Shetland Cowichan Star

Textile focus today. Weather not so good - but nothing like the storms down south- so spent the morning knitting then headed off to the Bonhoga Gallery this afternoon. I always need to get a fix of this part of Shetland at some point on a visit as it's one of the few places to have trees. Having a lovely gallery and coffee shop there is an added bonus. The current exhibition is particularly interesting - Swap Box by the textile artists known as TextIsles. Each member of the group decorated a box with a theme and some starter materials then swapped it with another member. This piece is by Donna Smith and represents a Cowichan Star. Donna's theme was the Hamefaring, the time when all those who have left Shetland are invited home to remember their roots. According to the accompanying notes Jeremina Colvin was a Shetlander who emigrated to Vancouver and taught the native women advanced knitting skills, leading to patterns that now have important symbolic meaning in Canada. Perhaps my fellow blippers from Vancouver know about this?