The Touchwood Project

I love when I try something new, think I’ve failed, and then it turns out great. Such was the case with my first attempt and dyeing, carding and spinning my own yarn, the first of which I’m calling “The Coming Storm”. But it’s also brought up some questions about why getting paid for something seems to equal appreciation. As I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to create a yarn that captured both the colours… Read the rest of this article >>

As my Dad told me recently, I’m well on my way to the 14th century at the rate I’m going. Well nothing says medieval like spinning yarn, so today’s post is for the crafty types and wool lovers out there with whom I’d like to share my newest project: Orkney tweed yarns. Getting started with spinning When we moved to this house, our landlandy generously left behind her spinning wheel to use and it’s been… Read the rest of this article >>

Have you taken Strengthsfinder and had “Ideation” as one of your top 5? Know someone who has? Today I’m writing about something pretty specific: how to develop Ideation as a strength. If you don’t know about Strengthsfinder, it’s a fantastic personal development tool I’ve written about before. Strengthsfinder has fundamentally changed how I live and work, helping me see what’s unique and wonderful about what I… Read the rest of this article >>

This morning shone brightly, bringing the feeling of spring and all its energy and enthusiasm with it. The problem was, so many things weighed on my mind I couldn’t seem to start on a single one. I felt restless, cranky, worried in that intangible way that happens when I have too many things in my head and doubts that I’ll ever manage to get them all done. When I get like this, Malcolm and I sit down for a… Read the rest of this article >>

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” That’s the phrase circling around my head this morning as I watch another thrilling gust of snow sweep past the kitchen window. I’m thinking about the often delightful responsibility of being a dreamer, a storyteller, and how you tell a story that’s both honest and worth telling. A good story starts with the improbable or downright impossible I think… Read the rest of this article >>