From humble beginnings in Breeza 42 years ago, acclaimed straw artist Helen (Bridges) Scott has developed her craft to such an extent that she has now produced her first book to share photos and stories of her award-winning corn dollies and other straw art creations.
Helen’s Harvest Handcrafts will be launched at the Gunnedah Country Markets in Wolseley Park this Saturday and Helen has made the journey across the Nullarbor to meet up with old friends and market her book at the Namoi Group CWA stand at AgQuip 2024.
Helen’s hardcover glossy coffee-table book showcases her beautiful creations – some traditional corn dollies and others more contemporary straw work, with stunning professional photographs and artworks from Helen’s private collection.
Helen became fascinated with corn dollies during the 1982 wheat harvest when she taught herself the ‘five-straw’ plait from a corn-dolly pamphlet purchased for her in England. Further skills were developed from illustrations on an English tea towel and from there she managed to weave her craft using straw straight from the paddock – also making gifts for local farmers from their own crops.
As Helen’s skill developed, she was invited to take part in a Namoi Group CWA handicraft day at Tambar Springs, later enhancing her skills at three workshops conducted by Sydney based straw-plaiter Nonie McFarlane. As interest in Helen’s work grew, requests to do workshops came in thick and fast from clubs, groups, churches, fetes and craft days but her most memorable was being asked to demonstrate and sell her creations at the Namoi Group CWA tent at AgQuip.
Cutting straw became a family affair on their Breeza property, appropriately named, Demeter, meaning ‘the goddess of grain’ in Greek mythology.
Helen enhanced the art of plaiting when she took part in a stockwhip plaiting school with RM Williams in Longreach.
As her craft skills became more widely known, Helen was in great demand and after moving to Esperance in WA her work continued across a broad spectrum of events, including the Rotary International conference at Esperance in 2000.
Helen’s ongoing story is highlighted in her book along with amazing images of her creations, poetry and storytelling around the history of corn dollies in Koorda, Western Australia.
Helen’s Harvest Handicrafts will be marketed for the AgQuip special price of $69 in Helen’s old home town which she holds in great affection and locals can catch up with her at the markets and AgQuip.
Helen (Bridges) Scott has launched her book, Helen’s Harvest Handcrafts.
