Here at The Orkney News we would like to thank everyone who came along and supported our Book Week/ Fair Saturday events this year.

Based around the launch of ‘The Strawplaiters of Orkney’ by Fiona Grahame, the events at The Northlight Gallery, Stromness were held daily from 13th to 25th of November. The exhibition featured some of the research which went into writing the book, images of Kirkwall and Stromness made available by Orkney Archive and reproduced by Cary Welling, art work by Martin Laird, Sue Knowles’ wonderful corn dollies and zines from ORSAS’ September workshop.

Proceeds from the sale of corn dollies have been kindly donated by Sue Knowles to ORSAS and they will receive £130.

The book was launched in Stromness which had been the major shipping centre for the trade in Orkney, on Tuesday 14th November, and on Wednesday the 15th Sue Knowles led a workshop during the day where people could drop by and learn how to plait straw and make corn dollies.

Fiona Grahame visited Developing the Young Workforce and Stromness Youth Club where young people learned how to plait straw and make a decoration.

All of this was made possible by the funding we received via The Scottish Book Trust.

We’d like to thank BBC Radio Orkney where Fiona was interviewed by Huw Williams. The broadcast garnered a lot of interest and several people attended the exhibition because of that interview.

The Strawplaiters of Orkney by Fiona Grahame is available to buy at Stromness Books & Prints and The Orcadian Book shop. The book is also available worldwide from online sellers. An e-version will be available soon.