Thursday 21 July 2011

Heading North.

Borage and a bee.

Graduates.
Redcurrants and their insect tormentors.

Euphorbia - grows everywhere but I love it.

Inkle Braid.

Its been a hurly burly sort of a summer with trips away and family visiting. We were in Glasgow only a week ago  when my eldest Step Daughter graduated from Strathclyde University. ( First Class Honours, thank you for asking. ) and now we're heading off again to the North West Highlands to cat/hen/ guinea pig and assorted wee furry thing sit for a friend. I can't wait to spend time in one of the most beautiful places in the world but the responsibility is making me a little nervous, especially the cat/hen/small furry animal combination.  In my experience that spells doom for the smaller of the animals. Hopefully Clare's cats are less bloodthirsty than Magnus.

The garden has been cruelly neglected over the summer and has repaid our neglect with beauty and productivity. The redcurrants and raspberries have been stuffed into containers and frozen, waiting for a rainy jam making day.  Even the weeds look gorgeous and are keeping the local bees happy.

I'll be taking a selection of knitting and sewing away with me but decided to leave my new hobby at home. I've been learning to weave on an Inkle Loom. Although it looks fiddly it is a gentle introduction to weaving and I'm finding it a soothing occupation.  The braids themselves are beautiful, trouble is I can't honestly think of many things I can do with them. Suggestions gratefully received. The site I've linked to here suggests making Belly Dancing belts. Maybe that's a hobby too far?

8 comments:

mary jane said...

be sure and bring a large sized Hamster Jacket.

Ellen said...

Assorted wee furry things - sounds like a woodland wonderland. Enjoy! Could you use the braid as a buttonband on a cardi? Belly dance costume would be fun too.

jules said...

What plenty! Beautiful photos of what I imagine is a wonderful garden. Have an amazing time in the wilds and good luck with the various beasts!

xx

Anonymous said...

I've seen purses made out of inkle loom weaving. You'd just need to sew the bands together afterwards.

There's one here on one of the alt art websites:
http://sleythedent.deviantart.com/art/Blueberry-inkle-purse-134472000

The inkle straps might also be good as straps on a felted or quilted bag.
Have a happy time up north! (Now I want to know what a Hamster jacket is...)-rj

inkberryblue said...

Your photographs are beautiful and gloriously coloured. Thank you for sharing them.

I have two inklebraids that I made 30 years ago which still haven't been put to use! You've got me thinking, though. Guitar straps? Belts? Bag straps?

I'm looking forward to some photographs of the Highlands. Good luck with the wee things! =>

zippiknits...sometimes said...

Definitely Guitar straps. That's what they are used for here. Leather on the ends.

Beautiful photo journeys! Thanks for sharing it all. Happy days wished for you. Furry tiny things really mostly stay in their little cages. Our kitties never bothered the little rats or hampsters.

Thanks for blogging about your adventures.

Jane said...

Congrats and I do hope you are enjoying your summer. Your pictures are wonderful!

Maria said...

inkle is wonderful! obviously you can weave ribbons to use as accepts in larger pieces or knitting projects. cords can work as parts of jewelery or as jewelry themselves... you can also inkle weave shoelaces, both flat and rounded... i love the idea of weaving flat ribbons to use as trims and bias tapes and hem tapes...