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Beth MacDonald Stone

@bethmacdonaldstone

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Join me on my journey as an avid knitter & knitwear designer living in Bermuda. Links below to my patterns & projects, YouTube channel & more!

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One of the things I’m really going to miss about Uzbekistan is waking up to the wonderful sound of the myna birds. 🐦❤️

Every morning, their cheerful, rather boisterous chatter fills the air — such a lovely soundtrack to this extraordinary adventure. 🇺🇿✨

#uzbekistan #travelmemories #mynabirds #soundsoftravel taken in Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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17 hours ago

Day 12: Another wonderful day exploring Khiva! 🇺🇿✨

Our morning was spent wandering through this extraordinary ancient city, exploring the beautiful palaces and residences of Khiva’s last khans, including the fascinating harem quarters of the final ruler.

The architecture and interiors were just gorgeous, with intricate tilework, beautifully carved wood and so many wonderful details offering a glimpse into life at the royal court.

One particularly interesting sight was a traditional yurt displayed in a reception courtyard. Khiva sits on the edge of the desert, where nomadic communities were once an important part of life, and the yurt symbolized the khan’s connection to these people and their traditions. Such a fascinating detail!

We also enjoyed a delightful traditional puppet show, a lovely lunch and, of course, a little shopping! 😉

The craftsmanship here is absolutely extraordinary — beautiful woodcarving, textiles, ceramics and, naturally, more Suzani embroidery. I simply cannot get enough of these gorgeous pieces! The colours, intricate stitches and patterns are endlessly inspiring. 🪡❤️

Another wonderful day soaking up the history, creativity and atmosphere of this magical city.

Khiva, I just can’t get enough of you! ❤️

#khiva #uzbekistan #silkroad #traditionalcrafts taken in Khiva, Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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2 days ago

Day 11, Part 2: Our first magical evening in Khiva! 🇺🇿✨

I think Khiva might just be one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. Absolutely breathtaking!

This ancient, double-walled fortress city, with its magnificent Itchan Kala old town, feels almost as though it has risen straight out of the earth. The colours, textures and architecture are all in these gorgeous sandy, sunbaked tones. It’s like stepping into another world, or another century!

Our evening began with a fascinating introduction to traditional woodcarving. We saw the most extraordinary folding bookstand, intricately carved from a single piece of wood, with ten interconnected layers that unfold into different configurations. The ingenuity and craftsmanship were simply mind-blowing!

We also learned about traditional carpet weaving, watching the incredible precision and skill required to create each rug, one tiny knot at a time. Such beautiful work, and so much patience!

Then it was time for a little wander through the ancient streets, followed by dinner on a rooftop terrace as the sun set over this spectacular city. The golden evening light against those sandy walls was simply magical. 🌅❤️

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed the evening. Looking at them already brings back such wonderful memories.

Khiva, you have completely stolen my heart! ❤️

#khiva #uzbekistan #silkroad #traditionalcrafts taken in Khiva, Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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3 days ago

Day 11, Part 1: On the road from Bukhara to Khiva! 🇺🇿🚗

Another travel day, and a long one at that! Over six hours on the road, mostly on lovely new highways, although the final hour was on a rather rough old road that gave us a good shaking up! 😂

Much of the journey took us through vast stretches of flat desert landscape, which was fascinating to see. We learned that during Soviet times, efforts were made to introduce hardy desert plants to help stabilize the sand and reduce the enormous sandstorms that sweep through this region. It was so interesting to see the results of those efforts along the way.

And, as always, I loved passing through the little towns and villages, catching glimpses of the homes, businesses and everyday lives of the people who live here. For me, seeing how people live is one of the most fascinating parts of travelling. ❤️

A few stops along the way, endless desert views, and plenty of time to take it all in.

And finally, we arrived in beautiful, beautiful Khiva! What an extraordinary-looking place. I can’t wait to explore! ✨

#khiva #uzbekistan #silkroad #uzbekistantravel taken in Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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3 days ago

Day 10: Another fabulous day exploring Bukhara! 🇺🇿✨

I have absolutely fallen in love with this city, and today gave me even more reasons why!

We started at the magnificent Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the summer residence of Emir Alim Khan, the last ruler of the Emirate of Bukhara, who reigned until 1920. What a spectacular place! Beautifully decorated rooms, gorgeous grounds and an extraordinary mix of Eastern and European influences.

And for me, an extra treat! The former harem building houses a wonderful exhibition of traditional Suzani embroidery, with exquisite examples of this beautiful craft. Outside, a lovely woman was demonstrating the embroidery techniques, which of course I found absolutely fascinating! 🪡❤️

From there, we headed back towards the old city to explore the beautiful Bolo Hauz Mosque, with its magnificent carved wooden columns, and the ancient Samanid Mausoleum, dating from the 9th–10th centuries. This remarkable little brick building is thought to reflect influences from the region’s pre-Islamic, including Zoroastrian, architectural traditions. No colourful tiles or elaborate paintwork here — just the most extraordinary patterns created entirely through the placement of bricks. Absolutely gorgeous!

Next was the incredible Ark Fortress, with its enormous curved walls rising above the city. The scale and history of this ancient citadel are just extraordinary, and exploring its interior was fascinating.

But one of my favourite moments came while waiting outside the fortress, when a group of young local students approached me, eager to chat and practise their English. They were absolutely charming! We had such a fun conversation, took photos of one another and shared lots of smiles. Such a lovely, spontaneous encounter. ❤️

I have loved every minute of Bukhara — the architecture, the craftsmanship, the history and, most of all, the wonderful people.

Love, love, LOVE Bukhara! And I am loving every moment of this Uzbekistan adventure. 🇺🇿❤️

#bukhara #uzbekistan #silkroad #uzbekistantravel taken in Bukhara, Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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3 days ago

Day 9, Part 2: Suzani, Silk Threads & a Feast in Bukhara! 🇺🇿🪡✨

This afternoon was absolute heaven for a maker like me! We spent a wonderful few hours in the workshop of a Suzani master, learning the traditional art of Uzbek silk embroidery.

Surrounded by the most extraordinary collection of Suzanis — hanging on every wall, stacked floor to ceiling, and filling seemingly every corner — I felt like a kid in a candy shop! The colours, patterns and craftsmanship were simply breathtaking.

Under the guidance of the master and his talented family and colleagues, we learned some of the traditional embroidery techniques, including chain stitch and the distinctive Kukara stitch, working beautiful silk threads onto a cotton base. Such a privilege to learn these skills from the people who have devoted their lives to preserving them.

And as if that weren’t enough, we also had a cooking lesson! This time we learned to prepare plov, Uzbekistan’s beloved rice dish, filled with tender beef, carrots, raisins, garlic and fragrant spices. And, of course, we had the great pleasure of eating our creation for dinner. Delicious! 😋

Dinner was made even more special by local musicians and a beautiful dancer performing traditional music and dance from the region.

One final lovely touch: the Suzani master embroidered his own signature onto a piece purchased by one of my friends. Such a personal and meaningful finishing detail.

What an extraordinary afternoon and evening — beautiful craftsmanship, wonderful people, delicious food and so much inspiration. I couldn’t have loved it more! ❤️

#bukhara #suzaniembroidery #uzbekistan #traditionalcrafts taken in Bukhara, Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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5 days ago

Day 9, Part 1: Exploring the Old City of Bukhara! 🇺🇿✨

What an absolutely wonderful day wandering through the ancient streets of this extraordinary Silk Road city!

Bukhara is full of beautiful domed buildings, historic mosques, minarets and bustling bazaars. We explored the fascinating trading domes, known as Toki, where Silk Road merchants once gathered to buy and sell their wares, along with the old caravanserais that provided accommodation and shelter for travelling traders and their camels.

One of the highlights was the magnificent Kalyan Minaret, dating all the way back to 1127! Imagine all the history that remarkable tower has witnessed over nearly 900 years.

And between all that spectacular architecture, there was so much everyday life to enjoy. Colourful market stalls, interesting shops, wonderful people, and a lovely lunch beside a tranquil pond at Lyabi-Hauz, where an adorable little cat decided to join us. 🐈❤️

The sights, sounds, textures and atmosphere of Bukhara are simply magical. I absolutely love wandering through places where centuries of history are woven so beautifully into everyday life.

What a fabulous day! ❤️

#bukhara #uzbekistan #silkroad #traveluzbekistan taken in Bukhara, Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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5 days ago

Made a new friend in Uzbekistan today! 🫏❤️

And he even flashed me the cheekiest smile! 😂😁

How could you not love that face?!

#uzbekistan #donkeylove #travelmoments #animalencounters taken in Bukhara, Uzbekistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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6 days ago

Day 7, Part 2: Our next stop was the extraordinary Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis in Samarkand, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Uzbekistan and all of Central Asia. 🇺🇿✨

What an incredible place! We climbed a long flight of steps and found ourselves wandering through what felt like a little village of magnificent historic mausoleums, mosques and shrines, all nestled along the hillside beside the cemetery.

The architecture was breathtaking — intricate tilework, spectacular shades of blue and turquoise, beautiful geometric motifs and centuries of history around every corner.

But what made this place especially moving was that it isn’t simply a historic monument. It remains a deeply important place of devotion, with local worshippers and pilgrims travelling from far and wide to visit.

We entered one particularly sacred shrine, dedicated to Qutham ibn Abbas, traditionally believed to have been a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. There, we witnessed an imam leading prayers with worshippers. Such a privilege to quietly observe this living tradition of faith.

There was something quite extraordinary about the combination of magnificent architecture, centuries of history and genuine spiritual devotion. This wasn’t simply a museum or collection of historic buildings — it was a place very much alive with meaning for the people visiting.

Another absolutely fascinating and memorable experience in Samarkand! ❤️

#shahizinda #samarkand #uzbekistan #silkroadhistory taken in Shah-I-Zinda, Samarkand by @bethmacdonaldstone

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6 days ago

Day 7, Part 1: We started our day with a fascinating introduction to the traditional art of silk paper making using the bark of the mulberry tree. 🇺🇿🌿

All presented in the most beautiful setting, with reconstructed water channels, dams and mills demonstrating how water power was used to help with some of the more labour-intensive steps in the process.

It was wonderful to see how the mulberry bark is transformed into such beautiful, delicate yet surprisingly durable paper, a craft with centuries of history here in Uzbekistan.

And the uses for this paper go well beyond writing! We saw wonderful examples of clothing, dolls, decorations and all sorts of other creative objects made from it. Who knew paper could be so versatile?

And, as seems to be the lovely tradition at so many of our stops here in Uzbekistan, the visit concluded with a delicious cup of tea, or chai. 🫖❤️

Another fascinating craft, another beautiful setting, and so much inspiration to take away!

#samarkand #uzbekistan #silkpapermaking #traditionalcrafts taken in Samarkand Uzbezkistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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6 days ago

A little knitting interlude from all the Uzbekistan travel posts! 🇺🇿🧶🧦

I’ve been working away on a pair of Glimmer View Socks, a new design of mine scheduled for release in the first week of November!

The pattern will include instructions for both fingering and DK-weight yarns, and this is the DK version. I’m using the gorgeous Voolenvine Yarns Smitten DK in the colour Stoker.

There’s something so satisfying about knitting socks in DK weight — they work up beautifully quickly and make the cosiest socks for the cooler months ahead.

I’m really looking forward to sharing this new design with you. A little something to add to your autumn and winter knitting plans! 🍂❤️

And now, back to our regularly scheduled Uzbekistan adventures! 😂

#glimmerviewsocks #sockknitting #voolenvineyarns #knitweardesign @voolenvine.co by @bethmacdonaldstone

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7 days ago

Day 6, Part 4: Big Friday Night Out in Samarkand! 🇺🇿💃🎉

What a fabulous way to end another extraordinary day in Uzbekistan!

We found ourselves in an absolutely stunning, enormous restaurant in Samarkand, surrounded by local families and friends clearly enjoying a very special Friday night out.

And then the dancing began! Beautifully dressed ladies in gorgeous traditional outfits took to the floor, moving so gracefully to the music, while everyone around them enjoyed the festivities.

We weren’t quite sure what was being celebrated — perhaps a wedding, a birthday, or simply a wonderful evening together — but the atmosphere was absolutely infectious!

The music, the dancing, the beautiful clothes, the spectacular surroundings and, most of all, the joy of everyone having such a fabulous time. It was such a treat to witness a little slice of local life.

Samarkand certainly knows how to enjoy a Friday night! ❤️✨

#samarkand #uzbekistan #uzbekculture #fridaynightfun taken in Samarkand Uzbezkistan by @bethmacdonaldstone

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7 days ago