Your window into our Shetland lives

I spoke to Knitwear Designer, Kate Davies, owner of Kate Davies Designs (KDD and Co) who established her business in 2010, after a stroke ended her career as a literary academic at the age of 36.  Kate’s journey to becoming a Knitwear Designer While recovering, Kate supported herself by designing digital patterns for hand-knitting, established […]

The other day I came across an interesting question – someone asked: ‘What is it like living in Shetland?” It made me stop and think about it. First of all I should say, in case you don’t know already, I’m not from Shetland. I moved here in 2004 after finishing my degree. My first encounter […]

Known locally as ‘Da Street’, Commercial Street in the beautiful capital of Lerwick is a Town Centre and commercial hub like no other. It has such a wide-array of shops, businesses, cafes, bars and restaurants that there is always something for someone – whether you are a local or a visitor. As a modern shopping […]

I was looking through the many photos on my mobile phone, all of them carrying special memories, and I came across a few shots from January 2016. We were in New York at the Vogue Knitting Live show with Shetland Wool Week, and it still feels quite surreal that we were able to take a […]

Wilma Malcolmson is one of my favourite knitwear designers in Shetland. Her subtle colour combinations are instantly recognisable and her garments are simply stunning. Wilma has been on the Shetland textile scene for a long time and her expertise and skill are highly valued, not just locally but internationally too. And as Wilma is one […]

Notes from a February Fair Isle Adventure Wednesday 12th February ​After a long time the dream is finally coming true – we’re going to Fair Isle! ‘A bright green spot like an emerald on the wide ocean, this place is quite a world in itself; covered with grass of a most vivid luxuriant verdure.’ The […]

I had the privilege to be involved in organising Shetland Wool Week from its beginnings right until last year, when the time was right for a change and I left my full time job with Shetland Amenity Trust. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the event here are some highlights and notes about how […]

You know the feeling when you’ve been planning to do something for so long and it just doesn’t seem to happen. You’re always too busy, too tired or simply can’t be bothered because you’ve had a busy week at work, there’s all the housework to do, the garden… I have a long list of ideas […]

Today I’d like to introduce someone very special to you – Penny Armstrong and Alan Robertson from Transition Turriefield. Since the first time I met them, back in 2013 I think, they’ve had my utmost respect and admiration for what they do. Not only they grow fruit and vegetables in Shetland’s extremely harsh and challenging […]