Catherine Munro

Silhouette of pony in distance with sea and hills behind

At 60 degrees north Spring can take it's time reaching #Shetland. We will have to wait for the hills to fill with flowers and the evening light to return. For now I will enjoy the stark beauty of our winter landscapes and welcome the new warmth in the sun.

Striding into spring with a side angle of my embroidery, Tree Spirit for you today. Completely freehand stitched in March 2022.
The bluebells are pushing through the Earth, and colour is starting to appear. Inspiration incoming… 🥰🪡🌱🌸🌼🌷 #stitchedart #embroidery #thesewingsongbird

This is utterly gorgeous 😍

An original artwork of a song thrush, created using watercolour paints on 5x7" watercolour paper.

In Scottish folklore, the song thrush is a positive omen, representing joy, hope, and the arrival of spring. Known for its, loud, melodic song, it is often regarded as a herald of light, contrasting with the dark winter months.
Today's wee doodle.

#ScottishFolklore #Birds #Nature #OriginalArt

He does look quite dignified in that photo. Most of my pictures are of him sleeping with his tounge out 😂

They often sleep with some space between them but sometimes they just make a kitten bundle 😂

Ginger and white cat rolling over and playing with toy mouse

This is Dave. He was very nervous when he first arrived but has settled in beautifully and loves the kids. He still likes his own space but in the last few weeks he started purring and it is beautiful ❤️ #cat ##catsofbluesky

Ginger and white cats sitting on notebook

This is Miles. He is is the most ridiculously friendly wee guy and loves to sit wherever the humans are #cat #catsofbluesky

Two ginger and white cats cuddled up on the bed

Brothers 🧡
#cats #catsofbluesky

Fluffy chestnut Shetland pony with sunshine and fields and hills behind

A fluffy pony to brighten your Monday #Shetland

Getting a serene picture of a Shetland pony isn't easy when they are so friendly 😂

They are genetically very similar and they have a lot of shared characteristics like weather sense, double winter coat and small stocky build. My 1st book was on Shetland ponies and island culture and am writing one about Icelandic horses at the moment, I just love strong, fluffy horses 😂

They are so beautifully insulated. Half her size is fluff 😂

She really does 😁

Thanks!

Grey Shetland pony with snow around and the sea behind

After weeks of gales the islands are enjoying snow, sunshine and stillness #Shetland

Fields and house with a little snow on the land. Snow falling lit by low winter sun

Sunshine and snow #Shetland

Niki Bowers, Snow Starlings, linocut, n.d.

Blue sea with snow on the sand

Lace woven sea #Shetland

A Curse Against Stealers Of Books For him that stealth a book from this place, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy, & all his members blasted. Let him languish in pain crying aloud for mercy, & let there be be no surcease to his agony till he sink to dissolution. Let bookworms gnaw his entrails in token of the Worm that diets not, & when at last he goeth to his final punishment, let the flames of hell consume him forever & aye. (Monastery Of San Pedro, Barcelona.)

When Lucy from Compass Books in Dartmouth, Devon, was victim to shoplifting people told her to install CCTV. Instead she put this ancient book thief curse on the wall from the Monastery of San Pedro in Barcelona so book stealers would be consumed by "the flames of hell" with "their members blasted".

My photo shows a ‘roaring’ hippo statuette made of Egyptian blue faience, a ceramic material made of ground quartz. The hippo is seated with head at left, and turned to front. The hippo’s original tusks (top incisors and lower canine teeth are known as tusks), are missing, so it looks as if the hippo is smiling. The blue body is decorated in black with Nile river plants such as water weed and lotus flowers. This decoration depicts the hippo’s marsh habitat as well as having layers of symbolism associated with regeneration e.g. lotus flowers open with the sun in the morning and close at night symbolising rebirth. Height 7.5 cm, length 12.5 cm. On display Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.

A little blue hippo made by an Egyptian artisan around 4,000 years ago! 🦛 ❤️

Decorated with river plants and lotus flowers, blue faience hippos are associated with the life-giving Nile and rebirth. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. 📷 by me

#Archaeology

Dark grey Shetland pony with wild sea behind

People can be surprised to see Shetland ponies out in wild weather but the breed was literally shaped by storms #Shetland

Thanks ☺️

Oystercatcher with wild waves behind

Returning oystercatcher are one of the first signs of spring in Shetland, their shrill cries the harbinger of changing season. The weather is still wild, with weeks of storms and raging seas, but these birds remind us calmer days will come #Shetland

We have had weeks of gales in #Shetland with many days when the ferry was unable to sail and supermarket shelves are empty.

We are lucky to have some amazing locally produced food and everyone keeps plenty spare in cupboards and freezer.

The storms have been washing up lots of treasure and it has been fun making these into jewellery! This is a codd bottle marble, a piece of sea pottery, a sea button and a seaglass pendant

Little bottle with warm lights and seaglass

Little bottle with coloured lights and Shetland seaglass

Have also made more seaglass fairy lights. There are 3 sets of coloured lights and 3 sets of warm lights available on Etsy. Made with seaglass from #Shetland beaches

I have just added some new seaglass earings to Etsy :)

Thanks!

Thanks!