One bright spring morning, this exuberant woolly creature appeared . . .
. . . at the top of my Carbeth garden.
On rainy days it likes to hang out in my shed . . .
. . . quietly knitting socks . . .
. . . but at sunrise, when the birds begin to sing . . .
it can sometimes be spotted performing a joyous dance by the raised beds in which I grow potatoes.
It is a kindly but elusive creature . . .
and comes and goes just as it pleases.
It speaks Spanish and Scots . . .
sometimes both at the same time.
On one occasion, it told me that it felt homesick for the vibrant, busy streets of Mexico City.
But on another, it spoke lyrically of the Cairngorms . . .
before saying that its heart had always been in the Port of Ness.
It enjoys the scent of juniper and gorse . . .
but flavours everything it eats with Chiles de Arbol.
It appreciates bright colours, geometric patterns, and the simple beauty of all things made by hand.
It loves woven, embroidered, and knitted textiles and is particularly fond of wool.
It thinks that comfortable clothes that you can really move in . . .
and which suit the environment and the weather . . .
are generally the best.
¿Quieres bailar? / Are ye dancin?
Made by Kate Davies in honour of Pilar Obeso Sánchez. Thanks to Applied Arts Scotland, The British Council, and the other women who participated in our Crafting Futures residency: Dalila Rubicela Cruz Fabian, Fiona Hall, and Soledad Ruiz Mendoza. Photography by Tom Barr.
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Are Mexican/meso American motifs used in the sweater? Would you talk a little about the colors and design elements of the yoke? May we see the band you wove?
Please give Pilar our regards and tell her we look forward to hearing from her.
Thanks, this is beautiful.
The sweater’s inspiration was taken from the objects and palette of Pilar’s home in Mexico City (there’s an image of her shady patio in the last post). There are many structural similarities between south american / northern European colourwork motifs, and these certainly appear in the yoke, though not in a particularly formal way.
The band, for me, was also an exercise in thinking about pattern and motifs which, simply because of their structural logic – rather than any assumed or attributed cultural meaning – appear in early weaving traditions on opposite sides of the globe.
I’ll show more detail of both in a later post.
Pilar is still in Spain, but really hopes to be back in Mexico – and to complete her own creature – this summer.
Absolutely brilliant! You’ve really done it!
A bit of the burryman mystery, but with a bigger helping of delight :-)
Also kudos to your photographer.
Love, love, love. It’s perfect! And reading all of the trial and error it took to get here just makes it even more amazing how utterly this captures both you and your collaboration with Pilar. Fantastic!
Crazy but fun! I haven’t read all the other comments here but it did cross my mind the mask could be a scream if used as a covid friendly mask worn round the local supermarket!
it doesn’t cover the mouth – so is completely functionless in that regard
A one coloured hankerchief could be slipped underneath that part !
Joyful!
What a magnificent creature, born of wool, cross-cultural-exchange and an indomitable spirit of joy. Hurrah for potato beds, gorse, felty balls, weaving looms, stranded colourwork knitting and pin-badge curation as rich material foundations for creativity!
Ready to dance in my own garden in your honor once the sun comes up over here. I love that I can see your wise and sparkling eye through the poms and felt! An FO worth waiting for.
Brilliant! Gave me the same sense of joy that Nick Caves Sound suits do!
Magnificent!!
That is absolutely fabulous! The photos, the story! (But I did get a little Midsommar vibe, but that’s just my dark side.)
Kate, I LOVE it! You are a creative woolen goddess!!
Hi Kate
Absolutely Fabulous !!
What fun!
and Joyful!
Love It!
MA from the far west of Canada
Love it and the whole costume is also an amazing mix of textures- makes me want to ‘see’ it with my hands!
A Spring Goddess has arisen. I personally do not like masks, they frighten me. But this gladdened my heart and made me laugh. Just bloody BRILLIANT!!
Brilliant, joyful, beautiful…!
Once again, you make my day! Thank you.
I love this so much! The “antlers” are probably my favorite, but it’s not right to pick apart the whole of the creature. I was excited for the reveal and you did not disappoint. Thank you for sharing.
Que bonita! Fantastica! I just love it, so playful and colorful. Good on ya!
OMG! The near extinct ROYGBIV woolus tricornius! I’ve been hunting every continent for her and there she is. I do hope she comes out of hiding more often now that she seems to be in a safe and creative environment.
You are just so darn CUTE!
So beautiful and cheerful! Reminds me of Falstaff’s stag horns in Act V of Merry Wives…this would be an awesome design concept for the costumes….(sorry, long career in opera…always thinking in terms of production values.) Might you publish instructions for a similar “accessory”???
Wow, the photography for this post is brilliant! Must be Tom. Great stuff!
Let’s dance!
Beautiful way to color-up our day! Thank you for sharing your creative-making! And, a little spill on the woven-band overalls, please!
lovely post and mask–que viva el baile!
Joyous pompoms! But the reveal of your new yoke has me salivating . . .
Well, you eventually reached the ideal mask, it is fantastic! It’s so bright and happy, a cheerful nod to spring and Mother Nature. I love the whole outfit, right down to your stripey socks, well done x
Thank you so much, Kate, for sharing such wildly wonderous joy.
Wonderful, truly magical
Loved this, and now I want my own headdress!
You put a smile on my face this gloomy morning. Thanks for that!
Such cheery fun!
And as always creative!!
Is your rust top one of your patterns?
It’s equally charming.
Wow. Beautiful. Fun. What a delightful post. Kate, you are a gift.
Bravo!!!!!!! Wonderful!!!!
What a glorious way to wake up in a dreary, rainy, still cold, up north day! Beautiful, imaginative, and representative of who you are, Kate. Aren’t we the lucky ones who get to live with color, imagination, and the space to express ourselves? A great tribute to Pilar.
Am ah dancin’? Naw. It’s just the way ah’m staunin’!.
Dead, pure brilliant creation.
Stoatin’!
Brilliant! Hilarious!
Your posts over the last few days about your creative process and struggles leading up to this finale are very telling. You gotta try all the tries, run all the options and keep an open mind to all the ideas passing through. What a success!
And, Tom, your photos make the perfect presentation.
Kate, you accomplished the spirit! Your mask is fantastic! Art, writing and photos brought much needed smiles. Thank you both!
Exquisite does not begin to describe what you both have done here! Feeling the joy in Maryland today.
This is just delightful. Not at all what I was expecting for the final product! It’s whimsical and childlike and magical. Tom’s photos capture the magic so well, in so many different moods. I love the otherworldliness of some of the pictures. The overalls (as we call them in the US) are a joy; did you make them?!?!
they are a thrifted and heavily modified pair
Absolutely deliciously delightful. I love it.
You are a true free spirit Kate
Very best greetings from a lake down the south coast of Australia !
…and the short sleeve jumper is as always just right for your unique creation.
Ali
(Born in Glasgow long ago )
Ya askin’?!!! That’s absolutely gorgeous Kate and I love your top too xxx
I love it. Looks like a special spring deity. What I want to know is what Bruce and Bob thought of it. I think both my cowardly cats would disappear pronto. Happy spring.
Ha! It would indeed terrify the pets in my household!
Loved seeing this today, really cheered me up, so colourful and joyous, just what we need on a grey snowy day.
Oh, Wow!
This post made me smile this morning! The whole outfit is wonderful and the mask is amazing. I general I find some masks can be quite sinister even though that is probable not the intention or premise behind them. Your pom pom mask is fun, soft and very cheery. I love it!
This article has made me smile this morning! The whole outfit is wonderful but the mask is especially amazing. In general I find many mask quite sinister even though that is probably not the intention or premise behind them. You pom pom mask is fun, soft and very cheery. I love it!
Well what an amazing, cheery delight on this sunny morning. You’re an absolute one off Kate and we’re lucky to ‘know’ you. Of course I’m also intrigued by the beautiful short sleeves knit below the dungarees. I finished Paper Dolls during the week and absolutely love the shape of it.
Wow! Your creature is amazing and you thought of every little detail.
It’s so easy to imagine it as a part of your surroundings and doing all the tasks we associate with nymphs/ creatures of nature and yet also its connection to Mexico.
And the mask really is the ‘crown’ of it all; you’ve overdone yourself! It’s so vibrant and beautiful!
Funnily enough I’ve just researched felting teapots :)
Felted teapots, sounds intriguing, though I wonder whether they might be related to the chocolate variety? ;-)
Kate I love, love, love this. Like you I suffer from mental health problems and am a migraineur – but your honesty and creativity give me so much on good days. I am aware that two-thirds of the world are suffering in ways that are almost unimaginable to me – I know how fortunate I am and you are part of that. I hope that we are going to be offered the pattern for your amazing jumper 😊
I’m dancin’. That is one amazing creature, Kate.
Agree totally with it on the comfortable clothes, suitable for environment and climate, in which you can move easily. Love, love, love those wellies!
If it would dissuade the Wood Pigeons from scoffing everything I put out for the smaller birds – d’ye think it might come dance near my Veg Patch in south Hants, please?
That’s so bonkersly wonderful! Or wonderfully bonkers!
Absolutely love it. Wonderful colours, vibrancy and as for the photography. Just a belter. Thank you.
What fun xx
Well that’s certainly a success. Brilliant, well done!
Looks like Spring has arrived in your neck of the woods… really enjoyed the photos. I especially loved the cap sleeve slipover you are wearing (orange body). I looked for the pattern in your store and on Ravelry but couldn’t identify it…is it available to purchase? Many thanks.
I love it! it is wonderful, perfect and it touch my heart and soul
What a fancy beginning of a grey Sunday morning in Frankfurt ! I enjoy taking theses pictures with me and let phantasy stimulate my day. Thank you, Kate !!!
Ah thats wonderful Kate!