In the moment but on the threshold !

Here's one of Paul's photos from Torridon and our day off (see last blog post !)

We do try to enjoy the moment / day here and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us - but there is also the task of keeping an eye on the months ahead - so new things are being designed to sell in the shop and more trees have been planted on the croft and the huge task of putting up the ceiling in the living room of the Lodge are going on a pace as well. So looking through this ruined doorway into the landscape beyond sums us up a treat !

Day off !

Five years ago we built a small wooden chalet on the croft which was to house the Glimarkra Rug Loom and my art / textiles "stuff" Since then the studio has doubled as a storage space waiting for the day when we renovated our cottage ! Well we haven't really finished that job yet, but there is a gorgeous attic space in the new house, and so  last week was spent moving household things over to it. Then came the task of locating all the art materials, squirrelled away under the bed, in the old caravan where I have painted for the last couple of years, from the garage etc etc Finally Monday saw the red ribbon cut and we both sat in the Studio and celebrated. It is such a fabulous space to have and I could hardly come home for meals yesterday as I painted, dyed a new devored stole and designed a few new things for the Shepherds Huts' new season. But today, as it promised to be fine, we played hooky and went to Torridon to deliver the stole to the art exhibition there. What a great day we had and tomorrow I can go back to the studio(after I have collected a ton of gravel for the croft !)

Max's first frozen waterfall

We have missed the snow here but the temperatures are literally freezing !
Still Max is enjoying walks without the rain - he couldn't work out why one of his favourite waterfalls was not flowing today !

snow mountain and loch blanket

Just in time, I finished the ripple blanket I started in December. Created with my own hand dyed, merino, aran weight wool - this is so cosy to snuggle beneath as the temperature has plummeted and snow has fallen over the hills. Today is so beautiful here, Paul photoed the blanket hanging from our silver birch tree on the lower field, with Loch Ewe and the mountains behind. My first ever crocheted blanket, but I am smitten and two more blankets are in process !!

Bright Beach

Some very bright sunshine reflected on sand and rocks wetted by an outgoing tide: a good start to a Monday morning at Firemore Beach !

Sunrise

After another week of rain and cloud, it was great to start the morning with a lovely sunrise over Poolewe. It seems that cloud is an essential ingredient of a good sunrise, but it can be over done !

Return to the studio

"Fragments" Devore silk and velvet stole
What a nice return to the studio to discover this piece has sold from the exhibition in Torridon . I love the process of drawing onto the velvet fabric with the etching chemical to burn away the velvet and reveal the silk threads underneath, and then the process of hand dyeing each piece. Wearable art for all is one of my happy resolutions for 2013 !