Bits and pieces from the phone

 

We are away from the cottage for a few days so this blog is based on bits and pieces in my iPhone. Whilst we are away from the village and cove it is always a significant part of our life when we are at the cottage. Gorgeous to look down at the track into the cove with a wrecked fishing boat and old fishing gear store shed.

A few fragments of beauty.

Fiona the sheep whisperer - this little flock so wanted to come to fence for a meet and greet - one in particular was very inquisitive - almost like it wanted to become friend.

Many years, many fences, many farmers.

The fragments of daily beauty around us remind us to look for and have hope.

A successful market

 

Fiona and I had a wee market stall at the Watten Village  Hall Craft and Produce Fair on Saturday (24/9). We never know how these ventures will go given markets are a bit unusual for us; and doing them in another country always offers a few extra challenges.

We didn't have the sophisticated display that many other stall holders did; and our range of product is always dictated by what we can bring from our home studio-shop. But I think the opening photo shows that we had an interesting table. The following photos show us in setting up mode.

A few more images of our table. We used old slates from the cottage and stones from the cove to display our work. I love Fiona's Solace Stones - beautiful; feel in the hand and poignant sentiments.

Good crowd in attendance - see below.

We had a successful day - sold quite a few bits; and got very positive feedback on the quality and difference of our work. We have been asked to participate in a couple more markets during the time we are here - we will see how our time plays out. 

Starting Post 37

 

Have been commissioned to make a post that reflects the history of a daily farm. The main elements will be a very old rusted strainer post set in stone and various farm implements including clydesdale horse horseshoe. 

I have started the post including joining 125mmX95mm timbers and capping the slightly rotted tops with heavy channel iron as you can see above - cut with the trusty side grinder.

Photos of the strainer post and other bits provided are below. Not all the bits and pieces will find a home on the post.

The basic design for the post follows. I gave the post the working title of Bluebelle Cottage; but the official historical name for the post is Post 37.

Photos of the starting process follow. I started by grinding off accumulated grime and old paint - a real outdoor job - but so glad I have my sidegrinder to sand and to cut metal. You will see from the state of the timbers that it rained on and off as I worked this afternoon.

I will be away from the cottage next week so I will need to work on the post in a couple of weeks time. 

Imagine peace

 

Fiona and I installed a few peace weather grams and peace doves at the cottage in recognition of International Day of Peace today 21/9/22; and to send a few peace vibes out into the world.

We both noted that one of the places we chose to install the weather grams and doves was on a barbed wire fence - we thought this reflected the fact the fact that so many people in the world are held captive by violence, discrimination and inequality.

Fiona installing peace bits.

A few more images of the weather grams and peace doves.

Hoping that peace finds its way into the lives of those currently ravaged by war and held captive by violence, discrimination and inequality.

Art meets history

 

Over the weekend Fiona and I checked out the new annex building at the Strathnaver Museum. It was a great surprise to see a derelict wooden boat in the annex parking area - maybe awaiting work before becoming part of the museum collection.  Today I did a couple of small watercolours (above) of the boat (below).

Over the past year I have been creating works that reflect the betrayal of the Scottish farmers in the Sutherland shire in the northern highlands. Farmers cleared-forced from their land to make way for capitalist enterprises; and forced to subsist on small crofts and forced to become fishermen even though most had never been to sea. Many went to sea in unsafe boats and many lost their lives.

A few images of my work follow.

How eerie to find a boat that seemed to have, for me anyway, a strong connection to those sad historical times and to my recent work.