Crafting Scotland - meet the hands and hearts behind Scottish Heritage Crafts

In this episode I speak to two talented musicians who both share their deep respect for Scotland’s oldest national instrument. No, not the bagpipes but the harp! Harp playing has its roots stretching back to Pictish stone carvings over a thousand years ago, and yet most people don’t even know it exists. Bill Taylor calls it “cultural amnesia,” and together with master harp maker Graham Muir , they...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland, I sit down with Sandra Benn, founder of Chiya & Chai Tea Tastings , to explore a surprising thread running through Scotland’s heritage story — tea. What begins as a tale of overwhelm at a posh afternoon tea becomes a fascinating journey into forgotten Scottish history, living craft traditions, and the unexpected pleasure of simply slowing down. Sandra shares h...

There is a moment many makers speak of, a quiet, almost unexplainable turning point when something simply clicks . For Simon Harvey Potts, that moment happened not in Scotland, but in the sunlit streets of Granada in southern Spain. Surrounded by artisans, guided by generous hands, and working with leather for the very first time, he discovered what would become his life’s work. In this episode of...

What happens when a 30-year career in clinical aromatherapy, a global pandemic, and a 14th-century Scottish castle collide? For Alison MacColl , founder of Castle Apothecary, the answer is a skincare range that doesn’t just smell extraordinary, but that tells a story stretching back centuries. Alison’s origin story is both surprising and deeply personal, born out of a very common COVID-era problem...

There’s a moment, somewhere between the steady rhythm of a carving knife and the quiet grain of a piece of wood, where a life begins to make sense. For John, that moment didn’t arrive all at once. It was shaped slowly over decades through sawdust-filled workshops, long apprenticeships, and the kind of learning that happens not from books, but from watching, doing, and trying again. He began, as ma...

I’m thrilled to share this episode of Crafting Scotland , where I had the pleasure of chatting with Susan Anderson , the publishing editor of the Journal of Scottish Yarn . If you haven’t yet come across this beautiful biannual publication, think part magazine, part reference book, you’re in for a treat. Susan and I both had a similar visions of making Scottish Crafts, in Susan’s case Scottish Tex...

As 2026 begins, the latest episode of Crafting Scotland brings listeners an inspiring conversation with James Donald, a master weaver, teacher, and maker based in Edinburgh. Known for his slow, considered approach to textiles, James combines local fibres, traditional skills, and a touch of global influence to create work that is deeply human and meditative. James’s journey into weaving began at th...

Oh, you’re going to love this conversation! I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Michelle Cohen, and honestly, her story is one of those that just makes you smile. You know when you meet someone and you can just feel their passion for what they do? That’s Michelle. So here’s the thing, Michelle paints on glass. Not canvas, not paper: GLASS. And when I tell you her work is stunning, I m...

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Anne Hill, Alzheimer’s Scotland’s Quilter in Residence, as she shares her remarkable journey from learning to sew in Shetland to creating quilts that heal, comfort, and connect communities worldwide. What You’ll Discover: * The history and evolution of quilting in Scotland from necessity to art form * How memory quilts help dementia patients unlock forgot...

I had the most wonderful conversation with Elisabeth Viguié Culshaw for this episode! She’s a natural dyer and botanical printer based in Glasgow’s West End, and her story is absolutely fascinating. Elisabeth didn’t always work with plants and dyes. For years, she was up and down ladders in a hard hat doing conservation work. But around 2015, she discovered botanical printing and everything change...

In this episode I am talking to Fiona Nadyer, a skilled knitter who is the main knitting demonstrator for Sanquhar Gloves for the Sanquhar Knitting Tours, offered through the A’the Airts Centre. The town of Sanquhar is nestled in the River Nith Valley of Dumfries and Galloway, now home to Fiona, who is originally from the Kingdom of Fife. Fiona takes us right into the centuries-old tradition of Sa...

In this heartfelt episode, we journey into the world of slab-built pottery with Avesha DeWolfe of Spiral Tide Pottery. Originally from Maine, Avesha has been working with clay for 38 years, since her mother surprised her with a kick wheel class at age 10. After moving to Scotland in 2009, she experienced firsthand how essential creating with clay is to her wellbeing when she went without a studio...

I first met Max when I signed up for one of his basket weaving courses back in March and was immediately drawn to his teaching style. It was so clear, encouraging and simply fun. By the end of that session I could hardly believe I’d made a beautiful bird feeder out of some twigs! In this episode, Max shares how he discovered basketry, describing that first moment working with willow as feeling lik...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland , I chat with Caroline Mitchell , the creative mind behind Joy Revival Design , a bright and welcoming coastal studio in Portobello, Edinburgh. From sea glass jewellery and lampshade making to festive wreath workshops, Caroline has built a business that celebrates creativity, colour and calm, all just a few steps from the sea. Named after her grandmother, Joy ,...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland , I travel (at least in spirit) to the windswept beauty of the Outer Hebrides to meet Miriam Hamilton , a weaver, designer, and maker based on the Isle of Lewis. Miriam runs The Weaving Shed , a small family business where creativity, craftsmanship, and crofting life are seamlessly woven together. Miriam’s story begins, as so many Hebridean craft stories do, wi...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland I chat with Lisa Harland , the radiant mind behind For the Love of Yarn . What started in Lisa’s kitchen nearly twenty years ago has grown into a bright, bustling studio that feels part yarn emporium, part cosy living room and part communal craft classroom. Lisa talks candidly about the early days: how a graphic-designer’s eye led her into dyeing yarn, how a su...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland , I chat with Jam , the vibrant force behind the Caledonian Wool Company in Fort William. What started as a love of yarn (and a little hoarding!) has grown into a welcoming wool shop celebrating Scottish and British fibres from small-scale farmers who know their sheep by name. Jam’s enthusiasm shines as she shares her mission: to spread happiness one ball of ya...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland , Kerstin talks with Toben Lewis , a bookbinder whose workshop on the Isle of Iona is steeped in history and creativity. Toben shares how a lifelong love of books led to the “Goldilocks moment” of binding his very first book. What began as a curiosity quickly became a calling. “I thought I would bind one book… but as soon as I bound that one, I didn’t want to d...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland , Kerstin chats with Antje Karl , owner of The Yarn Cake in Glasgow and founder of the Glasgow School of Yarn . Antje was one of the very first to open a dedicated knitting café in the city, long before several others followed, and her place has become a hub for knitters, spinners, and makers of all ages. We talk about her journey from architecture to yarn, how...

In this episode of Crafting Scotland , Kerstin sits down with David, a self-taught yarn dyer based just outside Pitlochry. David shares the story of how he first discovered the joy of dyeing yarn, from experimenting with his very first skein to opening his own studio, where visitors can drop by to “squish the yarn” and enjoy the colours. He talks about the inspirations behind his work, the creativ...

We all start crafting in one way or another during nursery school (kindergarten). In those days we just get on with it, have fun and think whatever we create is wonderful and everyone we show it to will instantly know what it is. I certainly thought that and only realised how wrong I must have been when my own son presented me with his beautiful drawings or raw pasta shells pictures when I collect...

Welcome to Crafting Scotland! I’m Kerstin, a tourist guide turned podcast host and I’ve spent years meeting incredible artists and crafters across Scotland. From heritage skills passed down for generations to bold contemporary makers, these are their stories. I have some amazing conversations ready waiting for you to listen to and this is just the beginning. If you love crafts, creativity and a sp...

Not long and this new podcast will launch into the world. It’s a podcast all about creative people who had a dream and made it happen. From contemporary crafters to those preserving heritage skills, these are honest, straight talk conversations, filled with inspiration and a spark of Scottish magic. Amazing conversations are recorded and waiting for you, and this is just the beginning. If you love...

Are you a crafter, a traveler or simply searching for a new hobby that gives you back a little ME-TIME? Then this podcast is for you. This project has been playing on my mind for a long time. When I started my own business working as a tourist guide in Scotland, all the excellent training I received could not have prepared me for the whirlwind of fun, excitement and continuous learning that opens...