It’s a beautiful evening along the canal in Dingwall. I met an elderly man on the canal path yesterday who showed me the overhang where he said he saw otters yesterday morning. I think I’m going to be spending a lot more time on the canal path hoping to see the otters. I’ve never seen them in the wild even when I lived in Thurso I apparently just kept just missing them. In the meantime here are some pictures I took to keep me going until the otters appear.
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What bliss. I’ve spent most of the last two days stitching my main 2015 project, an embroidered picture of Rogie Falls near Strathpeffer, Ross shire. I started it at the beginning of the year and I’m still only about half way through. I sometimes wish I’d chosen a medium which meant quicker progress than embroidering with single strand Achor threads! Never mind getting two days together means that I’ve been able to move the project on and now I’m really excited about it again.
Great News my greeting cards can now be purchased at Patches Corner in Beauly, Inverness Shire.
Hello my dear friends and readers…
Just want to share a piece of very exciting news with you all.
In 2 weeks time, I’m going to have my own craft shop, Yippee!!!
Yes you read right. A NEW CRAFT SHOP HERE IN SINGAPORE!!!
Finally, a small dream of mine come true. I’ve longed for a space to share my passion in stitching, knitting and crocheting.
And if you have been following me for a while, you may notice there’s a slight change to the URL. It reads Wish I Were Stitching,
instead of Pretty Little Things in A Box. Nothing to worry about, cos’ the old URL will still be directed to here.
I’m happy for New URL and a new logo (designed by hubby).
The address of the shop:
The Commerze@1 Irving Place, #01-03, Singapore369546
(Currently under renovation, aiming to start by 8th June 2015)
Getting there: by MRT-Alight…
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Dingwall canal
Rogie falls is a beautiful, and for those who can walk without too much trouble, very accessible waterfall just west of Strathpeffer on the River Blackwater in the Scottish Highlands. There is a car park and a path leading down to the falls. It only takes about 10 minutes to walk down but it is fairly steep in places and someone using a wheelchair or even an electric buggy would have difficulty.
To start this embroidery I have roughed out the basic areas in fabric paint on a cotton background. I’ve started with the fir trees in the far distance and will gradually build up the picture from there. Perhaps some of you would like to follow my progress with your own interpretation of the scene?
These wonderful shapes suggest creatures from the underworld silently watching us from the safety of their tree protector. Home for these ones is the path from Castle Street to the canal in Dingwall. I think they are quite friendly.
I’ve at last finished the sewing of my side garden. The original photograph was taken last year in late June/ early July when everything bursts into flower at once. I’ve made a few changes this year and I’ve also used a bit of embroiderer’s licence as some of you will spot but I’m quite happy with the result.
The houses in Achany Road were built about 1895 from local red sandstone. The colours and textures of the walls fascinate me. I can imagine the men chipping out the blocks resulting in the distinctive surface making each block a mini work of art.
Achany Road is built on land adjacent to the site of Dingwall Castle which is marked on a 12/13th century map held in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The scant remains of the medieval Dingwall castle or ‘Mote of Dingwall’ as it was known, is now in a private garden and it is said that many of the houses round about are made with the castle stones after it was ‘levelled in 1818’. Apparently our house sits on land which was originally the castle orchard. I don’t know if this is true but another part of our garden has six apples trees, raspberries, black and red currants and a wonderful Victoria plum tree.
I didn’t have a lot of time to think about this one. The theme was a river. Otters live in rivers. And I love otters. It’s a natural fit.
How lucky am I? I am spending my time in this lovely weather here in the Highlands between stitching my garden and doing a very little bit of real gardening. Nothing too energetic mind; just deadheading the roses, watering the tatty patch and I might if I feel like it wander back out and replant the overgrown poppy. Life is good!
An Achany Road Garden
