callander

Saturday was one of those wonderful blue sky days here.

There was something extraordinary about the light and the promise of Spring, that I decided to take a drive up to Callander.

This was the view from the bridge over the river. There were men on both sides up to their kidneys in cold water. I was having difficulty keeping warm just standing on the bridge! Ben Ledi in the distance is covered with snow. It really is a beautiful, and unusual place. Like many small Scottish towns 'on the way to somewhere' it has become a service station and fuel stop for coach parties and daytrippers. You have to run the gamut of chipshops, icecreameries and fudge sellers to find its depths. My favourite is a secondhand bookshop at the Stirling end of the main road, which always reveals a hidden gem.

The Ben Ledi café was always a favourite too, and that has now changed hands, or been upgraded to become Mhor Fish. The business have also bought the old-fashioned bakers at the other end of the street, and I am glad to see they have kept it's aesthetic of the genuine old Scottish Bakery.

On Friday night, inspired by this post, and this... I sat down and made these...

little notebooks using some old photographs I had printed out, but didn't feel worked for whatever reason. They really are quite small, 70mm x 95mm, being a normal size photo trimmed and folded in half.

I tied the insert papers in very simply with a length of reclaimed cotton tied in a knot. How to tie them could be an interesting variation.

I always like to have a wee notebook with me in my bag for ideas, and often when I've a lot on my mind to do or remember I carry a piece of paper in my back pocket with my list on for that day, so these are just a bit nicer and perfectly pocket sized.

Comments

[ginny]

These are lovely Caireen.
I too was inspired by the notebooks made by Kate Headley. I have so many notebooks for various thoughts, lists and ideas but little small ones are so portable. Are you going to put them in your Etsy shop?
Your photo of Callander is stunning... what a beautiful peaceful place to be.
ginny
x

[snapdragon]

Euan's family originally comes from Callander (the Glens shop in the main street was once theirs when it sold everything) and I used to visit his Granny a lot when she was alive - it is a lovely place if you don't go in too many woollen mills - beautiful photo and notebooks.
I'm very inpressed with Mhor fish - we went to Monachyle Mhor for Euan's 40th in December - wonderful but certainly special occasion prices.
J
x

[Clamjamfrie]

I'm delurking to say those notebooks are GORGEOUS!

[Sally Anne]

Your photos of Callander brought back a lot of lovely memories for me. We passed through there on an evening in July 2004, and the next day we visited Stirling Castle, and I saw the tabestries the weavers were working on...just incredible. The notebooks are perfect to have in one's handbag or on the bedside table, ready for inspiration!

[Diana]

Hello C, beautiful photo,amazing light, and I love your wee notebooks, too. Diana x

[amisha]

i love those little notebooks! i also like to carry a notebook around to jot things down... these are so so pretty. xox