Some of the oldest wild history comes from the forests and woodlands of Scotland. Birch trees, Scots Pine trees, Juniper & Holly date back to as early as 7000BC. In those times forests were more abundant than human populations. There are tales of early Druids lighting Scots Pine bonfires at the Winter Solstice, to celebrate the passing of the seasons and drawing the sun back to warm the earth. Glades of Scots Pines would be decorated with shiny objects to represent a divine light. Holly, pre-Victorian times was seen as the ‘Christmas’ tree with its leaves and berries reflecting light and providing evergreen colour.

The Forest Story Plaids are a celebration of evergreen. The rich, unwavering green that stands out against the sharp line of granite plateaus. The distinctive pointing tree tops decorating hills and valleys. The inspiration begins at a distance, where mist floats ethereally above a deep, dark forest. The plaid design is a criss cross of deep greens, mixed with a vibrant earth green with notes of a forest floor’s abundance: rust, browns and lighter soft green. Finally charcoal brings the dark core of the forest into the design.

The embellishments are a motif. Each shawl has its own unique motif using British Shetland wool fibres I have felted and stitched a pattern that will follow the contours of the body when worn.

The motif shares a story of earlier times. Of swirling mist, pine cones, bark patterns and a nod towards those that would have lived alongside the Caledonian Forest in a time before technology and fast paced living. Symbology is found everywhere in Scotland – in its folklore and early people (such as the Picts): each motif brings nuances of this to the design.