Kerrera

I promised to share some photos from our trip to the west coast last weekend so here is the first installment.

We camped near Oban at Gallanach which is just a hop and a skip across the sound from the small island of Kerrera. Since the weather was lovely and the ferry across to to the island was just a short walk from the campsite, we set off for a day out adventuring round this very green looking island.

Kerrera Ferry

We took the red route around the island and went clockwise giving us beautiful views back across the sound to the mainland.

Horseshoe Bay

We met sheep everywhere!

This wee family were sheltering in the hollow as we came around a corner. I don't think they were very comfortable with us being in such close proximity but they weren't for giving up their shady spot either so they put up with being photographed.

At the southern tip of the island there is this lovely bay looking south to the Isle of Seil and beyond to Scarba, Luing and Jura. Gylen castle dominates the view.

The castle was built in 1582 by the Clan MacDougall. It was only occupied for a relatively short period of time as it was besieged then burned by the Covenanters in 1647 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

In May 2006 a restoration of the castle was completed with grants from Historic Scotland and money raised by worldwide members of Clan MacDougall.

We enjoyed spending a bit of time here, eating our picnic, climbing up and down the hillocks and peering into rock pools. Should have got some good rock pool photos but I was too engrossed in the views.

The lambs definitely seemed more chilled out the further round the island we trecked.

Here is a classic Hebridean scene with the sheep on high ground and the Cal Mac ferry in the distance.

As we climbed higher from the west side of the island, up over the middle, I noticed a lot of sheep fibres stuck on the dry stone walls. Reminded me very much of the woolly walls in my felt pictures!

Sold but more coming soon.

Loved this house at Barr nam Boc Bay.

And this one at the sheep farm heading back down to the jetty.

Looks really peaceful doesn't it? But the noise from bleating sheep here was deafening! Amazing how each bleat and baaa sounds different though.

Came across a few oddities on our walk as well.

I liked the squares within squares here and the textures in the peeling paint.

And a nice bright blue with a touch of rust is always a pleasing combination!



This old horsebox seems to have been a souvenir shop at one time.

All in all we enjoyed our visit. New inspiration has been gathered and happy family memries made.

When I saw this sunset I'll admit that I felt rather hemmed in and would have loved to have been out on Iona or on the south west tip of Mull. I do love looking out to the open sea, with waves crashing in and that feeling of being on the edge of the world.

The main reason for going to Oban though was so I could drop new stock off at the gift shop Room 15. I'll share some photos from there in the next post.

The Makers Market on Saturday was great. I met a few fellow Open Studio artists which was nice and a busy day was had.

Next event is Falkland Street Fair on Saturday 23rd June so if you are local be sure and put that in your diary.

October Makes

It's the October school holidays here in Scotland and I cannot believe how quickly they have come around. Seems like no time at all since the children were heading back to school after the summer! It's always difficult to fit crafting time in around holidays so I was delighted when my Mum said she would take my children for a few days to let me get on with some work. They all had a great time and I put all my child free hours to good use.

I've been making some small felt landscapes ready for my upcoming fairs.

(See Upcoming Events on the right hand side of the page for details)

This vibrant piece below is available in my Folksy shop and has been featured on Folksy's front page this week.

These little snowy scenes below have been a delight to make. I had one go off to Alaska last week and had a nice email from the customer to say she loves it and that she hopes to visit Scotland some day and trace some of her ancestry. Coincidently, I happen to have family with the same surname as hers so who knows, we might be distantly related! I love the connections we can make across oceans and continents via the internet.

Snowy Cottage and Sheep £35

In keeping with the season I've spent hours making lots of leaf shaped brooches this week. Here's a sneak peak at the cut felt pieces waiting to be stitched.

These leaves are not just cut from ready made felt. I use the finest hand dyed merino and silk fibres to make the felt then cut and match each piece, making each one different. The hand dyed fibres add to the uniqueness of the finished brooches.

These mauve and green shades are so pleasant together.

You can find these for sale in both my Etsy and Folksy shops as well as at Studio 222 in Newburgh, An Cnoc in Crieff, Zigzags in Dunkeld and Room 15 in Oban.

If there is a colour you would particularly like, just ask and I can list one especially for you

aileenclarkecrafts@yahoo.com

The birds are all made with Harris Tweed that I brought back from our summer holiday in the Outer Hebrides.

The wing pieces are handmade felt to add contrast and texture.

Brooches are all £12

I'm really looking forward to my upcoming fairs. I've got a new card stand for my stall and can't wait to see how it looks.

Right now I have to go and bake cakes. Flap jacks and fairy cakes I think.......and a big apple crumble! 

Hebridean Inspiration.

Where does a girl inspired by the Highlands and Islands of Scotland go on holiday?

The Highlands and Islands of course!

Well actually we usually go to the west of Ireland but this year we went to the Isle of Harris via Arisaig and Skye.

Fantastic.

We pitched our tent here at Horgabost on the stunning west side of Harris. 

A few steps over the dunes from the door of the tent brought me to this spot where I loved to sit and drink my coffee first thing.

 You know you have come to the right place on holiday when the sea is your favourite shade of turquoise.....

... and the flowers and shells are your favourite shade of mauvey purple!

I read one guide book describe this place as paradise refrigerated .... they were not wrong! I still went in the sea though. It wasn't as cold as it looked and wasn't the coldest water I've ever swum in either. I loved it. So clear and fresh.

As you can imagine I was very excited about the prospect of buying some Harris Tweed to include in my work. 

These are cones of Harris wool in the weavers shed at Carloway on Lewis.

Norman Mackenzie weaves his tweed in the traditional manner on a Hattersley single width loom. There are only a handful of these particular looms still working on the Island producing this famous cloth.

I bought a metre of this glorious purple from Norman's sister Margaret who was holding the fort the day we visited. She kindly gave me a few labels to use on any bigger finished pieces. Not sure what I'll do with this piece but it will have to be something special!

There are SO many different colours and patterns of tweed to choose from and I nearly passed out with excitement when we walked into an enormous shed full of tweed next to The Tweed Shop at Tarbert.

I managed to get my hands on various bits and pieces on our travels around the Island and have already started playing around with it.

These bird brooches are a mixture of tweed and felt. The felt areas are hand dyed merino with hand dyed silk fibres and I feel that they compliment the tweeds well.

The pendants are again a combination of tweed and felt with a little bit of stitch for added detail.

I added some beads to this heart as I felt it needed just that little bit extra silver across the middle. This magenta tweed is extra thick and fuzzy and looks a bit like felt already.

On one of our days out we visited this brand new Gallery and Shop at Seilebost.

 I happened to be wearing one of my square textile and resin pendants which caught the eye of Artist owner Lesley Wiseman. Although all the paintings in the gallery are by Artists living on the Islands, the crafts and gifts are by artists from further afield, inspired by the area. My textile sea pendants are certainly inspired by the beautiful turquoise hebridean sea and so Lesley bought some from me there and then to sell in this fabulous new venue! Lesley bought some sheep pendants too and I hope to send some cards soon as well.

Just look at the location!

That's the gallery, the bigger of the two white buildings on the left.

Harris Huts and Houses.

The east side of Harris is a total contrast to the machair and endless beaches on the west. It is a coastline of little coves and a landscape that puts you in mind of the what the moon must be like. All rugged and barren. This side of the island is well populated though with lots of interesting artists and makers to visit. We took a drive up what is locally known as The Golden Road (because it cost so much to build) and I was enthralled by all the cute little huts and houses dotted about.

If you thought those red roofed cottages so prevalent in my work only existed in my imagination think again!

I'll be getting on with lots of new work now that our children are back to school and I am so enthused with new inspiration.

Don't forget that if you are local to Fife you can find me and my work at Muddy Boots Farm Shop and Cafe, Balmalcolm this Saturday 20th August.

As well as all my usual textile art and craft I will have these new cards for sale.

They are all prints of some of my favourite felt pieces. There are nine designs to choose from and cost £2.50 each or 5 for £10. They have been selling so well already that I am out of one or two designs already. I have ordered more which should be here by next Wednesday. If you  would like to order some just drop me a line at aileenclarkecrafts@yahoo.com

Wildfire

At this time of year our hillsides and roadsides here in Scotland are swathed with Rosebay Willowherb making beautiful patches of pink everywhere we look. I can see lots of it from my window here in the cottage.  

 

This little cottage sits at the end of our track and looks adorable no matter what the season. I day dream about doing it up as a craft bothy.

I have used it loosely as inspiration for this piece below.

 

Willowherb Cottage £30

Available in my Etsy Shop now

I thought it would be nice to feature some items from other crafters inspired by Rosebay Willowherb so I put together this Treasury on Etsy.

At first I struggled to find items by other people until I found out that Willowherb is called Fireweed in the USA. We call it Wildfire here in Scotland.
It turns out it grows in abundance in Alaska and I found this great shop making all sorts of interesting things with it including tea and jam!
Salmonberry Origins


I also listed these two new pieces featuring a similar shade of pink to Wildfire.

Textile Leaf Pendant £20

Textile Leaf Brooch £12

And talking of Wildfire, doesn't this look like fire in the sky!

 

Don't forget that you can find me and my work at Muddy Boots Farm Shop and Cafe on Saturday 20th August. Scroll to the bottom of my last post for a map. Muddy Boots is located on the main road at Balmalcolm.