It’s that time of year again, Shetland Wool Week time, and you all know how much I love WOOL WEEK!
This year the build-up has been very exciting. I have really been enjoying my Shetland Wool Week Annual – get your own copy here! – and I did an illustration of a Shetland sheep wearing Donna Smith’s signature Baa-ble hat for this year’s tote bags…

…also, preparing for my classes (which are largely themed around Shetland and its distinctive colours this year) has caused me to revisit my photos from previous trips to these beautiful islands.
It was lovely to go through these photos considering which themes might work well;
‘Simmens’ (straw ropes) and ‘linkstens’ (thatching weights) holding down the thatch on The Shetland Croft House Museum present glorious patterns, lines and textures…
…many delightful shapes and textures can be found in the wise face of this Shetland ram…
…the magnificent glassy prospect of a calm, sunny inlet at Trondra is full of enticement and a temptation of blues, silvers, golds…
…a shock of purple jellyfish lifts all the ochres and mustards of the stones strewn around Nesbister…
…and my friend Deborah stands out in her bold patterned handknits against the rich seaweedy shades of Bressay.
All of which is to say that the colours of Shetland are magnificent, and I look forward to sharing them with some of you in the coming days. See you in Shetland?

Also arriving on Saturday and attending one of your classes.
I leave Thursday! Arrive Saturday and I am taking your Wednesday am class…SQUEEEE! (Waiving Kermit arms wildly.”
Not this year, I’m afraid… Say hello to Shetland from me, and have a wonderful time!!