We spent a wonderful August bank holiday weekend demonstrating prehistoric cookery techniques at the Thrumpster archaeological festival. Caithness is a wild and wonderful part of the Highlands, so it was quite an adventure camping there for three nights with my family. We spent the first day demonstrating simple cookery techniques to school groups. We made … read more…
Our new craft retreat is running towards the end of September (24th-October 1st). The retreat will combine craft, walking and optional yoga. Guests can enjoy days foraging for dye plants and making natural dye outdoors over fires, eco printing, as well as creating a felted wall hanging inspired by the stunning landscapes around us. We … read more…
We just finished running a wonderful week, our dye to hand-spin course was great fun to run and everyone achieved so much. We managed to wash our fleece, forage for dye plants, make our dyes, dye our beautiful Shetland fleeces and finally spin it! Bridie started off showing everyone how to use a drop spindle … read more…
I have always found focusing on art and craft has been a brilliant way for me to unwind, concentrating on a project relaxes me and helps me to de-stress; it doesn’t really matter what it is..carding fleece, washing fleece, spinning, wet felting, needle felting or sewing, they all clear my mind. Some of them because … read more…
An amazing offer on our Fleece to Felt week! A week of traditional craft in the Highlands of Scotland. 50% off our craft course May 21st-28th Due to two last minute cancellations due to ill health we suddenly have two available places. If you can zip up to Inverness this Saturday, come and join us … read more…
We had a great weekend of dyeing, the sun shone and we made many beautiful colours, lovely to be dyeing outdoors again instead of in the barn. Now everything smells of wood smoke, especially me. We had a little experiment with our Alkaline modifiers, trying to work out which might be the most effective. We … read more…
Calling all crafters with an interest in learning to hand-spin….We have a couple of places left on our dye to hand spin course left and we are currently offering £150 off per person. It will be a wonderful craft holiday, with time to relax, be creative and learn or improve on a skill. We are … read more…
Finally the Gorse is out and now starts the tricky task of picking it without getting too scratched, being quick and using gloves is always good! The weather has been good to use and the plants have started to grow up here. Young shoots and leaves are always good for dyeing with as they give … read more…
Wild Rose Escapes Dye to Hand Spin week July 9th-16th £50 off if you book before the end of April 2016! Enjoy a relaxing week of craft, learn a new skill and have a wonderful holiday at the same time. Over the week watch our Shetland sheep being hand-sheared, wash and sort fleece, forage for … read more…
Hand spinning is such an ancient craft which has been going on in its many forms for thousands of years all over the world. Drop spindles are the most accessible way of learning to spin and there is archaeological evidence of hand-spun yarn as old as 20,000 years, which is remarkable to think it has … read more…
