JULY 23rd. -I am trying to see the positive in all the small things that fill my day, and not just be thinking of dramatic achievements. It is easy to forget the small things, but I find that at the end of the day if I review all that has happened through the day I see that actually amazing things have occurred and great progress has been made and I go to sleep feeling happy and positive.

I received another order this week from someone who loves Iona and usually visits each year. Unfortunately with the Covid situation this year they can not make the journey. I am reminded of how many people care and are helping support our island livelihood by shopping on line. It is heart warming and I thank you all.

July 17th. - It is Friday of this week before I am getting around to writing my blog notes. The week has been pretty uninspiring in terms of the weather - dull, overcast ,misty, and if not raining, a real dampness in the air.

I had a lovely set of e-mails from a friend/customer in The Netherlands this week. She bought some shawl pins, and then also sent a photo demonstrating how the shawl pins can also be used as hair pins.(particularly useful at this time to many who have long enough hair now to pin up.) Much appreciated !

I have been continuing with video making, learning a little and making some serious errors, like deleting portions of film which were part of a sequence….but what can you do? - just learn for the future and hopefully not make that same mistake again.

Today it is bright and sunny with great white clouds riding across the blue sky, the wind bringing a fresh energy and a much more positive and creative sense of how life is.

I hope you are all staying well and feeling the optimism of your day, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

July 9th. - I have been astounded by the wonderful cloud formations this week. Billowing pristine white clouds against a brilliant blue backdrop, then it changes and a mottled cloud covers the entire sky! The sunrises and sunsets have been breathtaking too.

Flowers and vegetables have been growing fast, responding to the heat and rainfall of late, and the grass has been growing tall in the fields soon to be cut for winter feed. Summer is definitely well and truly flourishing !

Meanwhile I have been progressing with my self teaching of video making; wishing at times that the situation was different and I could just call in the experts ; but I am learning, and moving forward, albeit in my own style. My video attempts I see as rather old-fashioned and slow, if compared to the fast talking videos of this slick age, but hopefully the Tortoise and the Hare story still applies !

JULY 3rd. - What an exiting morning! The sheep on the croft where I live were having their annual shearing. So just outside my garden was the unusual bleating sound of the group surprise of being lighter and a bit colder, but they took it in their stride and now a couple of hours later all is calm again. The Shearers certainly do a good job. Though they are not my sheep, and I do not even use their wool to weave, I feel very much part of the process - absorbed by their presence around me. I so enjoy it, and could not help taking a photo and a mini video of the event (now on my instagram picture). So what’s new this week ? Another shawl was finished and added to stock in shop page, and I have been researching and exploring some bits of equipment for assisting in my adventure into video making.

June 25th. - How the days and weeks go by so quickly! Here the weather has been very changeable and we have had some great heavy showers in between the sunshine. 

So a little unsettling outside , and inside too as we look more closely at safe ways to ease lockdown in Scotland.

Going for walks after the rain, everything was so much more vibrant. The small flowers across the Machair, and the seaweed brilliant and shining responding to the watering. The birds too, were happily hopping and flying about by the waters edge feeding.

-Rich and vibrant seaweed after the rain.

As you can tell the weather conditions play a big part in my island life! Today I awoke to the sound of thunder and I think there was a little lightening too.

When I went outside I was touched to see a few fragile wild poppy flowers. There they were , after all the wind and rain, happily swaying in the almost sand, bringing colour and joy and showing hope to the world.

I have started exploring video making on my iPad - laughing a lot at the results, but hopefully learning from my mistakes. Still a long way to go, and I will give you an update if there are any significant developments.

JUNE 17th. - Hi there, Friends and Blog readers!

I am feeling very positive these days. The warmth and mostly sunshine continues on the island, though there have been a few mysterious misty mornings in the last few days.

It seems as if, slowly, things have been formulating within me to take my weaving to a new stage. For some time now, even long before the pandemic emerged, I have been wanting to “give back” some of my passion for weaving by demonstrating basic handwaving to those interested.

In years to come, I can see a Weaving Centre here to continue the legacy of weaving on Iona, keeping alive the ancient tradition. For now though, baby steps, starting with making a short video perhaps and putting it on YouTube.

Would you be interested to find a new expression, a new skill, and having a virtual helper (me) to assist with your progress?

It would be a learning process for us all.

Your thoughts and any feedback would be so helpful, especially at this stage.

Please make any comments via the “contact “page or email me separately through moya.threadsofiona@gmail.com.

I am so looking forward to the adventures ahead.

JUNE 13th - It is a warm , humid Saturday here on Iona. We have been having absolutely amazing skies all week. Sharp, clear and brilliant colours. So inspiring! You can see a beautiful evening pink tinged sky photo on my instagram page. Many others on the island too have been taking stunning photos. Through the day the clear blue and the white clouds have been just incredible. With only about a week to go to midsummer, the daylight hours are stretching to their maximum. The skies have definitely been dominating my world this week !

The bright blues inspired three wall hangings this week, two with beach walk found feathers, and one more like a little tapestry with some shells sewn in. (all are now listed in the Wall Hanging section of the Shop.)

JUNE 2nd - Can you believe it, June already ! Yesterday I finished off another small I-Pad and phone cover and took a few more photos. This morning I took an early walk to the beach, over a carpet of yellow buttercups and in between the sheep and lambs. The air was strong and when I got to the beach realised why….there was so much seaweed strewn across the whole beach creating the not unpleasant pungent smell. The sea was calm, the tide was out. Birds picking through seaweed and at the waters edge, and a very distant roar of the big sea further out. A magic setting!

BLOG WELCOME - May 29th. - I realise now, as time goes on, that I am actually really writing a “blog” with all these increasing notes . So some of the older notes will be moved, but kept for newcomers to be able to read and catch up. Also I think there is a case for dating the additions. Please send me feedback if this constant sharing of my process is all too much!

Today I added in two scarfs, (one of which I mentioned and photographed while on the loom.) You may have found, and I hope you have, that by circling on the photo of the scarfs with your mouse, that a second picture comes up of the same scarf,( and sometimes unfortunately showing slightly different colour tones, will try to improve on this happening). Also today I added in New Accessories - the “Warm and Woolley I-Pad Covers”. 

The wonderful warm weather is continuing this week, so I have been madly cutting our grass, watering my vegetables, and finding joy in the little things, as well as continuing to work as much as I can. Giving thanks and being grateful that I am able to do so, and hoping that wherever you are, that you continue to stay safe and well.

MAY 19th. - The new scarf that is in process at present (see latest photo on instagram pictures below) is made on my little Ashford loom. These looms are called “knitters looms”; they come in a couple of sizes and are also for sale through the Threads of Iona Site. I can not recommend them enough! I have made well over a hundred scarfs and many wall hangings on this little loom. If you are interested in purchasing a new loom for yourself please make contact with me and I will give you more information. 

GIFT CARD :- Check out the new Gift Card shown at the top of the Shop ‘ALL’ section. It is a perfect way to send a present to a friend, letting them have the choice of colour, size, and product themselves. There are three different prices to choose from in a drop-down box, and then the Gift Card goes through to the shopping cart like any other item.

WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS - May 13th. There are still a few blips in the site, but I am working on it to improve a little every day, with the invaluable help of a friend online. N.B the extra signage at the bottom of each page now, to redirect you to whichever category you want. Also , the instagram pictures are reinstated. When you click and divert into instagram all you have to do to come back to the main website is to click on the backward arrow at the top of your desktop/phone or iPad . Try it and see!