NC500 #7 - Crossing paths with the Picts in Scotland

 I find genealogy fascinating & have done extensive work on my complex family tree.  With information online, several sites connect to known lines & mine (through my Mother) connects all the way back to the early inhabitants of Scotland, the Picts. They are known by the huge intricate stones they left behind 

While touring around the northern regions, I noted several Pict sites to visit. 

The Shandwick stone was a really impressive sight ... 

 

The Shandwick stone or Clach a' Charridh is one of the many found on the Pictish Trail along the North Coast of Scotland. 

From the harbour, the stone if on the hill opposite, in a prominent position. 

It stands in its original site, high on a hill overlooking the Moray Firth.  It is an impressive 9 feet tall, intricately carved on all sides. It is described as ... 

One side of the stone (on landward side) has panels including a busy scene of birds, beasts and human figures and a fantastic pattern of spirals. The other side shows a cross decorated with spiral work and surrounded by angels, animals (perhaps references to biblical stories), and complicated patterns of snakes and interlace.

The jewelled Cross has 54 raised spiral shapes (bosses) 

A good drawing of the stone is here ...  

It is protected from the wild elements by a glass case.

There is something quite primaeval about connecting to history so long ago, it is as if time stands still. Looking out to the sea from the top of the hill was strangely moving. 

At Armadale Castle on Skye, they had a fascinating visitors centre / museum which included history of the Picts in the region. 

It is known that 3 Pictish symbol stones have been found on Skye 

    

I will include some more Pict sites when I visit Scotland again. I know the link is tenuous but it is fascinating never the less. There are over 300 Pict stones across Scotland, many with dragon like beasts, interesting that they had a 'written' history & then they mysteriously disappeared. 

There are some interesting Pict facts on this page - I'm not sold on the tattoos & painting themselves blue which must have been a truly frightening sight, given that they were numerous barbaric tribes.

We know this about the Picts on the isle of Skye

The first millennium AD was a time of upheaval with different groups such as Picts, Gaels and Scots and eventually the Vikings appearing on the scene. Around this time clans developed, people lived in small communities, (Clachans), grew oats and barley and traded up and down the coast. 

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of history ... 

Dee 

Mixed media creative workshop ...

 Hi everyone, 

This week we have had snow in Shropshire so no lessons for me. However, it is the third year I have signed up for an online mixed media sewing course. 

 

It is led by a well known textile artist & is broken down in to daily activities which makes it manageable. I browsed one of Gwen Hedley's books I own for inspiration & made two air drying clay blocks which I thought I might use to print with but did not use them in the end. 

The first day is using watered down acrylic paint to mark 2 cloths - one with dense marks in two colours, the other with less marks to create the contrast in the same colours. 

The next day the two cloths are cut up - deconstructed - then pieced together to form a new pattern using existing marks to make connections between the sections. 

They are then enhanced with stiches using various weights of threads etc. 

Because I did this workshop last year, I had an idea of the process & choose green & gold / brown paints as my two colours. However,  I was once again not too happy with how the paints came out so late evening did another cloth with just the gold marks (the colour I thought came out least well). 

While the paints were out, I did a different cloth with green & blues that I will use later. 

I decided to go with the gold & greens as a challenge to see if I could stitch my way to something I liked. I love hand stitching so it is hardly a hardship & I have lots of threads to choose from in my stash. 

I decided to put the cut up sections together in a long scroll shape as I have a wooden thread reel that came from a mill.

Some connections were easy across the fabrics, other sections will need a lot of stitching to look cohesive but it is workable. 

This is my progress with the last day tomorrow when we will look at backing it. My stitching will continue for a while longer & that is fine because it is very relaxing to just choose some threads & stitch away. 

The light in the conservatory is perfect for stitching (even if it is a little chilly this time of the year.) The red needle threader was in great demand to get the embroidery thread through the eye of the needle. 

Who else uses one of these basic (but essential) needle threaders? 

There is no rush to finish within the 5 course days so it is very relaxing to go where the stitching takes me. The stiches I am using are very basic ones that need little thought so the process can flow:

Satin, running & back stitch (normal & detached), seed stitch (my favourite) french knots, & whipped running stich. 

Thank you for stopping by, do you have a project? I love how artists share their skill & knowledge to inspire us to try something different ... 

 Dee 💕

Hundertwasser Haus art at home ...

In the previous post, I shared my visit to the Hundertwasser Haus village in Vienna.  Because we were doing a lot of travel, I decided to buy a colourful silk scarf that caught my eye with its vibrant colours & bold, modern design.

 Our diningroom has tartan curtains in winter but lighter ones in summer. I also like to change the paintings around & add more blue China & ornaments.

Bringing in the blue & white patterns on the dining room sideboard. The two ladies are a regular feature because I don’t have another good space for them. The white linen & lace cloth is a vintage one. Bolder faux lilies look good in the blue & white vase

The tartan curtains were changed this week for my lighter ones as it look freshers with the blue orchid pots. However, the large painting needs to be changed for something brighter 

I like to change art around too; this huge traditional oil painting has presence & warmth.  The large traditional floral oil painting always looks right alongside the orchids but it does have breaks in the garage

I often swap it for this framed fabric art - I love the exoticness of it & how it fields like a family crest. However, these both need a break ...  

 I bought a silk scarf on a visit to Hundertwasser Haus in Vienna last year & today I decided it was time to frame it because something different is needed. Don’t you just love this bold design?

First step, iron the scarf creases out with a cool iron & a pressing cloth because it is silk ...

This large Ikea Nyttja frame is the right size. Because I like to frame numerous art & images, I buy these inexpensive black Ikea frames in various sizes so I always have something I can use. My last frame this size - mental note - I need an Ikea visit once they reopen & the rush is over.  This might seem daunting but it is not. I buy black Ikea frames in various sizes so I can frame off things & the frames unite the randomness.

I used very thin double sided tape at regular intervals along all the frame sides to secure the scarf; being silk, it is a bit slippery so a bit of time now makes for a better finished image. I used the paper insert as I didn’t have a large enough sheet of card & it worked just fine once the clear front & backing sheets were put back on.

This did not take long & the colours & bold pattern are a lovely change from the gentle floral painting that has been up  all winter. The orchids will soon be in flower with their bold colour too ...

Lovely colour & a bold modern print are the perfect change ...

I love colour & use coloured glass candlesticks & mismatched candles to bring interest in to this room. I love how well the bold, modern image fits in here ...

An hours work is all it took for this framing 

The Hundertwasser Haus / village in Vienna where I bought the scarf from.

Thank you for stopping by, I have enjoyed sharing how I used this scarf at home. I hope I have inspired you to  

look for art in usual places 

Dee ~💕~

To frame or not to frame ....

... that is the question!



I bought this original art work some years back simply because I loved the elegance of the subject.

I knew right away where I wanted it to go - above my ladies desk in my bedroom so I could look at it every day & just enjoy it.

I only have art / painting / photos up that mean something or I really like so this one is personal just because she caught my eye & I enjoy it.

The mezzotint engraving is by Henry Macbeth Raeburn & is signed by the artist & carries a copyright inscription dated 1926 ... 

I bought her unframed from a private collector & have been contemplating to frame or not to frame ever since. I have heavy gold framed mirrors & gold frames elsewhere in the house so that is one thought but .... does she need a gold frame?

 

I have also always wondered who she is? The artist & Henry_Raeburn is known to have done many important portraits & I wonder who this elegant sitter was. Please share if you do know anything about her ...

So ~h e l p~ to frame or not to frame - what are your thoughts?

Thanks for stopping by, your comments are always appreciated
Dee ~♥~