Woven basket with local materials

I love weaving and all things created by hands, and would like to learn a bit more on the subject. I did a short course at ECA in the tapestry department and sometimes think this was where I should have studied. So when Elaine Bruce came into the gallery a few months back, after a chat about this and that, it was great to find out she had knowledge of not only weaving techniques but actually the usage of local materials that were no longer used and in danger of extinction in some cases. I asked her if she'd make something for me to display and sell in the gallery and today she arrived with this lovely basket. All the materials have been collected, dried and treated first by Elaine. She has used a variety of weaving techniques including one using rush which used to be used to make halters for horses. Materials include, fern, rush, grass, moss, bark larch and are held together using a twine made with nettle. I think you'll agree this is not only something beautiful and useful but interesting to learn about also. Elaine will soon be teaching some of the local primary school pupils how to make a small vessel and I will be looking forward to displaying them in the window!

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Special Wedding Jewellery

Are you looking for the perfect gift to give your fiance on your wedding day? Do you have a special place that means something to your both? Where you got engaged, your first holiday, your family's garden... I've been making jewellery incorporating customers stones for many year's now and it still feels special to me when I hand over a nicely polished pair of silver and stone cufflinks, or a pendant, ring or earrings. It doesn't need to be a fabulous colourful pebble, I've made mudstone from the bottom of a loch look nice! If you'd like me to make you a handcrafted, bespoke piece of jewellery for your wedding day, the process is very straight forward :- - Send me an quick email to confirm details of what you want me to make, the date it's required by and where to post it - Post me your stone or pebble - Payment will be requested once I've seen the stone and am confident it's possible to cut - I'll send it back to

Looking out of my window is a treat every day. I never get tired of the changing colours of the sea. This photo was taken mid summer, in the evening and the bay looked like a mill pond. I try to enhance the different shades of grey with the different stones I find by using various polishing techniques and finish off rubbing the stone with olive oil. It's nice to add some essential oil to the mix for an added sensory experience. Two pieces that recently sold, the necklace to a German tourist who was visiting Scotland by cruise ship. The other to a local lady with a love for Caithness.

Scratchart of 'Gutters at work, Wick'

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Lindsey Gallacher

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