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.
A few pics taken on the opening night by Sheila Moir - Thanks Sheila.
Joanne,
My boat's travel.
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
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!! 
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
Francis Drake’s ‘Pirate’
Linda Cracknell
Boat on the left:
Anne & Jim Fitzsimmons
Mary-Ann's front door.
Dear Joanne, Good luck with the exhibition!
Sandra’s boat is held by paper hands cut from a map of Arkansas. 
Summer at last.
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 look forward to following the progress of the project and wish you every success for the auction. Best wishes Colleen Drew.
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.
Click on the photo to read Akua's poem printen on her own handmade paper.
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.
‘Ghost Boat’ made from tissue paper and pva!Photographed on Caithness slate.
Click on the photo to go to NZ TV Channel 9!
Sue Rainbow made paper boats with 
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.
From right to left!! Click image to see details.
Click on images to see all the boats !!
The mini picture above helps to show that. I painted the other side with acrylics to match the flowers.
Blessings and Peace.I photographed these boats on the turnip slicer at Mary-Ann's cottage.
Dear Joanne, Now I have made the ship for your exposition. I hope that you like it.
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
Only 4 weeks to get your boats out of the boat yard and sail them off to me! 
Click on the photos to see the paper boats in more detail.
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. 
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.
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.
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.
Ships in bottles! Kit labelled each boat with it's own ship-in-a-bottle, on the back is the info!
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. 
The small brown and white boats area made from wax tjap’ed paper using traditional Javanese tjaps. 
The blue and white paper boat is made from some lovely wrapping paper depicting astrological charts.
These boats sailed from sunny Singapore and were made by Alison Wilson.
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 
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 
Greetings from Los Angeles,
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. 
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).
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.
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.
Dear Joanne, These boats were made by the hearing for life students. We hope you like them.
This is what Barb has written in the tiny book:
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.
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: 
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).
These boats were posted on the 6th April! 
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.
That's me holding the boats in front of Dunnet Head Lightouse with Orkney in the distance.
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)
Click on the text to read info written by the pupils.
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. 
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: 
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.
A. Cotton laminated with treefern and cumbungi paper.
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!
Dear Joanne, I live in Hawaii. The boats sailed from here. 
Practice calligraphy paper.........the bigger squares 
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.
Hello Joanne
There are labels underneath each boat, here's a close up of one.
Click on the images to see them in more detail.
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.
Hi, here is a paper boat to add to your fundraising appeal.
Title: Mississippi Tow Boat.
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.
