Wow, what a start to the New Year! Auchenblae was carpeted with loads of the white stuff. Big fluffy flakes that dressed the countryside in it's best ermine. So pretty to look at, but the soft drifts soon shunned the fields either side of our drive and settled in for the long haul. We were snowed in for over a week until our lovely neighbour put his digger to work and painstakingly shovelled, inch by inch, his way down our 1/3 of a mile long drive. Now, snow is by far my favourite weather,...

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, so the saying goes. But how rare are diamonds really? With the advent of lab grown diamonds they are much more affordable, bringing what was once the ultimate status symbol within reach of more modest budgets. Certainly gemstones like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds can be bought relatively cheaply (well certainly the smaller ones!). But sea glass? Now you're talking real value. Anyone who has the means can buy a gemstone, but finding a unique sea glass...

It was such a pleasure to take part in North East Open Studios for the second year running. I teamed up with the very talented...