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

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

This podcast takes you on a journey through Scotland’s rich crafting traditions. Each episode, we’ll meet makers who are keeping old skills alive while shaping something new — sharing honest talk, real stories, and the passion that inspires their work. Whether you’re a crafter yourself, a curious traveller, or simply someone who loves a good story, you’re in the right place. Let’s step into the world of Scotland’s makers and find pure inspiration together. devinetoursofscotland.substack.com (https://devinetoursofscotland.substack.com/s/crafting-scotland-meet-the-hands?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Kerstin Devine

Category

leisure · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Aug 2025

Latest episode

1 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Jun 2026

   Sometimes you don't choose your calling. It chooses you!

   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 are quietly working to change that from their base in the Scottish Highlands. Bill’s story is one of those moments where life just pulls you in a direction you never expected. A single concert in upstate New York in the early 80s, where a very young Sylvia Woods was playing, turned a librarian into a musician, and eventually drew him all the way across the Atlantic for good. Sometimes you don’t choose your calling, it chooses you! Graham’s path to harp making is equally fascinating, running through electric violins, offshore engineering, and furniture making before landing (almost by accident) at the workbench where he now crafts instruments from solid blocks of Scottish sycamore, some based on designs over a thousand years old. And here is something that really surprised me: there is no such thing as the Scottish harp. There are dozens of them, wire-strung, gut-strung, bray, medieval, modern. Each with its own unique sound, technique, and personality. The right one, they both agree, will find you. Oh, and if you have ever walked through Stirling Castle and heard that strange, beautiful, hypnotic music drifting through the gallery? That is Bill. Playing a reconstruction of music carved into a 16th century stone portrait head. I had no idea, and I was completely blown away when he told me! Tune in for a fascinating conversation about craft, history, and the music that has been woven into the soul of Scotland for centuries. To get in touch with either Bill or Graham, check out these websites: https://www.billtaylor.eu/index.asp https://www.ardival.com Thank you for listening to the podcast. I would love to know what you’re taking away from this episode. If you are a crafter in Scotland and would like to be a guest on this podcast, then please complete this short form - https://form.typeform.com/to/kUUWIPfR (https://form.typeform.com/to/kUUWIPfR) To stay in touch and find out about upcoming guests then visit me over on Instagram and follow along - https://www.instagram.com/devinetoursofscotland/ (https://www.instagram.com/devinetoursofscotland/) In case this inspires you not only to be more creative but also plan a holiday in Scotland and would like a little help with planning your trip or even like me to guide you in part or for the entire duration of your stay, then check out my website and use the contact form to get in touch - https://devinetoursofscotland.co.uk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit devinetoursofscotland.substack.com (https://devinetoursofscotland.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   20 Apr 2026

   A surprising thread running through Scotland's heritage story....

   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 how her curiosity led her to discover five Scottish pioneers who played pivotal roles in bringing tea from China to the rest of the world — figures who are celebrated across Asia, yet largely unknown on home soil. She unpacks the remarkable story of James Taylor from Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire — now known as the Father of Ceylon Tea — and reveals the extraordinary full-circle moment linking a modern-day Scottish tea grower to those very same pioneers. The conversation weaves together themes that are deeply familiar to the Crafting Scotland community: the power of gathering together, working with your hands, sharing stories, and finding meaning in slow, deliberate moments. Whether it’s the women of Harris waulking the tweed, or a veterans’ wellbeing group crafting side by side with cups of tea in hand, Sandra makes the case that tea has always been woven into the fabric of Scottish community life. Kerstin and Sandra also discuss Scotland’s little-known status as one of the world’s most northerly tea-growing nations, and why afternoon tea deserves to be appreciated beyond the cake stand. This is an episode for the curious, the heritage-lovers, and anyone who’s ever reached for an Earl Grey just because it felt safe — and wondered if there might be something more. About Sandra Benn She creates immersive, accessible tea experiences for individuals, visitors, corporate groups, and community organisations. Her work spans private tastings, collaborative experiences (including scone-making and chocolate pairings), and community wellbeing events with organisations such as Veterans Tribe Scotland. Sandra’s motto: It’s always tea time. Find Sandra at [chiyaandchai.co.uk (http://www.chiyaandchai.co.uk)] and on social media LinkedIn and Instagram. Thank you for listening to the podcast. I would love to know what you’re taking away from this episode. Drop me a DM on Instagram or put a comment in wherever you’re listening to the podcast. I will reply. If you are a crafter in Scotland (or know one that would be ideal for this podcast) and would like to be a guest on this podcast, then please complete this short form - https://form.typeform.com/to/kUUWIPfR (https://form.typeform.com/to/kUUWIPfR) To stay in touch and find out about upcoming guests then visit me over on Instagram and follow along - https://www.instagram.com/devinetoursofscotland/ (https://www.instagram.com/devinetoursofscotland/) In case this inspires you not only to be more creative but also plan a holiday in Scotland and would like a little help with planning your trip or even like me to guide you in part or for the entire duration of your stay, then check out my website and use the contact form to get in touch - https://devinetoursofscotland.co.uk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit devinetoursofscotland.substack.com (https://devinetoursofscotland.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   13 Apr 2026

   Scottish Leather Craft: Tradition, Sustainability and Handmade Heritage

   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 Crafting Scotland, Simon takes us on a journey from those early, self-taught beginnings — learning traditional hand-stitching techniques and travelling across Europe — to becoming the owner and master maker behind Mackenzie Leather in Edinburgh. What unfolds is not just a story about leatherwork, but about the deeper meaning of craft itself. We explore the balance between creativity and tradition. The freedom of designing organically with the material, and the discipline of mastering time-honoured techniques. Simon shares how these two worlds have shaped his work, allowing him to create pieces that are both expressive and enduring. At the heart of the conversation lies a powerful idea: that craft is not only about making objects, but about sustaining knowledge, culture, and connection. From the use of oak bark–tanned leather — a process rooted in centuries-old, sustainable practices — to the endangered art of sporran making, Simon reflects on what it truly means to carry a tradition forward in the modern world. And perhaps most importantly, we talk about people: the makers, the learners, and the curious travellers who step into a workshop not just to buy, but to understand. Because when you meet the maker, something changes. The object becomes a story. And the story becomes part of you. This is episode comes right out of the workshop environment of Mackenzie Leather. It transports us into the heart of the business with its sounds and muffled conversations, highlighting the importance of maker-customer relationships. To find out more about Mackenzie Leather, their product range of luxury leather goods and where to visit them in Edinburgh, check out their website (https://mackenzieleatheredinburgh.com) or follow them on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieleatheredinburgh/). Time flew by talking to Simon and he stands testament together with his wife Elena, who in Simon’s own words is his anchor, the dreamer, the optimist, the driving passion, the flow and the creative force behind the brand. I sincerely hope, you enjoy listening to this deep conversation as much as I had recording it. As always, thank you for listening to the podcast. I would love to know what you’re taking away from this episode. If you are a crafter in Scotland and would like to be a guest on this podcast, then please complete this short form - https://form.typeform.com/to/kUUWIPfR (https://form.typeform.com/to/kUUWIPfR) To stay in touch and find out about upcoming guests then visit me over on Instagram and follow along - https://www.instagram.com/devinetoursofscotland/ (https://www.instagram.com/devinetoursofscotland/) In case this inspires you not only to be more creative but also plan a holiday in Scotland and would like a little help with planning your trip or even like me to guide you in part or for the entire duration of your stay, then check out my website and use the contact form to get in touch - https://devinetoursofscotland.co.uk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit devinetoursofscotland.substack.com (https://devinetoursofscotland.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

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