Its a different December this 2020 for sure and i am still making orders of felted goods for customers but every now and then its good for the soul to do something different.
I love a good story and i love story telling and today on this drizzle day , i stepped out on the platform with a whole tribe of Book Cover Bears and sat for just a little while and lost myself in the story .
Books , real books that you can feel and touch and smell ...wonderful .
this particular book you can find here www.writerlorrainejohnston.com

In Argyll and the Scottish Highlands it can be a grey place when the mountains are hidden behind clouds that fall to the boggy ground but -we know a secret !
Our bears in the Bear Room know a secret .
Books and stories whisk you away to where ever you wish to be . Beatrice  Bear got a gift of a lovely book and it has become a firm favourite with all the bears ...especially when they are tired and grumpy.
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This is not just an ordinary book that has a great story and beautiful illustrations, it has a special reason for its existence.
Written by one  the bears  favourite Auntie  and gifted 100% to the wonderful children's charity Whiteleys Retreat - a heartwarming life changer for many families .
The book is wonderful and makes a wonderful gift to young and old ...Check it out at www.whiteleysretreat.com

When you literally create colour from the landscape that colour is of the land 
The colours that i dye my fibres and wools takes time to take through all the process.
It helps my patience with life , my life and the life around me.
We have been given so much on this earth to work with and nurturing that gift slowly brings a relationship between flora ,fauna and the living soil.
We have had an exceptional warm summer and before we go into the darkness of winter we have had the most spectacular colour show here in the highlands . 
The vibrant yellows in the larch , golden hues in the deer grass and the bracken a myriad of oranges and browns.
​Subtle colours but alive with a depth you just don't get from artificial , manmade dyes.

These wearable pieces of artwork are inspired by this landscape and it seemed so right to photograph them in that same landscape. 
Where i go to often , the beautiful Glen Orchy .
flowing through the landscape that had seen many world calamities , many wars and the mountains remain serene.
Thank you to the lovely Celia for being my model  
and great thanks to mother nature for making all of this possible.
I consider myself very fortunate and hopefully my work reflects the joy I have making it .
Have a closer look at these lovely cosy wool scarves and wraps 
http://www.heartfeltbyliz.com/store/p57/Brackenlocksfeltedwrap.html#/

On one of my journeys to the beautiful Island of Iceland, I saw and fell in love with the beautiful fish skin leather that was tanned there .
Finding buttons as treasures and getting to know the creator of these delights , iI re-found a childhood memory of fishing and trying to create things from the skins.
Then i didn't have the cultural heritage or a mentor who could teach me to hone this ancient skill .
Now i have found the information and the desire to learn and just LOVE creating a strong and useful fabric from a local renewable source.
My first set of creations with the tanned skin is this bracelet and i am working on more designs all the time 

view it here ​http://www.heartfeltbyliz.com/store/p50/fishleatherbracelet.html#/

With the weather getting a little colder , we are all wanting the warmth and comfort of indoor and keeping our feet warm and toasty is a great way of seeing our seasonal confinement through in style and warmth. 
We can customise footwear to you specific requirements . That means colour ,size and style .We provide a very personalised service , please contact us for more details .

Many artists have developed new online methods to teach during this difficult time of Covid. Online tutorials are excellent but difficult with something so tactile. People learn in many different ways and people who are 'hands on "learners struggle to keep up with a computer led workshop, i know because this is also the way i learn. Its the smell and the feel of something that ignites memory for me and many people.
For now we have decided to teach person to person . we are in the fortunate situation to have a covered Victorian Canopy and a large polytunnel to allow an open teaching place .We respect the 2mtr + for teaching and provide the opportunity for small numbers to have the space needed . We also are perfectly set up for our individual accommodation right here on the platform with rooms having their own front door and private sitting out area. Why not combine a special trip with a customised workshop . Dates and specific workshops coming for Sept and October but we do take private bookings too.

This weekend gives a last opportunity to visit many of #artmapargylls open studios . We are open from 10am-5pm  this Saturday and Sunday. Why not come and visit and watch some demonstrations. 

Shetland and all its textile heritage can be seen and touched here at Heartfelt Studio .
I am in awe at the talent of Mavis Clark who specialises and teaches this skill.
For 27 years Mavis has created a range of shetland and other native wool garments .Cobweb lace is a magical weave of fine wool , gossamer thin but strong and warm .
The shawls Mavis creates are definitely heirlooms and we are privileged to have a collection of her work here at the Studio. 

Tradition patterns in specialist wools such as Foula Island shetland wool make for a very unique piece of wearable art .
​During these changeable times and heading towards Autumn and a Winter of uncertainty ,wrapping a natural product around our bodies cocoons us .
From Mavis's delightfully warm mitts to scarves and the ultimate joy - her shawls .
For that heirloom gift of warmth and traditional Scottish culture why not come and see this wonderful work 

Heartfelt Studio has always been a strong supporter of Artmapw Argyll.
We are on the edge of Argylls Artists trail map .
This year we are focusing on the Studios opening for these two weekends .
There will be demonstrations on the platform (exercising safe social distancing) on the covered platform outside the Studio .
If you have ever thought you might like to learn more about the art of felt making or using local wools and natural dyeing , come along and join us .
​More details nearer to the event , please check the site or social media .

I often get asked "what's it like to live in a railway station ? " Pre lockdown I would have answered very differently but today gave a taste of how normal things can be with a bit of planning and consideration.
We did it , we managed a safe shoot , had lots of fun and you must agree the result is stunning .
Thank you to Sydney for her great capture of the girls and the textiles and her lovely easy going nature.
Thank you to the whole family who gave up their time to pose in hot woollen fleeces on a very hot day .
I think we have captured an essence of what i have been trying to achieve in my work .
The silk jersey tubular wraps are just so versatile and the imagination of the models really helped. 
We had masks and tops , skirts and hairbands all possible with the sumptuous silk jersey printed and dyed with local plants.
The felted fleeces are washable and so much a part of the area we live in , all locally bred sheep .
Our online presence means we are here to help you choose any of our products which are always supported by our wide knowledge .
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