Rust and a wee rabbit

 

On Monday Fiona and I went to a neighbouring village to pick up a couple of things from the local store; and to have a takeaway coffee sitting down at the local slipway. After coffee we headed back to the store but detoured when we saw a sign saying "pier" - so we investigated to see the difference between a slipway and a pier. Turns out the pier is quite historic; and a long structure that jutted out into the sea that the fishing boats tied up alongside.

Anyway I digress. What caught my eye was all the beautiful rust around what is now a quasi abandoned structure. In this blog post I share but a few of the images of rust. I like the opening photo of the ladder leading down in to the sea. Other bits of rust beauty follow.

When we were walking to the pier we came across a wee rabbit that had made it's home under some slabs of stone surrounded by good camo grass.

And we spied a boat that may be painted in the future.

Sometimes the unplanned trips offer much joy.

Happy but weary

 

Fiona and I held a salvaged silver-plate metal jewellery workshop today in Armadale Village Hall. It was limited to 8 people but we had 9 including a younger girl. The opening photo of me, by Fiona, shows me introducing the day, goals and an introduction to processes, designs and tools.

We set the hall up yesterday afternoon for a midmorning start today. Photos of the setup follow.

As you can see from the couple of photos following participants were very engaged and productive. All participant made 4 or more pieces.

It was a grand and successful day. I could not have done it without Fiona's assistance - she knows so much about the tools and processes - it meant we could give participant individual attention. As I said in the title were are very happy with the outcome but we are also weary - hence the brevity of this blog post.

New workspace in full swing

 

Yesterday I got to have a really good watercolour art time at my new wee work desk in the second bedroom of the cottage. As you can see from the opening photo I can be progressing and finishing several pieces of work.

Following are some progress photos of the two commissions I've have started.

Whilst the sky background and grass foreground washes of the watercolours were drying I went back into a few other watercolours I almost finished here last time - see below.

The stone cottage ruin is now all but complete - a bit of final pen work to do.

What I love of course is that I can leave all the work out and come back at a later time when I can grab a few moments. That is not likely to happen as today (Friday) I'm packing up the tools and doing the final planning for the jewellery workshop I (with Fiona's assistance) will be holding on Sunday.

Mainly about light moments and rainbows

 

On our morning and afternoon we have been experiencing quite a few darker, cloudy and rainy times. Still even such times can offer startling skies such as on one afternoon a few days ago - see above. Though cloudy there are moments when the sea lines are strong - below.

Following are images of various rainbow moments. I say moments because literally the light and the rainbows can last but 5 minutes.

One of the benefits of moments of light and rainbows is that they can invite you to lift your eyes and enjoy the broad sky canopy.

A start and a finish

 

As a result of the Pop Up Art Show I have a couple of watercolour commissions. I have made a small start on one piece that will become an 80th birthday gift. A wee white cottage with bits and pieces along the front wall. See photo above and below.

I have also completed the sixth wee comfort bird. It just looked gorgeous with the sun shining on it through the workshop window. See images below.

Now that thePop Up Art Show is complete I hope to make a good start on my pierced recycled silver jewellery.

Atmospheric evening and the week's bits

 

I continue to be fascinated by the changing scene out the top western window of the cottage. Not only do we get to see the montbrecias and sheep grazing on the croft above - see photos below; but also the changing light at dusk-twilight such as the very dark sky last night - see opening photos.

And sheep in the crofts this morning

I continue to play with settings on the iPhone to capture the essence of some blossoms - see below.

We are fortunate to be here in the heather season which at the moment improves daily.

Of course there are other fragments to delight one.

May fragments of beauty remind us of hope.