My Blog Page
Cowrie shells on Sanda Stour, Shetland.
The hunt for the Groatie Buckie shells continue – I have collected them from around the Shetland islands since I was 5 years old and still love them.
Many new collectors have emerged since lock down 2020 judging from numerous local social media posts, not disclosing secret locations. I reckon it is much more difficult to find the elusive shells in the traditional spots than ever before probably due to their increased popularity! I also suspect rising sea levels churning up areas of beach that it couldnt reach before have had an impact. Observing one of my favourite spots, the sea has now eaten away at the edge of hillside until the fence has fallen in.
I love to treasure my favourite shells and use them in my jewellery mako adore. The Cowrie shell is said to bring luck and prosperity to the finder – great things to share! I offer a choice of 1, 2 or 3 shells in my pendants. Interestingly there are 2 species of Cowrie she, one with black spots on its back (European Cowrie) and the other without spots (Northern Cowrie) I have found equal amounts of both species around the Islands.
To be able to find enough shells to keep my jewellery making going it is now necessary to visit uninhabited islands by small boat! Fortunately we have a suitable small boat and have recently been to visit the small island of Sanda Stour. A perfect little island (1mile x 1.5 mile) with a spectacular gully, nesting birds, friendly seals and stunning wild flowers in the summertime. I collected some small shells but also left plenty, very aware not to negatively impact the shoreline eco system! What a special place.
Visiting the Mousa Broch – perfect day out.
Visiting The Mousa Broch –
With the 7.5 weeks of school summer holidays flown past we had still not made it to Mousa! Luckily The Mousa ferry boat continues to run throughout September too, which is great, and we finally made it! On board the Solan IV.
As a considerable queue of visitors lined up at the small pier and the boat looked a bit small to hold everyone, but it was deceiving and we all fitted in nicely with a beautiful burst of sunshine and perfectly calm water. There is no booking required, you just turn up and pay onboard. (£16 per adult, £7 per child) Leaves from Sandsayre, Sandwick. Taking 15 mins to cross to the island of Mousa, with free whale watching as 2 Minkys happened to be in the area.
The entire trip is 3 hours, leaving plenty of time to complete the round island walk of hour with lots of time for a picnic and chillax.
The fabulous Mousa broch is 1/3rd of the way round from the pier, following a marked grassy path. The 2,ooo year old broch is magnificent as it comes into view and is now open to the public to explore inside and walk up the hidden staircase to the top! The broch stands 13 metres tall.
The broch has already inspired me to create several pieces of artowork including my mosaic where I recreate the broch using tiny pebbles. However after this recent trip I was successful in taking many beautiful photographs and have a few new ideas for paintings!
As well a the Broch, Mousa is a nature reserve and hosts an array of wildlife found throughout Shetland including – Seals, great Skuas, Fulmers, Shags, Arctic terns, Storm Petrols, Shetland sheep and Shetland Wrens. There is also ruins of houses to see around the island measuring 1 x 1.5 miles. The first house you meet off the boat is still usable, built in 1770 called Ham house was used as a fishing bothy. The others are ruins, each with fascinating history of times past. Interestingly there is still no agreement amongst experts as to what the Broch was originally used for! Belonging to a classification of “complex Atlantic roundhouse” Could it have been a fancy house, store for grain, defensive structure ?? The imagination runs wild!
Ultimate Sea glass from Shetland.
Having been fascinated by treasure hunting around our Islands since a very small child - I though I would share some of my favourite pieces of glass with you. This is my Ultimate...
New Commission complete!
I was delighted to be chosen to design Shetland inspired product by Shetland Arts - to be sold in their 3 retail outlets in Shetland. After a lot of though and research, I came...
Explore the Shetland shore!
Explore the Shetland shore - When you walk along the shore line, your never sure what you are going to find! Perhaps nothing different or maybe the most beautiful nugget of worn...
Sea swimming in Shetland.
Sea swimming has become ever more popular during lockdown in many places including Shetland! Some choose to wear wetsuits (me!) and some not! I have joined in as a result...
Let’s talk jewellery!
With unstoppable creative energy I have made a considerable collection of jewellery due to experimentation and getting a bit carried away! Not to bamboozal potential customers I...
Shetland jewellery photo shoot.
Despite growing up and living in Shetland my whole life, I am still in awe at the beauty of our islands. Especially places like Meal beach, Burra, which are really special. It...
Strange times everyone says.
It is warm and very windy outside today, July is often a strange month of weather here in Shetland. Today I should have had a group of visitors to my art studio and garden, for...
What resin do I use!
Having spent the last 3 years dabbling in resin I have tried many kinds. There is a huge variety of resins which is a bit confusing. I often get asked what resin do I use! For...
Instagram for Art
As an artist and creative business owner, promoting my work online and on social media is a key part of my business. And as a keen Instagram user, I was really excited to attend...
Donations of treasure!
Living in a small community like Shetland has many benefits, as I’m sure many of you know. It is safe, there’s a great community spirit and people are usually very keen to...
Shetland scenes.
Shetland is a huge inspiration to me, yet when I first began painting, almost three years ago now, I was keen to avoid the “typical” Shetland scenes: puffins, Shetland...
New work, New Stockist!
As you might know, recently I’ve been working with resin, a new medium to me. I’m really enjoying using this, and am delighted to have taken some orders for my...
Agricultural Show time – Shetland.
Agricultural Show time - Summertime in Shetland sees the local districts hosting their annual Agricultural shows. Starting with The Voe show, followed by The Cunningsburgh show,...
Wool Week Buttons, handmade unique range of buttons designed and made by Sarah Kay. Shetland artist.
Shetland Wool Week visitors! As Shetland wool week continues to grow and having bookings for our accommodation for September for 2019! I thought I should try and think up...
Resin Artwork.
I have discovered a new medium – resin! Resin is is a clear plastic which can be mistaken for glass, it is so shiny and transparent. It can be moulded into anything....
Shetland landscape painting
As a break form painting by myself, I am currently enjoying attending a painting evening class, with the lovely artist - Heathter Wilson. The theme for the 8 week course is...
Aurora Borealis
Having lived in Shetland all of my life I am guilty of taking our spectacular skies for granted (and often making little effort to bother to look!) It is only when the...
Shetland inspiration: from brochs to castles
Shetland inspiration: from brochs to castles I feel incredibly lucky that my home - the place I grew up in and have chosen to live - also serves as the source of most of my...
Shetland’s treasure: brochs
Shetland’s treasure: brochs Shetland is the theme for all my artwork: I was born and raised here, and have lived here all my life, so I know it very well. But I’ve been...
Happy New Year from Shetland
2018 has started off quickly for me, with the first exhibition up! I have space in Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick, Shetland for the month of January. This is a great...
How important is an online presence for Sarah Kay Arts homemade business success?
As you are probably aware, a website is a very important part of showcasing a product and connecting with customers. So, now that my website - www.sarahkayarts.com is a year old...
1000 Facebook likes!
I was so delighted to see that the Sarah Kay Arts Facebook page recently reached 1,000 likes! I really enjoy sharing my work with interested viewers, and...
Craft fair weekend!
It’s been busy few weeks preparing for Shetland’s annual Christmas Craft Fair, which is this weekend! The craft fair is a hugely popular event in Shetland - it attracted...
Art in Orkney!
New outlets for my art: Orkney There have been some exciting developments going on lately, which I’m excited to share with you! Sarah Kay Arts has expanded into two outlets in...
Grotie Buckies!
I’m always working on new designs and looking to nature for inspiration, and my latest design uses cowrie shells. I’ve used small box frames (12.5cm square) to house a painted...
Open Studio & Garden
Art and garden tourism - Shetland enjoys a large number of tourists who come to explore the islands each year. Some notice my artwork around shops and visitor centres and...
Recycled garden path.
Garden Path into Art Recently I decided to renew the path through my garden. It is open to the public, and on a steep slope, so updating the path and making it easier for...
Art commission.
My first commission I recently had the pleasure of receiving my first commision for a piece of art. I’ve always felt a bit unsure of accepting commissions, but in this instance...
Seaglass Collecting.
The lure of seaglass A big part of my artwork relies on the seaglass I find around our shores. I collect it from the coastline of Shetland and Orkney, searching all over...
New Farm Shop & Cafe, Shetland
Mackenzie’s Farm Shop There’s an exciting new venture opening up in Shetland’s south mainland. As well as being a real asset to the local community Mackenzie’s Farm Shop will,...
Art in The Old Haa, Burravoe, Yell, Shetland
Art in The Old Haa, Burravoe, Yell, Shetland It’s been a few weeks since I last posted, I hope you’re all having a lovely summer so far? Summer is traditionally a quiet time for...
Shetland Arts and Crafts Association
Shetland Arts & Crafts Association As of April 2017, Sarah Kay Arts is now a full member of the Shetland Arts & Crafts Association! To become a member,...
Where is the best beaches in Shetland for beach combing?
Beachcombing - Challister, Whalsay My favourite hobby, if you hadn’t guessed already, is beachcombing. This probably started when I was a child, at “the Bug”, the...
Hrossey Exhibition.
2017 is already shaping up to be an exciting year, work wise. I got some exciting news recently with the offer of a brilliant opportunity from Northlink ferries: I have...
Beachcombing – Evie, Orkney
Beachcombing - Evie, Orkney Beachcombing is one of my favourite pastimes; you never know what you will find. While on a beach combing trip to Orkney recently I decided to go to...
Re-cycling
So much of life today is designed to be disposable. As someone who regularly visits the coast and beaches, the evidence for this throwaway society is sadly often to see. I feel...
Fine Art Shetland
I am pleased to reveal that i've been working on setting up a new art group in Shetland! The aim of the group will be for artists to exhibit together and swap...
Ninian, Lerwick, Shetland
Last year, Joanna Hunter of Ninian - possibly the best gift shop in Lerwick- offered to try selling some of my painted wood boards. I was pleasantly surprised by how well these...
Crafts at Scotland’s Trade Fair – Glasgow 2017
As I grow as an artist and develop work one question which is never far from my mind is how to go about selling work. Without a physical shop space, selling your pieces to the...
The mystery of the glass – Scalloway
Following the wild storms we had over christmas I have been able to get out and see what treasures the wild seas have thrown up! The outdoors provides a huge amount of materials...
Mosaics for 2017!
Hello I hope January is treating you well so far! I've been getting stuck into developing some new ideas. The past year has seen some real changes and opportunities for me and my...
Happy New Year – 2017!
Happy New Year! I hope you've all had a lovely festive and are feeling inspired for what 2017 will bring. I've has a really relaxing time with family and am preparing for some...
2016 is almost over and what a year it has been!
Welcome to my blog page! I've been busy, developing ideas and making,and it's hard to believe how far I've come: from having no work shown to now having a website, selling my...
Welcome to the Blog
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Christmas Craft Fair
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