Re-tracing old steps

One of the most vivid memories I have of my childhood is that of a box of Tunnocks Teacakes, sat on a high wooden shelving unit in a long, narrow kitchen, in a cottage that looks out to sea in a place called Rockcliffe. Scotland.




Last week I went to re-visit that place.

The old and the new memories now entwined. Highland cows. Beaches of cockle shells. Mabie Forest and no spiders' web. The Clonyard and Hudson the parrot. Beeswing campsite with Beryll the Peril and donkey rides. Yellow flowers against lush greenery. Sandy hills. Dumfries. Loch Arthur Community. A sea of stars. A frost on the tent, crisp to the touch. Down jacket worn at night under a patchwork quilt and knitted blanket.



Andy Goldsworthy you beauty. The Byre, the meeting point, a taster of what's to come. A heavy hike up Bail Hill in search of one of your Striding Arches. Almonds and raisins for energy. Bogs. Lots of them but we still found it. Triumphant at the top. It's a shame the day didn't brighten up for us. View of the landscape through the arch, wind whistling in my ears. Sodden feet. Fruit cake treat for the way down.



So many places I did not recall, so much more to explore. I want to ride my bike in Mabie Forest.

Bobbydazzlers

My mum delivered these to me when I was at my aunts' the other week. I love them and they're so warm..


With everything being mass produced these days it's quite odd to think that there was once a time when all socks were knitted by hand..It's made me realise all the skill and time that's needed to knit just one pair of socks.

It's a lot.

A collaboration of sorts

My mum has been knitting hats all winter. We've not been able to stop her. I went to see my aunt the other weekend, we went for a walk and it was pretty cold, I saw her putting a hat on and thought it looked familiar, I took a closer look, not only was it one of my mums' handknits but it also had two of my cross stitch initial badges on it that i'd given her as a Christmas present. It made me smile so here's a photo..



Hats combined with badges are appearing left, right and centre now, for friends and relatives. I like it.



(Individual images of my range of cross stitch badges will be appearing on here soon)

Last weekend..

I went home to see the countryside and get away from Manchester for a bit. We had snow. It was good. I went for a long walk. Me and my mum popped into The Yorkshire Sculpture Park on Sunday to see what's going on there at present. We looked around the Made exhibition, YSP's annual exhibition showcasing Contemporary Craft and Design.

This was my favourite work:

Good craft

An example of good craft - My mum just delivered my new hand knitted jumper which she has been working on for the past few weeks. It's a beauty of a Fair Isle. It's well good..



Ta mum!