Antique linen tops

Finally the idea I have been slowly working on turned into a physical form. It's only a initial stage but feels good to get one of my dreams off the ground!

I made these SIMPLE tees to be sold at Family Tree, my another business, using very old French linen in mottled green/grey/blue tone. 

I cycle everywhere on my road bike so mostly wear jeans or chinos on my bottom, I had an idea of making a top which has little or no design twists, more about the material and possibly the prints of the textile. By taking away cuts and shapes from the garments they hang beautifully and looks flattery on. I will keep working with this shape, lighter cotton would be nice for the hot day like today, would love to print my own pattern eventually too.

Photos from Scotland

Following up last post, I found lots of mind cleansing photos from our Scotland adventure. I'm sharing few here...

This is a walking path to Coral beach looking across Isle of Skye. We've been lucky with the weather.

Applecross's famous Langoustine at Applecross Inn, the only pub in the village.

Sara's willow basket with freshly laid eggs.

We visited Croft woollen mill. The owner Tom weaves blanket from his sheep's wool naturally dyed by his wife. Below is basket full of beautiful yarns...

Geese! Trumpet was sitting on her egg and Daddy-O has been very protective of her, causing havoc.

Tasting Aron's award winning Hot Cross Bun ice cream.

Thumbs up!

Aron was a chef at Moro before he became ice cream maker so we were constantly fed very well duration of this holiday. This is his mighty shepherds pie. (so many food photos...I was originally intended to post more of stunning highland nature...)

Lastly this is their beloved English bullterrier Onion. Very clever and sweet girl. I can smell their wood burning stove again looking back these photos.

Sarah Paramor Baskets

I recently designed a little logo for Sarah Paramor Baskets. Sarah and her husband Aron moved to Applecross in Highland, population of 240(!) 3 years ago from London. Now they live in cute house surrounded by ducks, geese, chickens and 2 dogs Onion and Compost. Aron has set up new business Applecross Ices which recently swept 8 awards in highland ice-cream show! Sarah has started to learn basket weaving in her spare time using local willow. They kindly invited us this Easter so we drove all the way over 2 days going over narrow rocky cliff edges to Applecross. Everything about the life there were extreme polar opposite of London one. We've enjoyed fresh local seafood, large open beaches, collecting freshly laid eggs in the morning, mountain walks, breathing in pure air, coming across with sheep everywhere.
I thought gaining new skills to sustain living and to be able to trade and offer what you can do to your community is such satisfying thing! I'm not quite ready to give up waking up in the morning and popping in to local shop for croissants and a cup of latte. But this holiday really opened my eyes to see there are wonderful ways of living outside of London worth considering for the future.