A Week of Art, Treasures, and Timeless Beauty in the Scottish Borders

There are some weeks that feel stitched with magic—where time stretches and softens, and every moment seems to shimmer a little at the edges. Our recent retreat, Curated Wanderings with the ever-inspiring Jane Chip, was exactly that kind of week.

We began our journey in the vibrant heart of Edinburgh, with its cobbled streets and creative pulse. A morning spent meandering the lanes of Stockbridge proved fruitful and fun—its vintage shops, locally-owned boutiques, and irresistible charity shops invited slow wandering and serendipitous finds. Scout was a particular favorite, with newly opened rooms full of curated gems, including a dreamy little haberdashery corner that had every textile lover swooning.

From the city, we journeyed south into the golden hills of the Borders and arrived at our home for the week: a graceful Georgian farmhouse nestled in the ancient estate of Traquair House—the oldest continually inhabited home in all of Scotland. With stories etched into its walls and legends of Mary Queen of Scots lingering in its chambers, it set a tone of history and quiet wonder for all that was to come.

Our days were filled with gentle discovery and hands-on creativity. We wandered through Borders towns and hedgerows alike, gathering vintage ephemera and botanical bits for our work. Jane guided us through eco-printing on fabric, pressing botanicals into clay, and transforming old photographs and postcards into intimate concertina books and handmade mementos. We also began our Colours Books, drawing inspiration from the Scottish palette around us—gorse yellow, heather purple, stone grey, and seafoam green.

One highlight was our visit to Robert Smail’s Printing Works, a beautifully preserved Victorian letterpress print shop tucked away in Innerleithen. Walking through its inky halls was like stepping back in time. We learned how the news and local advertisements were set and printed in the 19th century, and even had the chance to queue up our own words with handset type—feeling the satisfying click of the letters as we arranged them, one by one.

Another unforgettable evening brought a true Scottish welcome—thanks to our very own Wandering Craft piper, Robin of Harmony Bagpiping. His haunting melodies echoed across the hills as we gathered for our welcome dinner, wrapped in warm tartan and candlelight.

And the weather! It was the kind of glorious spring light that begged you to linger outdoors. Breakfast, lunch, and tea breaks were often taken on the lawn, surrounded by birdsong and valley views. Some of our best art moments happened under open skies, a gentle breeze stirring fabric and paper alike.

As the days rolled on, the main table in our farmhouse grew increasingly chaotic—in the most beautiful way. A tangle of threads, inks, pressed flowers, antique lace, and pigment-streaked paper—a visible testament to the joy and freedom of creating without constraint.

We visited the breathtaking Abbotsford House, gazed upon the monumental Great Tapestry of Scotland, and ended the week seaside in the charming town of North Berwick, where the beach revealed treasures of its own.

But perhaps the true treasure was the community that formed around that messy table—a circle of curious, open-hearted women willing to wander, explore, and make meaning with their hands.

Curated Wanderings was a week of color, texture, memory, and magic. We’re holding it close, and already dreaming of the next adventure in September.

Want to join us? There are a couple of spaces remaining.