The Touchwood Project

My first experiment with dyeing and spinning has given me another opportunity to understand what it is to have enough. It’s thrown down the challenge: how do you enjoy life just as it is? It starts with a tapestry. The Coming Storm tapestry As I mentioned previously, I wanted to knit a tapestry based on a photograph I took of our view. It was my first time working with dyes, carding wool, and spinning. I… Read the rest of this article >>

“Spinning makes you think of little old ladies.” Malcolm and I are sitting in the conservatory waiting for the sun to dip below the clouds and treat us to a rare sunset over the water. For the past several months, the sun had hidden behind the peaks of our neighbouring island, Hoy, and only for the next few weeks would it set right on the horizon before wending its way north to hide again, this time behind… Read the rest of this article >>

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 >>

The latest way we’ve been describing what we’re developing with Touchwood is a ’21st century, luxury Skara Brae’. For those who don’t know what Skara Brae is, it’s a Stone Age village that is a World Heritage site. The houses were at least partially underground, with connecting tunnels. This is a photo of one of several of the houses. You can see the (thought to be) box bed on the left, and stone dresser on the… Read the rest of this article >>