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Taigh-dubh is the Gaelic word for blackhouse, the crofter's traditional stone cottage. The name, blackhouse derived from the soot-lined walls caused by the open peat fire.  On a recent trip to Harris and North Uist in the outer Herbides, we were captivated by the beautiful walls of our cottage, a recently built blackhouse. We also came across a semi-derelict blackhouse on North Uist, after we had visited the Uist Mill. Beautiful rounded slabs of rock created the walls. These are some of the oldest rocks in the world: Precambrian banded Lewisian gneisses; metamorphic gabbros of the Scourie Dykes; and metamorphic sedimentary schists. Having...

Plant conservation is very important at Woolly Originals. Many of my bag designs are based on Scottish plants. The Save the Willow range, first in a series on climate change and plant conservation, was designed with the help of the Herbarium staff at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and launched in late March 2019. Sales from these bags at Edinburgh Yarn Festival totalled £1355. Thank you so much for all your support. Woolly Originals has donated ten percent of this today to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to help fund their vital research into plant conservation. This will continue for all future...

I'm delighted to announce that Woolly Originals will be at Perth Festival of Yarn on 7th and 8th September 2019! I'll be bringing a range of project and notions bags. And, Sylvie of Phileas Yarnshas very kindly agreed to dye up more Fu’s Orchard for me! And, I’ll be launching the second design in my Climate Change series! Tickets go on sale on 27th April. See you there! x

Introduction In May 2018, I was intrigued when I learnt that the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh had been running a project for almost twenty years to save endangered native alpine plants. On further investigation, I discovered that one of these plants was the woolly willow (Salix lanata). I instantly knew that I had to create a design that highlighted not only the species itself, but also its vulnerability to climate change. The synergy between the woolly willow and Woolly Originals could not be ignored! The woolly willow is a native, low growing, alpine shrub found in the remote glens of Scotland. It has beautiful...

Visiting Edinburgh? Maybe for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival ? Having lived in Edinburgh since 1981, apart from a few years here and there abroad, I thought I'd write a list of some of me and my family's favourite places.   FOOD Bistro - The Educated Flea great menu, at the foot of Broughton Street British - The Walnut tiny restaurant serving amazing British cuisine Brunch - The Pantry great breakfast though you can't book a table Cafe - Loudons open for breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea. Gluten free options Cake - Cuckoos Bakery delicious cakes in Stockbridge & Bruntsfield Chinese - The Stackdelicious dim sum Edinburgh Institution - Bells Diner throwback to...