Bill Blair, trug maker
Monday 30 November 2009
I was in New Zealand last week studying Oamaru’s wonderful Victorian limestone buildings. Beside the harbour I found Bill Blair. In an old tin shed he makes wooden rakes, pitch forks, grain shovels, firewood carriers and other products of woodland hand craft. His best-selling item is the Sussex trug, a type of wooden basket which he makes in a range of sizes. I bought one as a gift for my long-suffering partner Margie, who I had left holding the fort while I enjoyed this solo sabbatical.
Bill Blair giving Margie’s trug a final check and a lick of wax.
I wondered how best to get the trug back to Australia, and Bill kindly offered to make a cardboard box so that I could post the trug home.
Marking out a sheet of cardboard for the mailing box.
Folding the box.