East, West, Hames Best
Two half-day workshops by textile artist, teacher and writer Pat Archibald
Where: Museum nan Eilean, Lionacleit, Benbecula
Date: Saturday 29 November 2025, 10am – 1pm & Saturday 6 December 2025, 10am – 1pm
What: An opportunity to create your own textile story panel showing the journey of the evicted crofters from their homes, crossing the Atlantic
Suitable for: This project can be undertaken by anyone who is able to do a running stitch by hand. People that are more confident can work by machine between sessions. The other requirement is a keenness to explore further the theme of the exhibition.
Cost: £20 per person (this is to cover the costs of a fabric kit (choice of colour) containing wadding and backing.) The kit fee will also include the provision of templates, use of paints, brushes etc.
Booking essential: To book, please email museum@cne-siar.gov.uk giving your name and phone number. We will then contact you for payment details.
Description: The focus of the workshop is emigration and in particular highlighting the Clearances from the Outer Hebrides, linking to the Cianalas ‘s Dochas | Homesickness & Hope: Stories of Hebridean Emigration exhibition that is currently on display at the museum.
The whole panel above and below shows the journey of the evicted crofters from their homes in their blackhouses, across the Atlantic under the guiding constellations of Ursa Major and Minor, Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Draco to their arrival in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island.
The work showcases a stylised wave pattern is in the foreground, the blackhouse on the right-hand side (east), the ship on the high waters of the Atlantic in the centre and the log cabin on the left-hand side (west). The large skies with a mariner’s compass are above and are left blank for the thoughts of the people making the journey. The word ‘hope’ carries them through.
The project has been wrapped around a wooden bobbin as a reminder of one of their home industries.
The entire project of “East, West, Hames Best” can be undertaken or a single panel can be focussed on, e.g. the highland blackhouse, the ship crossing the Atlantic, or the Nova Scotian log cabin.
The work can be done using hand stitch and embroidery and/or machine work can be added as can paint and other embellishments.
We would like to thank the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund for funding towards our Exhibition Activity Programme
