iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Finished up my bag - if I was doing it again I would definitely paint a layer of white undercoat as the first few coats of colour just soaked straight into the fabric 🤣. Added a few extra details and a zip I had from an old cushion cover to finish. Now to see what else I have lying around to paint!

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Jazzing up my Iron Age dialogues tote bag - got a few more coats to go but love it so far. Let's hope the internet didn't lie and ironing acrylic markers fixes the colour!! #ironage #archaeology

Cream tote bag from Iron Age dialogues conference. First layer of colour added

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Only the final page was missing after all! Back cover and different zine sizes

Back page, sky and rainbow as background. Text reads "Sweet embrace became midnight sky, On the edge of venturing into the unknown, We learned how to celebrate the healing after the stormy weather, Wish you were here".

A5 and A6 zine with assotiated envelope of stickers

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

PhD thesis submitted at the end of last month and now feeling weirdly flat and restless. Sharing a little zine I made at the end of the project as a nod to hopefully doing more creative things in archaeology soon! Last few pages to follow

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Distracting myself ahead of looming PhD deadline -so making requests from the Pokémon obsessed kids 🤣. Currently working out how to turn an old Frozen bag they have grown out of, an old cushion cover and a pair of old jeans into a Psyduck shoulder bag! Looking so cute so far

Partially finished Psyduck bag. Yellow face and brown beak made from fabric scraps

Bag with Olaf from frozen on front, yellow cushion and fabric ahead of my 'upcycling' project.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Looking back over my notes, there are days when I seriously wonder how I get anything written up from these 😂.

Notebook page from my PhD looking at child burial. It's an absolute mess but also somehow seems to make sense to me 😂

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Been feeling pretty flat lately with no real ideas to keep my hands busy. Finally picked up a piece I started months ago but didn't know what to do with. Grooved Ware inspired patch on a bag I bought a few weeks ago. Hopefully this will kickstart things again but if not at least I have a fancy bag 😂

Grooved Ware (late neolithic style pottery) inspired fabric patch. Orange spiral on a yellow disc with wavy brown lines over an orange background. Sewn onto brown corduroy

Full view of the patch sewn onto a brown corduroy bag. Bag laid on a light brown cushion

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Preparing for Mother's Day as a hwntw in the land of the Gogs - the struggle is real folks 🤣

Computer print out with the word Mamgu (gran in South Wales Welsh) and a Mother's Day card with "Sul y Mamau Hapus Nain" (happy mother's day but Nain is the North Wales word for gran)

The same card with the word Mamgu glued over Nain

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Nadolig llawen, merry Christmas everyone x

Decorated Christmas tree with Mari Lwyd needle felt topper on yellow background and the words "nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda"

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

The other one had a different vibe so she became a ceffyl dwr (water horse)

Needle felt horses head/skull with blue and green detail. Sculpture of a ceffyl dwr or water horse

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Mari Lwyd finished just in time for Christmas! My favourite tree topper ever and so pleased with how she turned out - compare with last years effort in picture 2

Needle felt Mari Lwyd on top of a little Christmas tree. Yellow walls in background

Needle felt Mari Lwyd on top of a little Christmas tree. Yellow walls in background. Lower down on the tree is last year's Mari - the first needle felt one I made and very happy with progress

Needle felt Mari Lwyd with gold, green and red ribbons.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

I've got a bundle of orders ready for posting on Monday. If anyone else wants anything just drop me a message with the style and colour/s you like and I can send pictures of the remaining stock and post them at the same time.

Mari Lwyd tree decorations shown in garden

Selection of tree decorations and bag charms displayed on tree shaped stand in the garden

Rainbow selection of Mari Lwyd decorations displayed on a grey blanket

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Blodeuwedd and some Cwn Annwn to add to the list

Group of decorations of owls with flowers representing Blodeuwedd

Group of four keyrings with white hounds with red ears - the Cwn Annwn

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I was hoping to have gotten set up for Christmas markets and with a website but it's been a rough year! Mari Lwyd and other keyrings/bag charms inspired by iron age/Romano-British artefacts). £15 each or two for £25 (UK postage only im afraid). Let me know below if you are interested.

Rainbow selection of Mari Lwyd Christmas tree decorations. Handmade from felt and other fabrics with ribbons

Handmade Iron Age art inspired bag charms. Black animal on coloured background. Boars and horses

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Original pieces that inspired the works

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Putting up a few bits I've made - these two are inspired by Welsh iron age pieces from Culverhole Cave and Tal y Llyn. Now I need a third idea now so any new inspiration would be greatly appreciated

Two needle felt faces based on iron age art mounted on a white door. Upper face is on circular canvas with black and gold background. Face is orange and yellow with red spikes on yellow and orange crescent around head. Inspired by Culverhole Cave figurine. Lower is green and gold circular canvas with darker green face. Inspired by the Tal y Llyn shield.

Green and gold circular canvas with darker green face. Inspired by the Tal y Llyn shield. On white background

Circular canvas with black and gold background. Needle felt face is orange and yellow with red spikes on yellow and orange crescent around head. Inspired by Culverhole Cave figurine.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Sharing the final version of my Ceffyl Dwr for #FolkloreFriday. Absolutely loved making this needle felt creation and getting really into the wire frame modelling

Needle felt Ceffyl Dwr, white horse skull with green and blue mane and decorations on the face. Yellow background with wooden frame mirror

Needle felt Ceffyl Dwr, white horse skull with green and blue mane and decorations on the face. Yellow background with wooden frame mirror and green plant in pot.

Close up of needle felt Ceffyl Dwr, white horse skull with green and blue mane and decorations on the face. Yellow background

Needle felt Ceffyl Dwr, white horse skull with green and blue mane and decorations on the face.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

After an amazing but slightly damp morning at Llyn Cerrig Bach (my lips are sealed but check out the Operation Nightingale Facebook page) now warming up nicely and working on my Cefyl Dwr

Needle felt work in progress of a Cefyl Dwr (water horse) from Welsh mythology.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Niche archaeology/history geekery but today doing research into a chapel in Denbighshire. Welsh Nonconformist history is a big interest of mine and I had totally forgotten these had been stashed by the books previous owner - pamphlets urging a no vote to the 1961 plan to allow Sunday opening of pubs

Bilingual Welsh/English pamphlet urging the people of Wales to vote against the opening of licensed premises in Wales on Sundays.

Pile of books related to nonconformist history in Wales

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

She's come a long way since the first version

My first attempt at a needle felt Mari Llwyd on top of the Christmas tree last year. This one has red ears and red, green and white ribbon. Room is painted yellow and tree has bluey white lights

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Rethinking my Mari Llwyd from last year to give her more strength and support with a stronger wire frame. Still need to get the make time down if going to produce to sell but loving her development. Folk horror meets cottage core vibes 🤣 #FolkloreFriday #MariLlwyd #needlefelt

Needle felt Mari Llwyd sculpture. Horse skull with purple, pink and green ribbons. On a brass colored stand in the garden

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

I don't want to give away too much of the text from the exhibition but I think that it is important to share this for context

People in the Bronze Age valued gold and bronze. Gold is often found in hoards with bronze objects. The importance of bronze objects in this period led to the Treasure Act being updated in 2002. It now includes two or more objects of base metal, crafted in Prehistory.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

So lucky to attend the opening of Treasure History Unearthed exhibition at Liverpool museum with @tessmachling.bsky.social . Not quite back in Wales saw the stunning gold cape from Bryn y Ellyllon (near Yr Wyddgrug/Mold) together with the massive torc from Ysceifiog and the Moel Hebog shield

The gold cape from Bryn y Ellyllon near Yr Wyddgrug/Mold

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

Sometimes when writing you come across a quote which is so perfect for the point you are trying (and failing) to make that you have to pause and give it the respect it deserves. Alex Gibson I salute you! #archaeology #neolithic #prehistory

Quote (Pg 78) "This problem of classification is no more acute than in dealing with the henge. Henge monuments are probably the archetypal monument of the Later Neolithic and Earlier Bronze Age continuum primarily the legacy of that circular pile of rocks by the A303 in Wiltshire which has received and is continuing to receive as much archaeological attention as the rest of it's contemporary monuments put together. Yet Stonehenge is not a henge". (From his 2012 paper "What's in a name? A critical review of Welsh 'henges').

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Anyone who needs conference poster printed massive recommend for this company www.scienceposters.co.uk/posterprinti.... Packed train and blazing sun but rather than trying to lug around a massive tube and find space for it in the luggage rack the poster folds into an A4 box! #archaeology #conference

Fabric A0 conference poster laid out flat in hotel room with the A4 size box it folds into next to it

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Exciting random discovery today - I've had the book for years but have only today realised it originally belonged to Audrey Burl! I absolutely loved their work so very excited #archaeology #stonecircles #history

Small sticker saying "Ex Libris H.A.W. Burl"

Small sticker saying "Ex Libris H.A.W. Burl" with handwritten initials on top right corner

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Working on more Welsh folklore inspired art. Cwn Annwn, the hunting dogs of Gwyn ap Nedd. #needlefelt #mythology #folklore My tiny hound for scale 😂

Needle felt Cwn Annwn model - white wolfhound dog with red ears

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Amazing day at marram grass weaving workshop in the Pritchard Institute, Newborough with Llyn Parc Mawr team. Fascinating to learn about history and techniques. Thinking about the evidence we have and have lost from prehistoric sites. & unexpected blast from the past mug #archaeology #prehistory

Small marram grass bowl and woollen weaving on top of book on the marram grass weavers of Nwbwrch

The Pritchard Institute, Newborough with war memorial. Art deco and mock Tudor structure dated to the early twentieth century

Ebbw Vale garden festival 1992 mug - amazing school trip ever for kids from the valleys! Found 30 odd years later and 200 odd miles away 🤣

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

After feeling absolutely awful all week I finally managed to get out in the sun with the family and up on the Carneddau. Walked to the Druid's Circle, for #StandingStoneSunday #cymru #archaeology coflein.gov.uk/en/site/300889

Stone circle in upland moorland location.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus pawb, Happy St David's Day everyone. Looking forward to the start of spring

Needle felt march hare in front of a bunch of daffodils in a green vase. Orange background

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Bedd ye Afanc long cairn taken back in 2011. Really fascinating site in very boggy landscape. coflein.gov.uk/en/site/3040... #TombTuesday #archaeology #neolithic

Long cairn with two parallel lines of stones in foreground of picture. Mountains in background with flowering yellow gorse and rushes visible.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Heads up for an upcoming conference examining the lives and legacies of women in Earth sciences - be fantastic to meet some of you lovely people there #archaeology #palaeontology #earthsciences www.reachequality.org/events?fbcli...

Poster advertising event - is a screenshot of the webpage if you follow the link in the main post

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

This poor stone has been through more than it's fair share of shite! Thrown in a hedge during the reformation, hit by a car and now this. Poor thing! #StandingStoneSunday historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...

Roadside medieval stone cross (circular face with cross, cylindrical body, round base) surrounded by roadsigns

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Late entry for #TombTuesday - Tregiffian chamber lovely neolithic tomb near Penzance www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places... . Watch your head though (I didn't 🤣).

Me standing in front of tomb - was meant to be inside it but smacked my head and decided against it 🤣

Roof of tomb showing capping stones - one is missing

Tomb with walling enclosing entrance. Tomb is right on the road which you can see in background.

View inside tomb. Visible as a capstone is missing

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

#StandingStoneSunday #archaeology Merry Maidens stone circle, Cornwall. I loved how this monument has worn pathways letting you trace how people move around the monument. Into the middle, around the stone circuit and two lines through

Stone circle with pathways visible. Within field and hedge in background. Upland area.

Approach to stone circle, foot worn path

Slight hollow worn by walkers inside the strong ring

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Got to love a sign that doesn't mess about - totally know what you are getting with this one 😂. #archaeology

Wooden sign in an arrow shape with 'BARROW' carved into it. Moorland vegetation

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

If you hit the home button and then select the three lines at the top left of the screen and go to settings, then select accessibility. You can make it the default that you will get a prompt to add text to any images you post

Screenshot showing location of Alt text option in BlueSky

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

#StandingStoneSunday from Cornwall again. A spectacular but very wet visit to the Nine Maidens stone row. Really evocative site with stream running along side the row. Wear wellies! historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-...

Row of nine standing stones at field edge. River bank to the right of the image. Stones around 1-1.5m in height.

Detailed photograph of one of the Nine Maidens stones showing the lines of quartz. Grey stormy sky and flock of sheep in background.

Row of nine standing stones at field edge. River bank to the left of the image. Stones around 1-1.5m in height.

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Getting back into reading Welsh mythology and ghost stories and using as inspiration in my needle felting. My first human(ish) face - Gwyn ap Nudd. #FolkloreThursday #NeedleFelt

Needle felt Gwyn ap Nudd. Character has horns and green hair, wearing a bronze torc. Green circlular canvas background

Needle felt Gwyn ap Nudd. Character has horns and green hair, wearing a bronze torc.

Display of 3 needle felt works - owl (Blodeuwdd), Ceffylau Dwr and Gwyn ap Nudd

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Ballowall Barrow, Cornwall for todays #TombTuesday. Incredible setting with spectacular stormy sea views. Late Neolithic/EBA burial structure but sadly poorly understood. #Archaeology #Prehistory

Ballowall Barrow, Cornwall. View looking out over a stormy sea.

Ballowall Barrow, Cornwall. Passage around interior. Thought to be reconstructed by nineteenth century excavator

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery - Pont Fawr, Llanrwst in much nicer weather

Pont Fawr, Llanrwst. Bridge over the Afon Conwy. Stone bridge, triple arches, possibly designed by Inigo Jones .

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Weirdly fitting to be working on my latest piece of folklore based art - Ceffylau Dwr in the middle of massive water outage in Conwy! #folklore #needlefelt #WelshArt

Needle felt, three white horse heads with blues and greens to represent water and marsh vegetation. Circular canvas with acrylic paint as base.

Needle felt, details of one of three white horse heads with blues and greens to represent water and marsh vegetation. Circular canvas with acrylic paint as base.

Paper working sketch templates on painted canvas to figure out layout

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda pawb, Happy New Year everyone. To be honest it's not been the best but still some lovely highlights. Hopefully the coming year will bring exciting new things

Handmade felt Mari Lwyd decoration with the text Blwyddyn Newydd Dda/Happy New Year

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Made a slightly more sensible size #MariLwyd to accompany her butty on the top of the tree. Am thinking about whether to make these to sell, does anyone have any experience of selling through Folksy and advice on pricing and selling? #Needlefelting #craft

Needle felted Mari Lwyd (Welsh New Year tradition of costume made from horse skull with ribbon decoration and sheet body) decoration. Held in hand in front of blurred Christmas tree

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

My biggest needle felt piece so far - a Mari Lwyd for the top of the Christmas tree. Pretty pleased with how she turned out 😁 #NeedleFelt #MariLwyd

Needle felt Mari Lwyd - Welsh new year tradition of decorating a horses skull

Needle felt Mari Lwyd with ribbon and felt leaves

Needle felt Mari Lwyd on top of decorated Christmas tree in the corner of a room

Needle felt Mari Lwyd on top of decorated Christmas tree

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Tree is finally up and decorated by the small people who have done a beautiful job, and enhanced by amazing arrowhead decorations made by the lovely @tessmachling.bsky.social on the fireplace.

Decorated and lit Christmas tree in corner of yellow room. No real theme just everything the kids fancied putting on the tree

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Festive mammoths finally finished to be posted to a very special friend (who isn't on Bluesky). Feeling totally overwhelmed and ill ATM so lovely to have distractions to work on

Adult and baby mammoth made from needle felt. Wearing blue hats and scarves

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Not saying that my dog is spoiled but I came back from the kitchen after making a cup of tea and found her on a pillow throne 🤣

Small barky dog snoozing on a pile of assorted cushions. Dog is black and white and looks a bit like a sheep dog but is about the size of a loaf of bread

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Cat Rees @catrees.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Seriously festive vibes at @amgueddfacymru.bsky.social today. Finally starting to feel like Christmas is on the way

Christmas tree with decorations in the main entrance hall at Amgueddfa Cymru, Cardiff

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