Sheila, Mairi and peerie Hamish with Sheila's birthday cake

26th October…  Sheila is celebrating her 70th birthday!  Daughter-in-law Mairi baked a magnificent chocolate cake with grandson Hamish’s help – 70 shards of white chocolate decorated the top. Might be “death by chocolate” Sheila said, “it tasted as good as it looked!”

Happy 70th Birthday from the family!  Sheila’s three sisters and two brothers with many of her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews joined her for afternoon tea – much laughter and tasty homebakes enjoyed by all.

Creative talent showing through…  just a few of the handmade presents from the family.  Standing Stones made in steel, a handknitted Shetland wool shawl, owls carved in wood… paintings of the sea, a stone sculpture picture and embroidery mat all came later…

And Happy 70th Birthday Sheila from the Workshop family!

A gift from Sheila's team on Mainland Scotland

Beautiful scarf designed by Gina and hand-finished by Janice at Loch Lomond, a gift from Sheila’s team on Mainland Scotland.  The Orkney team are sending Sheila away! Not for long though… with memories of Sheila’s early creative days we hope she’ll relax on a weekend painting course in Galloway with Hazel Campbell. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I met her on a promotional trip to USA with Visit Scotland three years ago” said Sheila.

The Workshop team filled the canteen with more amazing cakes and bakes… it’ll keep us going all week – almost a shame to eat the cakes Hayley made!

There’s no sign of Sheila retiring yet – renovation work has begun on the Church beside her Workshop and home. It will be a unique place to showcase her jewellery… watch this space!

“I feel very lucky to be able and well, I try and enjoy every day and I have a wonderful family and team around me and great customers, life is good,” says Sheila Fleet OBE