ScotlandStory (part 8)

Our ScotlandJourney was actually a graduation gift for MrW. According to the old Finnish tradition the high school graduated student gives so called Lyra for mother as a thank you gift for the upbringing and care; also for the celebration she organizes for the student after the graduation.

I didn't want this golden jewellery. Why? Well, it is very common piece of jewellery nowadays when education is self-evident in Finland. You don't see people to wear that jewellery anymore. I would just store it in a box and forget it. Despite it would be a gift from MrW. So I told him not to buy it. But I also told I want a jewellery from our journey in Scotland.

I love silver. I love thistles. Thistle happens to be National Emblem of Scotland. So what could be more appropriate than buy a piece of jewellery figured with thistle? It is a bracelet. It is from beautiful Fort William. I  * L O V E  * I T

I found also something special from Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company. It is Solid Hand Cream Bar with honey and essential oils. I wanted so much more but as we still were on backpack tour I could not grab all I wanted... because or bags were already full...

...full of books and maps. Young Lady fell in love with all the book shops; no matter sold they brand new or used books. And she really carried them all around the world!

MrW was fascinated also by maths and physics books he found as used.

And at the end; everything needed to be frozen and then dryed with care to avoid any bug to end up our home or damage our new and old books. We saw no any creepy bugs but we always do this just in case after travelling.

This is my new hat for all the comming winters. Made in Nepal but bought from Scotland as I didn't find any hand knitted hat styled more like this which would have been made in Scotland. So, despite it is summer, winter will always be there; knocking at my brains.

And yes, something else for Me&MySelf. I seek and seek something with BogMyrtle and this was all I found. A bit disapointed but still happy.

So, that finally was all about our ScotlandStory. Be brave and try out an adventure there!

Unicorn

One more Unicorn finished.

Madeira Lana creates beautiful effect for Unicorn's mane and tail.

My own design

Once upon a time

Once upon a time there was a princess...

...who grew up and much pink princess stuff was left behind.

So her mother grabbed last pieces and stored them well in hidden place. For further use; of course. Because she had no squared pattern paper she needed a pen and ruler to draw 5 x 5 cm squares all over. Because she had no quilted princess fabric she needed to do it by herself.

She had done it several times before so it was easy and finished fast.

She charmed two blankets and pillows for a little MissN who is about to think she and all her dolls are true princesses.

MissN will get them on her birthday on a dark autumn day when the magic is real and all the wishes become true. Until that very special moment these crown linen will be stored and hidden well.

My own design

ScotlandStory (part 7)

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It has many famous places to visit. But it is a city that hides a lot front of your eyes. It all is there, too close to be noticed.

There are gardens which are easy to bypass...

...and there are many famous and unknown alleys.

Advocates's Close is very narrow and extremely steep passageway between Cockburn Street and The Royal Mile. He really did a devil's job by carrying our backpack (almost 20kg) across the stairs all the way from down Cockburn Street up to Royal Mile. And much more; actually all the way through the centre. What a gentleman He was! (We all are very grateful for that.)

YoungLady loved the staircase of our accommodation place.

You could call that Scandinavian staircase. White and green. Peace. Calm. Bright. Except it is not. It is in 150 years old building in Edinburgh.

At T H I S time we visited only The Writers Museum in Edinburgh. We planned to see many more but as I have earlier told Urquhart Castle and Rosslyn Chapel really shoved us so much that no more was needed. For sure we'll go back to Scotland so next time we can see more. In Edinburgh there was so much to see "outside" that our time and days passed by wondering the architecture and popping in many old and new book shops.

I come from the place which has a lot to show you. But this lot doesn't include much old architecture. MyWorld is different. That's why these beautiful buildings, intimate centres and art everywhere steal my attention. I can fall into oblivion with all the details. That's why I have never ever got lost in the wilderness but in cities and buildings thousands of times. I forget where I am, from where I came, to where I should go and I start to question; who at the end I actually am.

And yes, Unicorn, yes indeed. Why on earth I started to work with Unicorns after ending up home?

SeaSideOfficeChair

I have got another recycled office chair. I upholstered it in a different way than SummerOfficeChair.

Again I went to see my treasure boxes to find old left over fabrics. This time I used old jeans and left over fabric I needed in one of my stitching projects.

This is how it looks. YoungLady can not decide which one she takes; SummerOfficeChair or fresh SeaSideOfficeChair. But that is just fine because the decision has already been made. She has nothing to do with SeaSideOfficeChair. But you know, as long as teen desires it you can be sure it is so

C O O L & P E R F E C T.

ScotlandStory (part 6)

This is VeryOldInn...

...The Old Rosslyn Inn (1680 - 1866),

 And this is VeryOldChapel...

...Rosslyn Chapel (built between 1446 - 1484).

It is very interesting building to see despite you are not interested about the religious cases at all. It makes you to wonder all the work craftsmen did on that time.

It has many different styled Carvings all over the building; in and out.

The downpipes must have created fascinating function with the water.

It is quiet place with lot of tourists. Many people just come and go. Still you can find peaceful moments there. If you have a walk around you can see more.

The Old Cemetery for example. 

If you want to travel around Edinburgh Rosslyn area is one good place to stay. It is cheap to take a bus to Edinburgh City Centre (just 1,50£ single ticket) despite it takes almost one hour to get there. But during the journey you can just sit down and enjoy the views.

On our backpack travel around Scotland we visited Urquhart Castle and Rosslyn Chapel. And that was enough for us at T H I S time to fill our apetite investigating historical buildings with many stories. No other castle or chapel or big museum was needed. These two places gave us all so much to think about that we are still thinking about it all...

SummerSolstice

T H I S year we got much warmer SummerSolsticeCelebration time than last year. My apple trees blossomed just for the celebration. The hop has not grown as well yet as last summer but this time our May was colder and even my tulips were late. During May and June the weather has been everything possible; including hailstorms and finally now by the MidSummerTime hot hot hot. +24 Celcius degrees is hot. The weather was beautiful. With thousands of mosquitos.

Today we are back to normal; +13,5 Celsius degrees and pouring rain. I must tell you; after all my rabbits prefer this weather. Despite they are not allowed into their outdoor fence. All the mosquitos have vanished; thanks to the rain. And all the heat is gone; they L O V E it.

He was working over the MidSummerCelebrationWeekend. Yes, when Finns celebrate SummerSolstice it takes several days. It should start on Friday but usually people start it on Thursday already and keep going on until early hours of Sunday...

You know I already upholstered an old office chair and told you a story of our holiday. But because he was at work I used a box he has given to me. No, it doesn't enclose a knife...

...it encloses StitchingStuff!!!

You know I also did a small tutorial 

about it how to use Madeira Lana thread.

I had a reason to try it out...

...because I have also spend some time with designing new small cross stitch project. It is up to Unicorns. More pictures of it all at here. So, I have spent my SummerSolstice also with Unicorns! How G R E A T is that! (My own design.)

SummerOfficeChair

This is an old office chair; recycled one.

I got it just before MidSummer.

(Thank You...)

The only fault was broken fabric.

And some dust...

So I went to my treasure boxes...

...and found some fabric!

Fabric that was left over when making curtains years ago...

I made easy to put on and take off cover for the seat. 

The back cover loosen after unscrewing. I could have fasten the new fabric like this but I didn't.

I used the same method as I did with the seat.

The back cover hides it all.

I also made a slip cover for the headrest. The old one was washable but its fabric was still just fine so I made this slip and placed it over it all.

Also the headrest slip cover is easy to remove and wash.

It is for YoungLady. It fits well with her blue floor and blue desk.

She is so happy because of it!

ScotlandStory (part 5)

With CastleDreams I showed you one pic of Urquhart Castle.

It stands on spectacular view by Loch Ness, close to Drumnadrochit village.

The medieval castle has interesting history and still it seems to be pretty big. It is fascinating actually how hard it has been to built it all up to its glory on the times we have not seen. Without the modern construction equipment they didn't have then on that time...

Breat taking views to Loch Ness have created quite good changes to notice the wayfarers and conquerors.

Summer flowers

My tulips wish you all HappyMidSummer celebration!

What else is blossoming around here by the MidSummer?

BirdCherries of course!

My Saskatoons!

Currants!

And BlackCurrants!

Have you ever thought the blossoms of BlackCurrants look like tiny bells?

And this little one is very diligent by our veranda window.