boat.
Kole: The name on my boat is calle 'Fired' because of the awesome flames.
David M: My boat has a pirate theme.
Kaitlyn: My design has polkadots.
David H: My boat is a pirate ship.
Tyler: I got the name from a French project where I made up a name for a restaurant.
Lindsay: All the shapes on my boat are geometric.
Kyle: This boat is a replica of the Newfoundland ferry which goes from Cape Breton to Newfoundland.
Marissa: My boat has a repeat pattern of stripes.
Jared: My boat represents sunny and rainy days.
Daniel M : My boat has simple designs showing flames a name and an anchor.
Sean: My boat was the first boat with flames on it.
Brett: 'The Prestige' is a replica of the Titanic.
Julia: When I was making my boat I was thinking about fish scales.
Mari-jo: The colours of my boat are the colours of spring.
Callum: I called my boat 'The Pickler' because it is my nickname.
Brittany: Yellow circles and lines represent the sun, red and blue represents the rainbow colours.
Daniel V: My boat has the colours of the Cape Breton Flag.
Jason: I hope you enjoy my boat.

60 - UK - Hearing for life students North Highland college

Dear Joanne, These boats were made by the hearing for life students. We hope you like them.
Fiona Buchan course tutor at North Highland College, Thurso Campus, Caithness. www.nhcscotland.com
I'm holding the boats with the last of the day's sun over Dunnet Head. The most Northerly point on the British mainland.

59 - Australia - Barb Adams

Dear Joanne, I am sending you my boat from Melbourne in Australia. It set sail in my rocky creek in my garden.

Having participated in a workshop with Amanda Degner, I had some indigo dyed Belgian Flax paper to hand, so it was perfect for a ship taking a long sea voyage. Being a book artist, I also had to include a cargo of books. Some of these have blank pages for the new owner to write in.
I am a member of Papermakers of Victoria and IAPMA and have just experienced my first IAPMA congress at Burnie in Tasmania.

To see more of Barb’s work, visit her website:
www.barbadams.com
This is what Barb has written in the tiny book:
This boat is made with paper I made from Belgian flax in a workshop with Amanda Degener. The blue is indigo dye. The paper is strong and could withstand the stitching. I have waxed the paper but I don’t think it could withstand a long sea voyage. I love making books so my boat needed to carry my small books. I like the thought that the voyage of th eWestland passed by Australia on the final stages of her journey. Barb Adams Australia 100% handmade.


58 - UK - Anne Hawkins

Click on the photos to see the detail.
My boat is made from felted Blue Faced Leister Fleece and was folded just like the paper boat ones. I am a Kentish lamb from the garden of England, looking forward to an adventure in the northern regions of Scotland, such a long way from home.


Anne, have a look at the Scaplay Linen blog int the Western Isles .....photos of their sheep being tranported by boat to an uninhabited island to graze for the summer: http://scalpaylinen.blogspot.com/
I see your sheep has brought a packed lunch!

57 - UK - Bill Macpherson



Old maps of Caithness. Bill was involved in the designing of Caithness Horizons.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

56 - UK- Caithness - Ruan Peat

I launched Ruan's boat down at Brough Harbour.......it was a bit windy.
video

Friday, May 15, 2009

55 - Cape Breton Canada - Grade 5B Mountainview

This is Christine Russell, at the front door of Caithness Horizons!
Christine is their education officer, she was delighted to be asked to model todays paper boats!
Outside is the original stonework, but inside has been transformed. This is where the paper boats will be exhibited and for sale in September 09. They will be for sale by secret silent auction. Centre manager, Beki Pope will also be taking bids by e-mail...........so if you live far away, you can still place a bid for your favouite boat! Details on what to do nearer the time.
Dear Joanne, The Grade 5b class at Mountainview Elementary enjoyed working on this project very much. Please find enclosed a comments list for their boats and some photos of them as well. (It happened to be sports day at the school, hence the team shirts!) Their home room teacher, Mr Ron Martin, has included some information on one of Nova Scotia’s famous sailing schooners, the Bluenose, which is featured on the Canadian dime. This is our school website:

www.cbv.ns.ca/mountainview
Wishing you every success with your project, Nancy McLean (art teacher).

History of the Bluenose:
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/bluenose/include/history.htm

Merissa: My boat is very colourful and bright and has an 'M' to represent Merissa.
Chrissy: My boat has primary colours in the design an a C which is my initial.
Katie: My boat is colourful because it reminds me of the flowers in spring.
Mary Ann: The M on my boat stands for 'Mary Ann'.
Danielle: My boat represents the colours of the rainbow.
Hannah: On my boat I have my initials.
Emily: The skull on my boat has a favouite colours.
Frankie: I like my boat because it is blue, my favouite colour.
Tyree: The T on my design stands for 'Tyree'.
Ben: The big B stands for 'Big Ben'.
Tyler: My boat has the letters MVB which stands for 'Most Valuable Boat!'
Rachel: The R on my boat stands for 'Rachel'.
Sara: S is for 'Sara' andI had fun doing this project.
Matthew: Blue represents the ocean and the stripes represent many places it will go to. I had fun doing this project.
Lauren: The L represents 'Lauren'.
Allan: The designs on my boat represents red eye.
David: My boat is unique because of the waves on the side.
Brandon: This boat is hard to sink because it is very tough.
Liam: I used my initial as part of the desing and the colours blue, yellow, and white.
Colin: My boat is 'Small but Mighty!'

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

54 - Cape Breton Canada - Grade 5A Mountainview



Dear Joanne, Enclosed please find paper boats made by Grade 5A Class at Mountain View Elementary. The class was most eager to participate in your project and will be following the blog in the coming months. There are also some photos and a write up comment from each student. You may be interested to know that Grade 5A class’s home room teacher teaches bagpipes as well. There are lots of connections with Cape Breton Island and Scotland. A local photographer, Warren Gordon, donated one of his calendars so that the class could share the beauty of our island with you. (will send this separately).
Good luck with your project
Nancy McLean (art teacher).

I'm on Dunnet Beach with Chip. She just can't resist showing off in front of the camera!
These boats were posted on the 6th April!

They came here by slow boat!

Kristen: My boat has a line pattern of purle, green and pink.
Rebecca: My boat is pink and orange-sunny colours!
Brandon: My boat's design consists of traingle patterns of orange and green.
David: My boat brings unity an dis colourful.
Erin: My boat's design represents how teams get along to win.
Hannah: The bright colours on my boat represent spring and summer.
Tyler: My boat reminds me of a fishing boat.
Julia: My boat describes different feelings.
Jenny: The theme for my boat is 'underwater'.
Kayla: Notice the turquoise water and orange fish on my boat.
Dillon: I called this boat after myself and used warm colours in the design.
Cameron: My boat is the bet fisher in town!
Peter: 'SMURPH' is the name of my boat. I have labels and crew and captain.
Aida: I decorated this boat with a pattern of fish and stars.
Ryan: My boat design contains 6 blue triangles and 2 stars.
Ciaron: The design on my boat reminds be of a flag.
Nowell: My boat had colourful triangles.
Sarah: The message on my boat says that recucling will change the earth.
Lynn: My boat represents being healthy and eating lots of fruit.
Avery: This makes me feel like I was on a boat.

53 - UK - Frances Passmore


I was constructed by Frances Passmore in Nantwich Cheshire from part of OS Landranger 117 (a worn-out one). I sailed from Parkgate on the Wirral. If you look at me closely you will see that it was no small effort from there……… Nantwich is right in the centre of England and very un-maritime. Parkgate used to be a port with big wild seas but is now silted up and more used for birdwatching than fishing.
Click on the images to see the map and text detail...........

Frances wrote the letter on the sail and contact details were on the anchor!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

52 - Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Canada - Grade 5B Sydney River Elementary

Schools in Cape Breton are joining in the paper boat fun!
Paper boats from Grade 5B with a little help from Nancy McLean the art teacher!
Sydney River Elementary School
Here's their school website:

That's me holding the boats in front of Dunnet Head Lightouse with Orkney in the distance.
Dunnet Head is the most northely point on the British mainland.
Latitude 58° 40.3’N
Longitude 03° 22.4’W
Click on the lighthouse to read more about Dunnet Head!
Grade 5B also wrote about their boats: click the text to read.





Friday, May 8, 2009

51 - UK - Freida Henderson



From Freida Henderson, born Wick.
My boaties come by Flower Power from the south of England to the north of Scotland. I’ve used paper, card, wool and felt pens from my grandson’s art box!

Friday, May 1, 2009

50 - Australia - Ann Baxter

Dear Joanne, Please find enclosed a contribution to your paper boat project. My name is Ann Baxter and I am a member of “Papermakers of Victoria Inc(Ann is the President ). My home is in the historic central Goldfields area of Victoria, Australia, in a community with may working artists. Much of the surrounding land is made up of dry, hungry Australian bush, but the area also has many apple orchards and olive groves.

The blue boat is made from 100% cotton jeans paper, printed using cyanotype, with cotton rope made from gauze.

The brown boat (and rope) is made from Iris leaves, and printed with eucalypt leaves from my front yard.

The coloured boat is made of reclaimed paper, printed with doors from my hometown of Castlemaine. ( hinges on the sails!)

I would also like to say how much I enjoyed your work ‘Peat Stack’ at the Burnie (In Tasmania) ‘New Paper Old Land’ exhibition. I was just longing to touch it, but of course could not. I loved the ‘feeling ‘ that the book must have held many age-old secrets in it’s folds.

Good luck with your project.
Warm regards Ann.

http://www.papermakers.org.au/index.html

Ann is also a member of the The International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA)

Thursday, April 30, 2009

49 - Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Canada - East Bay Elementary

Click on the text to read info written by the pupils.




Hello Joanne
I am adding a quick not here to let you know how we came across your exciting project. I am an elementary art teacher with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board and teach art in four schools in the area. A couple of years ago Deirdre Nelson, from Scotland, and I worked on a wonderful exchange project with our students which was based on her research of Handa Island and the connections with Cape Breton. Deirdre sent along the information about your boat launch and fundraiser for Mary-Ann’s cottage and when I told my students about it they were keen to take part. I hope you are able to involve the students in your area as well, as this idea gives people an opportunity to make meaningful learning experiences for those who participate.
Along with the boats the class at East Bay School are including some information and photos to share with you and we will indeed follow your project in the weeks to come.


Expect students from my other 3 schools to contribute as well.
Good Luck - Nancy McLean.

Thanks Nancy! A few lucky folks in Caithness joined in a 3 day workshop at the Castletown Heritage Centre, Castlehill in March this year. Historical Knitting with Deirdre Nelson - it was hysterical knitting!!
www.castletownheritage.co.uk

Photograph taken at Dwarwick Harbour, Dunnet. This is the harbour Mary-Ann's family would have used.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

48 - Australia - Lorraine Mary McDonald

Dear Joanne, I have been delighted to follow you wonderful project. Exchange of info helps bring to life our wonderful ancestors and their amazing journey. I have enjoyed making my litte boat and hope it contributes ot the fundraising for Mary-Anns Cottage. Kind regards Lorraine.

Many thanks Lorraine for the £10 donation you enclosed with your boat.

Story of Lorraine’s Little Boat.

I am the great granddaughter of John Henry Matthews.
John Henry was 15 years of age when he and his family, along with Johnathan Moscrop, sailed on the maiden voyage of the Westland in 1879. They left Greenock, Scoltand on 30th January 1879 and arrived at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, New Zealand on the 22nd April 1879. John Henry is mentioned in Jonathan’s diary and he was his cabin mate.

My little boat is made from 3 sheets of printed A4 paper. One sheet has a watercolour picture of the Westland, in Dunedin Harbour after its maiden voyage in 1879. The next sheet of paper has a photo of Jonathan Moscrop. The photo was taken in 1878 at Darlington Durham, England it was the year before they voyage to New Zealand. The next sheet has a collage of the Matthews family: John and Fanny and their family, Sarah, Jane, Fanny, John Henry, Mary Ann, Elizabeth (Elisa) Ann, Mary Jane and Emma Elizabeth.

On the reverse side of the Westland Picture, I have written the names of the known towns and counties in which the Matthews family have lived during their migratory journey. On the back of the Matthews collage sheet I have written the Christian names of John Henry and his descendents. This being the line of the Matthews family to which I belong.

My idea behind the construction of my little paper boat was to have the picture of the Westland on the outside of the boat. On the inside of the boat I want the photo of Jonathan and each member of the Matthews family.

Once again the Westland is cradling and holding within the framework its precious cargo of John, Fanny, Sarah, Jane, Fanny, John Henry, Mary Ann, Elizabeth (Eliza) Ann, Mary Jane, Emma Elizabeth and Jonathan.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

47 - Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Canada - Grade 5A Sydney River Elementary



Dear Joanne, Here is another class load of paper boats to add to your collection! The students (class 5A) have written comments and photos are included as well. The school has a great website if you would like to find out more about Sydney River Elementary School:
www.cbv.ns.ca/elemweb/sriver
Best regards Nancy McLean (art teacher)
I photographed the boats at Mary-Ann's cottage.........blue sky and sunny, but still a bit windy!

Monday, April 20, 2009

46 - New Zealand - Althea and John Stevenson

Now here's a coincidence as on this day in 1879 the 'Westland' anchors outside Port Chamlers Harbour, New Zealand, at 5pm - and look what arrived in the post today - they were on this very voyage!

Hi, Here’s a little contribution to your paper boats project from NZ. The boats are folded from paper printed with bits of history associated with the ‘Westland’.
Jonathan Moscrop and Sarah Matthews (his wife to be) were passengers on the ‘”Westland’. Jonathan wrote the diary that you have linked to on your blogs.

One boat is folded from a page with a photo of Jonathan and Sarah taken about 1913 with their daughters and daughters’ families. Jonathan’s face (with beard) shows on the side of the boat.





Sarah’s father, John Matthews was also on the ‘Westland’. He brought with him a small notebook, which he had used as a schoolbook when he was a boy. It is dated 24th May 1842.



We have folded two more boats from pages printed with scans of the cover and pages from the schoolbook. The book is held by my wife, Althea, who is descended from Jonathan and Sarah and John. We live in Auckland New Zealand.
Best wishes for you fundraiser Project.
John Stevenson

Now, I don’t usually unfold the paper boats, but these were just to enticing! So I unfolded and took photos before folding back!

45 - Australia - Gail Stiffe

A. Cotton laminated with treefern and cumbungi paper.


B. Recycled paper, dyed and glued to a sheet of marbled paper.

C. Flax paper dunked in ferrous sulphate, caustic soda (dilute), indigo and walnut – made in a workshop with Amanda Degenar.

Gail is the editor of the http://www.iapma.info/

(The International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

44 - USA - Jacqueline Ruyak

Dear Joanne, love your paper boat project,
I wish you and Lynn great success with it.
I am a writer and photographer. I now live in rural Pennsylvania. My blogs:
www.littlemailbox.blogspot.com and www.diamondposte.blogspot.com
Since finding your blog, I’ve been making paper boats and sending them out with your address.



A - 5 boats and close-up on one.
5 paper boats made from 2 sheets of A4 from a newsletter sent to me by a friend in Tono, Japan where I used to live. I used one full page for the biggest boat. ½ page for the next/ ¼ page for the next etc. I had to stop at 1/16 th.
The boats are variously embellished with buttons, beads, and a blossom cut from an unsent letter. They are tied together with paper tie-dyed with indigo. Happy sails.

B
Flyer for Kyoto in spring. Silk thread, buttons


C
A friend sent a letter on a sheet from a calendar. I used part of it for the boat. Then stitched the ends with cotton threads. The blossoms and leaves are vintage crepe from a ‘surprise’ ball.




All packed with photos of the boats and a decorative letter in a boat covered envelope!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Caithness Horizons

This is the temporary exhibition space in Caithness Horizons, Thurso where the paper boats and our exhibition will be in September 09. I took this photo today while it was empty, and centre manager, Beki Pope had just finished painting the walls. Thanks Beki!

Friday, April 10, 2009

43 - Hawaii - Lilla Le Vine




Dear Joanne, I live in Hawaii. The boats sailed from here.
I was born in New Zealand.
Paper boat with US flag:
Made of hand printed paper coloured and overprinted. (with some nautical themed text).
Fabric Dream boat:
Made of my hand dyed and mainted muslin. Tape with ‘My Dreamboat’ is a transfer.
Envelope – one of mine. Collaged, printed with water and painted.


Aloha Lilla

Sunday, April 5, 2009

42 - Taiwan - Ding-Wei Lin














Practice calligraphy paper.........the bigger squares
are for younger children. The red lines mark out the squares.


The paper boats are made from:
Practice calligraphy paper
Junk mail
Red paper for good fortune
with fish prints

I'll have to ask Ding-Wei to translate some of his calligraphy ........
I hope they are messages of good fortune, and not just his shopping list!
update:
Ding-Wei's calligraphy is from the 'Heart Sutra'.
He carved the fish in soft lino before printing it.
See more of Ding-Wei's work here and here!

41 - Sweden - Agneta Niklasson


Agneta Niklasson, works for the Swedish embassy in Islamabad. Likes to go hiking at Margalla Hills and has been living here for about 2 years. The magazine used for the paperboats is a Swedish magazine in Norwegian language.

40 - Finland - Petri Lehtonen


Petri Lehtonen, works for the Finnish Embassy in Islamabad. He has been living here for more than 3 years. One of the boats is made using a page from a magazine with an article about Finland’s future queen and her fiance (who's also her personal trainer).

Saturday, April 4, 2009

More boats!!

I've been away all week, and returned to a bumper post bag of about 30 boats from Taiwan.....traditional calligraphy and hand printed designs on a selection of everyday Taiwan paper and unusual stuff..........
Also lovely boats from Finland and Sweden!
Do come back tomorrow...........to see them all...........lots to photograph!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Earth Hour 2009


8:30 - 9:30 pm was Earth Hour in New Zealand - people are encouraged to turn their lights out for an hour to show commitment to fighting climate change and to living more sustainably.  Dunedin celebrated in the Octagon, (also the location of the Robbie Burns statue!) where restaurants turned out their lights and we were entertained by speeches, drums and fire pois. I went along to get a photograph for the blog of the paper boats which children were invited to make and float in the fountain. Pretty! 

Thursday, March 26, 2009

39 - Austria - Sara Picchi




Hi,
I’m from Italy (Florence) but I live and work in Vienna. Here are three boats made with copy paper together with hand coloured chinese paper. I like your idea and your project and I wish you a lot of luck.

Sara is a member of www.iapma.info
You can see more of her work here.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Animated paper boats anyone?!

Your all getting quite adventurous with the paper boats..........so here's a challenge........
How about an animated paper boat??
I found this website which has free down-loads.
This download is free..........be careful where you click...others you have to pay for!
Sheep!! It's a start!!! (sheep in a boat perhaps?!)
I've never tried to make one!!
If you know of any other FREE download sites for animated paper art........get in touch and I'll add the link.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

38 - UK Scotland - Liz O'Donnell

Catch of the day!Wash day on "The Mary-Ann".




Sunday, March 15, 2009

37 - UK Scotland - Pauline Saul


Hello Joanne,
Since contacting you my boat has made ready to sail and will soon be skimming over the waves to your shore. The boat and its crew will be leaving Kirkcudbright, a fishing port in S.W. Scotland, on Monday. They will leave the port on the River Dee on an outgoing tide and slip into the Solway. With a favourable wind and a clear night sky to navigate by, they should be with you quite soon.
NOTE FROM THE HARBOUR MASTER:
The boat has now safely docked in my studio - arrival time logged at: 1047 hrs on Tuesday 17th March 2009. The crew are tired, and are slowly finding their land legs again before tucking into some food.
There are two crew; a guitar playing owl and a beautiful cat. They are looking for somewhere to set up home together. I do hope that you will be able to help in this matter. They have honey to eat on the journey and hope to catch a few red herrings to eke out supplies. They may be hungry when they arrive so I would suggest that you have some mince and sliced quince in the larder with which to feed them…..don’t worry they have money and a five pound note with which to pay you.

Their boat is made from the things I found in my studio and apart from the honey jar and the stick for a mast, is made from different types of paper. For the sail I photocopied the back of a Scottish £5 note, pasted it on to stronger paper for durability. The picture on the note is of Robert Burns who spent some time in Kirkcudbright during his time as an Excise Man. His image is being used in Dumfries and Galloway to promote the year of the homecoming, and it is an interesting fact that the first ship carrying emigrants to sail off for the New World actually sailed from Kirkcudbright.

The owl and the Pussycat are cut outs made from card, embellished with paint and paper, they have slits in them so that they can slot onto the side of the boat. The boat is made from thick green paper with gold metallic threads, the sea is of mulberry paper, painted and embossed with different powders, gold, silver, green and blue. I painted the pennant blue and decorated it with stars then I drew the fish on white paper and painted them red. There is a good reason for this as if you look carefully you will see that there are five round and about the boat (unless they have caught and eaten a couple!). The Studio behind my home in Kirkcudbright is the setting for ‘Five Red Herrings’ by Dorothy L Sayers. In her book the hero Lord Peter Whimsey stays at Bluegate studio, in reality Greengate Studio. My house is The Greengate, former home of Jessie M. King who was one of the Glasgow Girls; she was an artist and book illustrator and is well known and collected in Scotland.
I hope that the Owl and Pussy cat boat helps you in your endeavours to raise funds .
Regards
Pauline Saul

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Pigs Porpoise and Sunsets - on this day in 1879 on the Westland.......

Now this may inspire a paper boat maker .................
On this day in 1879, diarist and passenger, Jonathan Moscrop writes of fun and games that night on the Westland.
One of his fellow passengers was rather drunk and let one of the pigs out chasing it into the single men's sleeping area! Jonathan was awake most of the night!
This was in contrast to earlier in the day when Jonathan is lost for words at the beautiful sunset and shoal of porpoise which swam next to the Westland for quite a while.
If your inspired to read the rest of Jonathan Moscrops diaries from the maiden voyage of the Westland in 1879........they are all available on-line.
You'll find links to them all on the right hand side of

Thursday, March 12, 2009

36 - Holland - Adrienne Van Hovell







Adrienne's letter is just as fun!!


Hello Joanne
These three boats come all the way from Holland for your exhibition!
Theye are made from papers I printed and decorated (paste paper as well), plain papers and recycled envelopes. The fish are printed woodblocks (mango) from Bangaldesh, the dresses are shibori rice-papers I dyed. The mast is a bamboo sate stick and thread . Chinese newpaper as extra fastening and decoration!

I have been an arts and crafts teacher and artist for many years now….no website yet!!
Finally I would like to congratulate you with this wonderful initiative! I wish you success and will keep good track of the progression. Warm greetings from Holland!

There are labels underneath each boat, here's a close up of one.

Click on the images to see them in more detail.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

35 - UK Scotland - Jane Donn


Hi, I have been following your boat blog and have decided to send you a boat all the way from Castletown (this is the other side of Dunnet Bay!) Since I like baking I thought I would print off some recipes that Mary-Ann may have used in her cottage and make my boat out of that.
Good luck with the project and I hope you get many more boats.
Jane
I unfolded the boat to find 4 recipes:
1. Crowdie
20 fl oz whole milk which has just turned sour.
Method
Pour the milk into a pan and heat slowly and carefully over a very low heat. Watch it constantly until it curdles. When the curd has set allow it to cool before draining the whey.
Line a colander with clean muslin and pour the curds into it. Leave in the colander until most of the whey has drained and then squeeze out the last of the whey by hand. Mix the crowdie with a little salt until it has attained a smoothe texture. Put in a dish and store in the fridge.
2. Beremeal Bannocks
4oz beremeal
4oz plain flour
6fl oz milk (sour or buttermilk)
1tsp cream of tarter
1tsp baking powder
Method
Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add milk and mix until dough is elastic in texture. Roll tightly into bannocks half and inch thick. Place on a hot gridle for 4 minutes and then turn over until cooked. Place on a wire rack to cool covering with a dry cloth.
3. Dropped scones (pancakes)
12 oz S.R flour
2 oz sugar (caster)
pinch of salt
half level tsp cream of tarter
half to three quarters pint of milk
half level tsp baking soda
1 large egg
Method
Sieve the flour and mix in dry ingredients. Make a well in centre and add egg. Mix well and add the milk slowly beating the mixture to a creamy batter. Leave for 10 minutes to rise. Grease a hot gridle and drop sponfuls of the mixture, well spaced out, onto it. When the mixture bubbles turn them over and brown the other side.
4. Oatcakes
4 oz fine oatmeal
quarter tsp salt
quarter tsp baking soda
2 oz fat (lard)
boiling water
Method
Melt fat and stir into dry ingredients. Add enough boiling water to make a stiff paste. Turn out onto oatmeal covered surface and knead well. Roll out to quarter inch thick. Cut into rounds or triangles. Grease hot gridle and bake on either side. Dry off slowly under grill or in oven.
If you have a favourite traditional recipe from your country, available on-line, e-mail me the link and I'll add it to this blog entry - or print it out and make a boat!

Monday, March 9, 2009

34 - New Zealand - Jane Armour

Hi, here is a paper boat to add to your fundraising appeal.
I have sewn a map of Otago harbour as it was in the 1870’s onto a cotton paper (similar to paper available at the time of the Westland voyage).
I am a bookbinder and artist, living in Dunedin, of Scottish ancestory. I felt a connection with your work on the Westland, and I really had a lot of fun making a boat. Here’s hoping your fundraising is successful.
Jane

Thursday, March 5, 2009

33 - USA Jackie Kirner












Hello!
Here are my paper boats for your Mary-Ann’s cottage fundraiser. I found your paper boat appeal via a blog-link. (Don’t ask me which – I follow too many!!)
I love collaborative art projects – yours has an instant appeal. So I’ve used some paper copies of my drawings from a design class. There are a few made from vintage navigation maps found in my Dad’s waterman’s cottage in Oxford, Maryland. (However, I think vintage in the USA means something quite different than in the UK?)

All the best wishes on your project fundraiser……..Jackie

Jackie Kirner
Boca Raton, Florida

Friday, February 27, 2009

32 - USA Judy Tobie



I was unable to stop at one boat!
Such fun, I used to make these as a child in England and we made special large ones for party hats!
I have been a papermaker for about 25 years, I guess I’m addicted.
I am a member of the Yahoo papermaking group, a great bunch of supporters.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PaperMaking/

Here then are my 3 boats:
1. This one is hopefully self explanatory, it’s made from 3 dollar bills……..sailing off to save the day in Scotland!
2. The second one, all green with stars. This is made from ornamental Millet leaves collected from a farm nearby, with a little added abaca for strength.
3. The third one is made from a photocopy of collages I make to create some of my paper jewelry.

The best of luck to you Joanne with this project, I am a great fan and follow your adventures.

PS. A bookbinder friend just gave me all her ‘off-cuts’ of hand-marbled papers, so I just had to make envelopes for the boats.
Judy.
Princeton, New Jersey USA.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Paper boats are on the Hot List!

The paper boat PDF info sheet made it onto the HOT LIST TODAY!
What is the Hot list?

The "Hot List" is comprised of documents that have received a considerable views, likes, comments, and favorites in a short period of time. Documents are automatically added to the Hot List by the Scribd algorithm.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

31 - USA Jacque Lynn Davis

Mississippi Tow Boat.





Title: Mississippi Tow Boat.
Mixed Media of Found and Recycled materials: Fabric from a recycled upholstery sample book, copper wire and metal pieces from a 1970’s adding machine, rusted piece of painted metal from the St. Louis river front, piece of Telegraph Envelope from 1950.

Jacque Lynn Davis
St. Louis, Missouri.
www.flickr.com/photos/jacquedavis/

http://webpages.charter.net/jlddavis

There was so much on this little boat, so I had to make sure I photographed it from every angle!
Jacque even printed out a picture of it on her letter! So I've included this too.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

30 - Scotland UK - Beth, Jack, Charlie and Ivor Thomas


I have made two paper boats for you. One is made from the Tide tables we use on the ferry (sept 09 page – when the exhibition is on - Yes I got that connection !). The other is from a scottish £5 not, which you can use in the project or just un-fold and put in the funds.
My children have made a boat each.
Beth’s is from a cover of her ‘Kerang’ magazine.
Jack used a cover from his ‘Top Gear’ magazine.
Charlie used a plain piece of A4 paper.
Good luck with your project.
Ivor.
I've placed all the boats in the Pentland Firth!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

29 - Germany - Karin Bauer







My kalligrafic (classic and contemporary with real gold leaf) designed boats accompany the good wishes to Mary-Ann’s cottage with “Imagine”, “Let it be” from the Beatles and the “Irish Blessing”. Sorry I didn’t find any scottish verse! May it bring the museum those who are deeply involved, good luck.


Karin is a member of http://www.iapma.info/

Monday, February 16, 2009

28 - Germany - Renate Schweizer


3 paper boats started their journey from Karlsruhe (Germany) to Scotland. They are made out of overbrewed, used teabagpaper, mainly from red tea. Hope, they arrive well.

27 - Scotland UK - Greg Michaelson


I was born in Shepherds Bush but moved to Edinburgh aged nine, where I’ve lived more or less ever since.

I my novel The Wave Singer (Argyll, 2008), I describe a post Event community which farms the dry sea bed of the Beauly and Moray Firths. Some of these people worship in Arks, which they believe will enable them to survive the Great Flood. Arkists spend their days making arkles, paper boats, both as a meditation and to fill their Arks to help them float.

My arkle is made from the cover of my novel and the pages where Arkism is first described.


I also have a Facebook page.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

26 - Scotland UK Brenda Herrick and her 3 grandchildren.


4 boats made it through the snow and past the harbour master!

From left to right:

1 Matthew loves trains and cars.
2. Granny lives on a windy hilltop (do you know that Spike Milligan poem?)
3.Connor wanted his just covered in camouflage but this was the best I could manage so not quite as ordered!!
4.Ella loves animals, goes horse-riding every week and has a rabbit - therefore horse and rabbit pics.

We had fun making them. You seem to be getting some amazing contributions. Glad you got Billy Connolly on board!!

exhibition review - paper boats mentioned

Extract from the Otago Daily Times, Dunedin 12th Feb - by Chanelle Carick. My