Summer 2024
Not much weaving has been achieved over the school holidays, only two baskets - one of which was disastrous as the willow hadn’t been soaked for long enough and the other - my first belly basket - turned out far better than I had hoped! I’ve still got lots of my own croft-grown willow from the winter harvest to sort, and these rods will be perfect for weaving into log baskets in the Autumn.
We’ve had a brilliant summer with lots of wee adventures in the Highlands and over at the East Coast. It’s been a lot of fun catching up with friends and family, some we haven’t seen for long time. We’ve also been enjoying all the lovely, local events here on the island. The summer holidays are zooming by. Summer, especially the school holidays, for me, is about family time, working hard welcoming guests to our wee holiday cottage, and making the most of the croft. Highlights have been boat trips, and we loved the puppet parade, seeing everyone’s bird and fish puppets made using willow! Look at my friend Anna’s beautiful puffin!
We’re enjoying all the fruit and veg and flowers coming from the croft, and busy making jams and teas. We’ve had some new arrivals - two handsome boy ducks, Kiwi and Goldie, aka slug patrol, and six lovely hens. The hens are still getting used to us and are a wee bit shy. We are eagerly awaiting our first eggs. I’ve been checking on the willow beds which are growing away beautifully - we’ve had plenty of rain for them this year! I’m loving all the food swapping going on just now with our friends. We’re sending everyone away with courgettes, and we’ve come home from walks with cucumbers! I’ve also been spoiled by my friend Lesley giving me lovely croft-grown salad and sweet buns.
I’ve been letting my sore thumbs heal up after they split and became sore whilst I was making the under soaked basket at the start of the holidays. They are getting much better now, just in time for me to go to Ireland for an immersive week with Hanna Van Aelst learning new techniques and developing my skills and confidence. I’ve got plasters and tape at the ready, and I’ve made some skincare bars. I melted shea butter, coconut oil and cocoa butter, and added calendula, meadowsweet and self-heal flowers from the croft, a bit of lavender oil I made years ago, and a few drops of vitamin E oil. I was inspired by advice from Hanna, and also, as this seems to be a great year for Self-heal here on the croft - there is more this year than we’ve ever seen before in the meadow.
We came home really from a really fun croft meet up last weekend laden with garlic, homebrew, a sweet pea posy, some foraged chanterelles and two bags of fleeces (and a bit of sunburn). We meet monthly to help each other with our crofts, and the little kids play, and the older ones do projects (like building a mountain bike trail!). I’m going to use fleeces to try and suppress competition around newly planted willow beds this winter. They are readily available here. Even though not much weaving is happening, I’m always thinking about willow and planning ahead. I’m also pleased with how the website here is looking now and hopefully functioning well too! I’m looking forward to weaving again after the school holidays, perfecting the new techniques I’ll be learning in Ireland with Hanna. I’m so grateful for all the basket requests, and for everyone’s patience while I work through these.
