The Party! Fair Isle Style! & Knitwear! Tall Ships Race 2011 Shetland

Sorlandet - from Norway

I have just posted some photos from the Fair Isle event. I have not gone through all my photos yet and should be updating this post when I get time as I am rushing to post before the power goes off.

Lowri watches the tall ship crew come ashore in his Fair Isle Kep

hand knit by his great grand mother Annie Thomson.

Family Tradition

"History in the Making"

Hand Knit Fair Isle Fisherman's Keps

Just some of the Keps on display at Fair Isle's George Waterson's Museum for viewing party before the big trade with the crew of the Sorlandet tall ship. The making of Fair Isle Knitwear and trading with passing ships has a long history on Fair Isle. The Fair Isle name is today world famous as a result of this type of commerce done in the past. The tradition is kept alive by the Islanders and their strong sense of place. The project was over seen by Anne Sinclair the Islands historian who runs Fair Isle's museum. Anne's knowledge of Fair Isle and it's Knitwear is unsurpassed as it runs deep in her veins and family traditions. 

Where did the patterns and skills come from? Some say it was the Spanish Armada ship wreck of 1588 or maybe Norse, Celtic or Scandinavian influences. There is even a true story of a man gifting kaleidoscopes to the islanders in hope of giving further design inspirations to the already popular knitwear. Some or all of these inspirations may have had some influence on the designs but most of the credit should be found in the entrepreneurial creative spirit of the ingenious make do islanders that developed an unique talent for a niche market that seamen couldn't pass up when sailing by. I can imagine if someone did try and teach a Fair Islander how to knit 400 years ago, the islander would soon figure out their own way and for sure it would be better and much harder to do, nothing has changed. The two colors of yarn at any one time and the symmetrical patterns set in rows that never repeated just some of well known characteristics of Fair Isle.  The fine yarn knit in 2 patterned layers made it light to wear but warm... and fun to look at. 

Fair Isle became popular and a classic style, worn by explorers up Everest and to the South Pole. The British Royalty even took an interest and started to wear it while golfing. Leading to demands far beyond the Fair Isles production levels. Soon Fair Isle was being made in the Shetland & Orkney, over the pass 100 years they have made their own variations & history while still using the already popular name Fair Isle. Scotland and the rest of the world started producing knock offs and it was faster and cheaper. The name Fair Isle is used casually by fashion designers world wide for ANYTHING with patterns or stripes. Yikes! and don't get started with the colours and pink hearts... Else where in the world it has lost it’s individuality and history and what most people see today and call "Fair Isle" is what some people like me call “Faux Isle” and is likely not to look like anything you see here. This is the really thing! it's not for sale... it's priceless!

The stuff of legend!

Make me an offer I can't refuse...

Fair Isle Knitter Margo Saying good by to all her hard Work before the bartering starts.

You chose wisely.

Without knowing he chose a Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep hand knit by Lise Sinclair herself. Legend!

I heard him say... "It's a Fair Trade on Fair Isle"

Cameras everywhere!

BBC Coast was there and everyone has a camera or phone clicking away!  including me!

I choose this one! very beautiful!

Hand spun Fair Isle wool  undyed natural colours hand knit Fisherman's Fair Isle Kep by Kathy Coull

Does this girl know how lucky she is? If I asked Kathy to knit me a hat like this she would laugh! Then tell me I would have to wait 4 years because of her other orders and laugh again. The Price! Well let's just say it's alot more than she bargained for. (pun intended) But money isn't what this is about, this is a heritage activity. Knitting in the legendary footsteps, the women of Fair Isle came together every Wednesday night since January (with the occasional visitor/knitter) and have produced something more than just hats and they should be commended as their knitwear again sails the world on the heads of a crew of a tall ship!

Bravo!

Some of the Lucky Crew in their new Fair Isle Keps.

View From My House!

Auld Haa, Fair Isle, South Harbour & Sorlandet Norwegian Tall Ship

The much needed Party Tent at the Haven

The weather was rubbish for July! but it could of been Worse... this is Fair Isle after all.

4 Flags

Small Ships & Yachts from all over Europe in the North Haven.

The Sheltering Sea Shanty Singers!

Arctic Skua

Norwegian Ship - Framstig

Turn about is "Fair" play.

Ian Best in the Dingy

Everyone takes a look at passing Tall Ships even the curious Puffins

Rockin' Party!

Band was Rockin' - People Jumpin' - Tent Swayin' - Wind Howlin' - Ships Bobbin' - Plenty of Drinkin'

& the Sea was just Swell!

Rock God... Neil Thomson Tips his Hat.

Good Night! and it was.

Cheers! Bon Voyage!

in those rough seas... Rock On!



Sheep Rock in Shadow - Fair Isle



Two new paintings I've made during the event.

The colour in the photos are a bit yellow or warm as compared to the originals 

14 by 10 inches Acrylic on canvas board 



Sorlandet passing the South Harbour - Fair Isle

If you are interested in this hat and helping the museum follow the link below...

 http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/2011/08/hand-knit-fair-isle-fishermans-kep-hat.html

Cuckoo for White-Winged Tern

White-Winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus

Now this is more like it! get a call... drive to Setter Croft as told on the phone... see the bird before getting out of the car... plenty of great views there after! Thank You! easy Lifer and Fair Isle Tick.

More thanks to David for a good spot on your drive back to the Obs.

Also Thanks to the guys in North Ronaldsay for sending this bird our way! Cheers! 

Stunning bird!
Loved watching it feed on insects among the tall grass in the strong breeze.

  Bonus Bird!

Saw this Cuckoo on the drive home! nuts!

The Elusive Black-Headed Bunting

Black-Headed Bunting  Emberiza melanocephala

10 days ago this bird showed it self to 1 man. Two days later I got a distance glimpse of this bird at 10:15pm in the overcast Simmer Dim and light rain. It has been occasionally showing up a Schoolton in the evenings to roost for the night and only shows for a few minutes before diving in the Rosa Begosa. Where it goes during the day is anyone's guess? Know one knows? I have dipped this bird about 7 times in 10 days. I wanted so bad to see this bird in good light and maybe get a decent photo... no such luck. Tonight I got a call from Schoolton at sunny 7pm. and raced up there to dip it again. I waited about a hour (nothing) then went home to have dinner. I was back 40 minute later for another hour... the bird did finally show! but by that time the sun was behind the hill and grey clouds cover the sky. I got a better record shot this time but the bird is very shy and soon flew off. I knew I couldn't get a better photo tonight so I left it to roost in peace. Elusive is the word and the bird. 

I needed all my patience that I usually reserve for fishing for this bird.

Henry Sees Sea Stars

Most Northerly Record of Small Cushion Star!

as told by my son Henry on his blog "The Nature of Henry"

Here is a link - http://nature-henry.blogspot.com/2011/07/most-northerly-record-of-small-cushion.html 

Little Cushion Star - Asterina phylactica
Starfish or Sea Star

Found by me Henry Hyndman - April 26th 2009
First record for Fair Isle and for Shetland
About 400 miles north of any other known record of this species.

Small Cushion Stars are very small. Adults are only about 1.5cm

Cushion Star Info

Description: A very small cushion star with a spiny dorsal surface. There is a star-like pattern of darker brown or green pigment along the centre of the arms and paler areas between the arms. Up to 1.5cm. across. This species was only recognised recently (1979) little is known about it.

Habitat: A frequent species in some very exposed sites on the west coast of Ireland at 10 - 20m. Also found intertidally in large rock pools and on rocks.

Distribution: Known from the west coast of Ireland, Strangford Lough, and SW Britain. Also found in the Mediterranean.

• Star-like pattern of darker pigment.
• Small size, only 1.5cm in diameter.
• Broods its young.

Second Fair Isle Record in photo

Second, Third and Fourth Records - July 4th 2011

I was catching stuff and rockpooling by myself while Dad was working in his art studio at the lighthouse. I was so excited when I found my second Little Cushion Star! It had been over 2 years ago I found my first and I go tidepooling all the time. I ran back screaming to show my Dad. Dad was frozen when he saw it and then said AWESOME! and took some photos. It was laying eggs! I went back to look for more. Dad said leave them there if you find more... and I did! 2 more! I was so happy.

The next day Nick wanted to see where I found them? So Dad, Nick and I all went back to the tidepool  at low tide and we found a whole breeding colony! 20 or more Little Cushion Stars. I needed Dad to move the big rocks and we all said well done to each other. We wondered if it has anything to do with global warming?

I can't beleave that they live here now, not just one lost in the currents of the Sea an Ocean.

This is the tidepool I found them in.
Southlighthouse - Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK.

Checked all the other tidepools with my Dad,
oddly this is the only tidepool we could find them in?

They can be hard to find! Can you see all 4 on the bottom of this rock?

also recently I found some baby Lumpsuckers (Lumpfish)

and a baby Squat Lobster both new tidepool finds for me!

It's brilliant to have no school! I have more time to explore and find things.



Young Lumpsuckers



Tiny Squat Lobster

Fair Isle's go to Naturalist - Nick Riddiford

When ever I find something Dad and I don't know what it is? I go to Nick.
I like to help Nick. He records nature records and sightings on Fair Isle where we live.
He is trying to turn Fair Isle into a Marine Park.

Fair Isle Marine Environment & Tourism Initiative

 http://www.fimeti.org.uk/index.asp

Island Life! Lumpsuckers & A Hand full of Birds.

Baby Lumpsuckers also known as Lump Fish

Baby Lumpsuckers caught with Henry's minnow trap... not in it, but found sucking the bottom of the floating buoy. We have never seen anything like them before (so cute!)

So cute, but will grow into a ugly brute.

Jessica the Starling Researcher.

a hand full of birds

Henry & Jessica checking the Starling nesting sight at the old mill.

Cheers again! this is the 4th or 5th FIBO opening party I've been to?
Great speech and insight Jimmy!

Sheep Hill - I clipped 2 1/2 sheep just to be neighborly.




Killer Whale or Large Fish in the South Harbour?



Young Wheatear

 

What the?

When I first saw large black wings landing on Meoness in the fog I thought it looked interesting from my window? I found it all hunched over standing on the cliff in the thick fog... I thought it might be a Black Stork! When I saw it raise it's neck? what the heck! was it some sort of Crane? I went back to the house to get my Collins Field Guide and called the Bird Obs to send one or two of the boys down to help... They brought a van load. The bird flew to the Scrape, was it young Purple Heron? It was on the cliffs by the Holms by time the "Van" showed up. They had distant views in flight and confirmed it must be a Heron, most likely badly oiled. The next day I saw it again and snuck up on it to get better photos... I concluded it was a juvenile Grey Heron badly oiled stained. but if anyone has any other ideas let me know?

 Red Herring? Black Oiled Grey Heron?
it was interresting...

closest thing to a Bald Eagle I saw all day. 

(Great Skua - Bonxie)

 

Fourth of July at the Auld Haa House, Fair Isle.



Fireworks at 11pm. still not so dark out.



Rare Migrant Hover Fly - Scaeva pyrastri



YUCK! tastes like fish?



Lifer! "The Black-Headed Bunting?" Roosting at Schoolton Tonight!



Black Headed Bunting?

Record shot 10:15pm. - Hopeful for better shot in the morning light.

 Only seen by one birdwatcher on Sunday! After dipping this bird on Sunday with everyone else... I had been doing double takes all day at the 2 male Siskins (yellow with black heads) in my garden in hopes to refind this bird myself. How great that Nick refound this bird on his Rosa coming in to roost for the night at Schoolton. I had views through a scope but with light rain and low grey clouds at 10:15pm it was not helping to show off this bright and beautiful bird.