Well, I absolutely love Shetland. We had a marvellous few days, and are certainly going back. Not sure I’ll be undertaking any more 12 hour ferry crossings, though — Bruce coped with the North Sea far better than I did. This woeful sailor needs to recover, but here are a few snapshots in the meantime.
Sumburgh Head
Fisherman’s cap (c.1920)
Sounds of Shetland
Fine Northern ale
Maalie
Shelties
um, Bruce
Lichen
Felsite knife, Unst. (3000 – 1000 BC).
KDD & Co 
Oh my! Those photos make me want to go there!
Wouldn’t the lichen make a great knitting motif for some mittens or a scarf or hat?
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spamming you, so sorry. here’s an opera about shetland island knitters.
http://www.tete-a-tete.org.uk/PRODUCTIONS/Odysseus%20Unwound.html
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The photographs are just beautiful. I love the circular designs of the lichen. What a hauntingly lovely place! Thank you for sharing.
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Oh how I love all your photo’s you are sharing, especially the Sheltie ponies, and the pic of Bruce. OMG he is having a wonderful life, he is such a handsome doggy. The breed loves the water don’t they. Love the hat colors and pattern, and gee it looks very cold there. Says me from Australia whilst I listen to the rain on the roof, and they evacuated Brisbane ‘cos of flooding. It’s supposed to be hot here now.
Cheers to you!
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Amazing swirls of lichen. Loved the old cap, too.
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Wonderful pictures! My husband went there on a business trip and brought me back some shetland fibre to spin but I still feel the need to go there.
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I am sooo envious. It sounds like it was a lovely trip. I entirely empathise with the sea sickness, on my last ferry ride to Islay I spent the entire trip in the toilet; I fly now even though I love ferry rides on calm seas. I gasped when I saw the lichen photo; it is that beautiful. Good to see Bruce is still melting hearts. I don’t comment that often (regular reader though), but I just wanted to say that from what I glimpse of you and your recovery from your writing, you really are remarkable Kate. You should be very proud of yourself.
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you’re walking so well i feel this may not be quite proper, but alicia paulson (another one of the craft bloggers) had a bad accident to her foot some time ago and today recommends these special traction gizmos and boots for secure walking on snow and ice.
http://yaktrax.com/Products
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The photos are gorgeous. It was lovely to meet you, and I spoke to the wonderful Mary today who asked me to pass on her best and to tell you that she really enjoyed the chat. I hope hope hope you’ll be coming back soon…
S
x
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Yep – the lichen gets my vote too – after Bruce, of course………….
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Wow the lichen looks like swirrles of a photo or something. Glad you had a good time!
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All I can say is gorgeous photos, as always!
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The knife would be my inspiration. Its colours are my complete favourites.
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Shetland seems like such an amazing place – I’d really love to go there sometime, but it’s so very far away.
I’m glad you got to spend a few marvelous days there!
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Love the lichen and the Unst knife! I must get myself to Shetland some day soon!
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Beautiful photos – I love the blues in the sea in that first shot.
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Oh the memories! I wish my photos were as good as yours. I too have problems with long sea crossings. I recommend sea bands (available from Boots the chemist) They cope with most conditions for me (overconfidence, and eating a cheesey baked potato in a force 10 gale, was not wise)
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I’ve never been to Shetland – I will have to put it on the list! I’ll pop your parcel in the post later in the week – probably Wednesday or Thursday.
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Gorgeous photos. I love the colours of the first one and the lichen patterns are amazing.
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Looks like it was pretty cold! Those shelties are sturdy-looking beasts. At first glance I thought the lichen were ancient rock paintings. Bruce is very handsome! Sorry you had a rough crossing and hope you are comfortably ensconced at home now!
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I dream of visiting Shetland. Your photos just make me want to visit even more. I can’t get over that lichen pattern and colour!
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Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
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It is amazing how much you can convey of such a wonderful trip in so few words and photos! I, too, was impressed at the nobility of Bruce, the inspiration of the lichen (is that where all the whorl-like designs of Celts began?), the terrible beauty of the ancient knife and the darling, tiny stitches of the hat.
I cannot even imagine what the visit conjured in your artistic soul. I think 2011 is going to be a prolific year for you.
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I had the same thought about the lichen-reminded me of the swirling carvings on rocks.
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One day I will go there, too. One day!
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Bruce!!
Northern Ale!!
Fisherman’s cap!!
what a lovely trip. :)
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Thank you for sharing!
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Beautiful photos, and Inspiration?
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Oh, my! One day……
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My friend and I went up to Shetland after Knit Camp last August and we flew rather than get the ferry overnight. It only took just over an hour from Aberdeen, it was great! This was the plane we took and if you look closely you can see the pilot is waving and grinning at me taking the photo :)
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Goodness, Bruce is changing into a real grown-up!
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Beautiful photographs, they give the most perfect sense of place. The lichen pattern looks like it’s been hand-drawn.
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Rough seas? I’m not that great on the boat unless it’s flat calm…I have been know to get myself a flight and send the rest of the family on the ferry!
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! Hope I get to be there next time you make it up!
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I hope you are going to have more photos? My grandparents were from the Shetlands and despite travelling to UK from NZ twice, I have never made it up there.
Thanks for a lovely post ;-)
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OH! The lichen!
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Excellent and inspiring photography! Maybe one day I’ll finally make the trip!
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What lovely photographs. I am very, very jealous – I’ve always wanted to go to Shetland. Can’t wait for the full report, hope you are feeling better soon.
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gorgeous shots. i hope to get to shetland at some point in the near future.
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Amazing pictures and feels like a wee holiday from here. Thank for sharing you ferry experience…we will take this into serious consideration when we plan our trip. You make a great Ambassador for the Shetlands. Hope life is good to you in 2011.
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Well look at you Bruce, you handsome young man you!
I’m sorry the ferry wasn’t so good for you. Last time I was on one it was only 45 minutes, but I was… well let’s just say I was unwell.
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Bruce is looking rather noble. The handsome boy’s growing up fast.
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Beautiful photos. I’d love to visit there one day!
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Beautiful photos. I have been to Orkney but would love to go futher North. So pleased you had a good time (and that ale looks tasty!) x
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That lichen photo is amazing!
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the freedom, the space, the air, and the colours are great eh? I bet you found a few things to inspire another creation (pleeese… :)
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Oh, to be in Scotland. Haven’t been there since the 80s! Shetland is wintry gorgeous.
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Wow, the pattern of that lichen is gorgeous! It would make great inspiration for some kind of stranded colorwork.
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That was my first thought too!
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