A wee dram...

A few new panoramas and views from a trip through Glenshee and up to Ballindalloch last Thursday, where I visited a friend from art college days, and the Glenlivet distillery - more or less next door to her house :-) Above - the realigned Devil's Elbow road. Below - as it was in the late 1960s.




No photos allowed on the distillery tour, but you can see the copper piping and stills through the window... the whole place smelled of whisky in various stages of production. Fascinating.



At the end of the tour, there are some interesting whiskys to try, including the Nàdurra, which has an unusual taste. Mmm.

'Nàdurra is the Gaelic word for natural. Revisiting 19th century practises, and unlike most modern whiskies, this single malt is not chill filtered, giving the mouth feel more body and a richer texture. A bold innovation in single malt.'

The drive back was stunning, towards Ballater along the Leche Road.



Corgarff Castle -


Sunset -

Sashiko in Scotland - last workshop photos

The last workshop photos from the Scotland trip were filed in the wrong spot, so I didn't find them till today (my laptop had to be repaired when I got back from that weekend, so there wasn't a chance to post photos before going to Germany). The workshop shown is 'Sashiko for Summer' at Purely Patchwork, Linlithgow.


All the information on my hard drive was, luckily, recovered, including photos taken in a bluebell wood the previous week. It was quite magical. Unfortunately, I also discovered that I am allergic to bluebells, and had a full-blown hayfever reaction within about an hour!

Sashiko in Scotland - last workshops at Linlithgow

Saturday and Sunday were the last two workshops of the current Scotland tour. Both were at Purely Patchwork, Linlithgow, where I've taught before. They have a well-appointed classroom up a few steps at the back of the shop, conveniently close for anything extra you might need. As usual when I teach there, I couldn't resist some fabric - this time, the Stonehenge panel by Northcott, plus a couple of the coordinates. When I saw it in the window, I didn't believe something that looked so good could be a panel! Last time I was there, I got eight of the other stone effect fabrics to make a new workshop sample for the Japanese Circles and Squares workshop, one of the classes I taught this time. They have produced a kit using the panels.


The first workshop was 'Sashiko for Summer' - I have a few photos, but as my main laptop is away for repairs, I won't be uploading them just yet.

We are already talking about next year's workshops and I am hoping to replicate the 'tour' in May/June 2012, so if you belong to a group in Scotland and the Borders area, please contact me. For Purely Patchwork, we are thinking about a workshop based on my 'Time and Again' quilt, which uses 2 1/2in fabric strips (so use a batik strip cut or cut your own strips) and also the 'Sensu' fans strippy quilt from the new 'Japanese Quilt Inspirations', which features a very easy design in freezer paper applique, done by machine.


Many thanks to all my hosts who made this tour so much fun to do. The travelling around from place to place has been a real pleasure as well, with fabulous landscapes. The colours and shapes have made a big impression, especially the lush greens on my drive over to Skye. I've had a wonderful time and it was really hard to leave Scotland!

Sashiko in Scotland - third workshop - near Inverness

After a spectacular drive from Skye to Inverness (pouring rain, lush greenery, raging torrents), yesterday's workshop was one where we could sit in the sun and stitch! The group is Creative Art and Textile, who meet at Patches Corner at Beauly, and the workshop is 'Sashiko for Summer'. As you can see, we had a lot of laughter together, as well as producing some great sashiko.


The venue was the new workshop cabin at -


Click image above for directions etc. The shop is very new and, although I checked their website link, there only seems to be a holding page at the moment. The workshop is another log cabin round the back of the shop - a light,bright workspace with plenty of free parking. They had an excellent range of fabrics, threads and notions.


Here's some of the workshop panels -


The fabric is from a two-tone shot cotton range by Fabric Freedom, woven in India, and the thread count and weave are perfect for sashiko when a different colour palette is wanted. The purples and lilacs were the starting point for this workshop idea, as the colours reminded me of Chinese bellflowers growing near Yuza, Yamagata Prefecture. I imagined most of the quilters would choose those.


After driving around Scotland for a week, the colours of summer up here are the two lush greens - the light, bright, saturated green reminds me of the hillsides and the darker green the mixed forests and woods. It isn't surprising that these colours are the natural choice of anyone surrounded by this stunning landscape, whether in rain or sun.

Sashiko in Scotland - second workshop - Kyle

Today's workshop was the first of 'Sashiko For Summer', the new workshop I'm adding to the list (there will eventually be Spring, Autumn and Winter/New Year themed workshops too). Loch Carron Quilters had joined forces with Skye Quilters to host the workshop and some beautifully colourful pieces were produced. When you see the lush greens, teal blues and subtle blue greys in the landscape around here, the colour choices were obvious. Their home landscape is a total inspiration of colour and texture, and it is no surprise that many of the quilter are adept at many other textile techniques, including spinning, weaving, embroidery and felting. Skye and the mainland coast certainly attracts artistic (and friendly) people. Everyone made me feel at home and I hope I can come back sometime.


On the way to Skye (click panoramas to view at full size) - the long journey from Kettins was a pleasure, with such spectacular views. I wish I'd had time to stop and take more photos, especially when a snowy ridge appeared out of nowhere.






The weather was wet and windy today (reminded me of home LOL) so no chance to really see much of Skye (I stayed on the island overnight, just to the south of the bridge). For crafters, a visit to Magpie Jewellery is highly recommended, and I fitted in a mad dash to the shop with some of the quilters just before it closed. Some of their copper beads will be finding their way into a forthcoming project...

Sashiko in Scotland - mystery tour - part 3

Sunday - continued on to Stonehaven and returned via the A90, taking in a very good fish and chip shop and Dunnottar Castle at sunset.

Sashiko in Scotland - mystery tour - part 1

I drove up to Scotland on Saturday, just after the worst of the gales had finished, although perhaps not at Lancaster services on the M6! The 'space age' turret is one of those iconic pieces of motorway architecture...

On Sunday we drove up what used to be known as 'The Devil's Elbow'. Since my dad drove down it on our way home from our holiday at Ballater in 1970, the road has been realigned, so the hairpin bends have gone. It is still very steep in places - also freezing cold and high winds. Glyn (who helped me out at the Edinburgh Spring Quilt Festival) also got a few photos. I stuck it out for a panorama, after which my hands were frozen (click photo to see it large size).



Continuing onto Glenshee. The ski lift is in the distance.


I didn't remember the cafe and other buildings from 1970, but they are there on the home movie stills - turned out I parked in the same car park.


Unfortunately, I couldn't repeat this shot from the Standard 8 footage, as the ski lift wasn't running - too windy!


Posing -


Posting a postcard outside Braemar -


More in a moment...