History of, how to make, where to buy patterns, kits, supplies to make new and antique straw coiled bee skeps and Medieval wicker style bee baskets.

Art of Skep Making
An article by Karl Showler on the Beedata site includes background information on the history of beekeeping and the art of making a bee skep. The tools, techniques and materials used in skep making are all discussed.

Coiled Bee Skep - Free Pattern
Step by step illustrated instructions for making a straw bee skep. A free coiled basketweaving pattern for a decorative bee basket.

Martin Buckle
This beekeeper, basketmaker, lecturer, teacher and specialist in skepmaking (especially reproductions of period pieces such as 17th century skeps) offers this tutorial with information about old-fashioned coiled straw beehives and instructions that describe how to make straw bee skeps yourself and the tools you will need.

Bee Skep Clipart
A black and white graphic clip art image of a coiled bee skep and other beekeeper clipart from Honey.com the website of the National Honey Board.

Bee Skep Webpage Graphics Sets
Free linkware graphics featuring a coiled country bee skep for your web site are offered by Gone Country Graphics. A Christmas version is available as well, but remember to follow their terms of use.

Beeskeps From Origin Crafts
Coiled bee skeps and cloches for decorative use as garden ornaments and indoor storage or decor.

David Chubb
Maker of Cotswold bee skeps from South Cerney, England.

Guild of Straw Craftsmen
Information regarding bee skeps from this association in the UK.

Lisa Head
This central Pennsylvania basket artist who grew up in Kentucky uses natural materials such as black willow bark, broomsedge, white oak, hickory bark and rye straw to create coiled and plaited baskets. Her work includes plaited rye straw dough rising baskets, storage hampers and bee skeps in the Pennsylvania German tradition and plaited bark baskets from the Appalachian tradition.

National Association of Wheat Weavers
The National Association of Wheat Weavers is the US equivalent of the Guild of Straw Craftsmen in the UK. They provide information on suppliers, tools and techniques for straw art.

Mike Reddy's Bee Skep FAQ's
Information and frequently asked questions on bee skeps gathered for the purposes of investigating Mediaeval and Tudor beekeeping practices by Mike in his capacity as Master Will Harper, Beekeeper to Kentwell Hall in Suffolk, one of his reenactments roles.

Rye Straw Basket Making Workshops at Dill's Tavern
September 17-19, 2008. The first evening, will be a presentation of the history and uses of Pennsylvania German rye straw baskets. The lecture will include, slides, actual examples of baskets and, the tools needed to do the work. The next two evenings will be hands on, making a rye straw basket. Instructor: Arthur Bert

Skeps - Their History Making and Use
by Frank Alstons available from Beedata in the UK. May at times be available from Amazon.

Skep Maker Photograph
Wikimedia image of artisans making a coiled rye straw bee skep. Making traditional beehives called skeps. Photograph taken by Michael Reeve, 27 June 2004. Other Wikimedia images include bee skep with swarm of bees, beehives in heraldry, bee boles and a bee shelter.

Skep-making
by Toons Brekelmans (Author), Marie-Jose Smit (Translator) book from Bee Books New & Old published September 15, 2000, but now out of print is occasionally available through Amazon.

Wicker Bee Skeps
This photo slide show of images shot at Coates Willows & Wetlands in Taunton England pictures several Medieval willow style bee hives.

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