Upcycling project

Heres something to keep me busy over the next few months! 4 ex public house stools bought from the local junk shop,not the tall bar stools but the ones you get when you sit at a table. They're oak,see the ones my brother has already stripped which need wirewooling and waxing to a nice finish then re-upholstering and covering with felted tweed.Should be transformed!

November at Silverdale

You can't see them because I'm a poor photographer but the birdlife here on this misty,damp day was amazing! Herons,Oystercatchers,Curlews,Divers and Gulls of course.My sister is the 'twitcher' and through her binoculars I could see loads and put names to some of them!

 

On to Greenlands Farm Village with this Gansey style chunky jacket

footstools

Here is an image of one of the footstools.Tweed woven by me,upholstery and joinery carried out by skilled artisans in the Morecambe Bay area,displayed on handwoven throw ----just the thing for a winter afternoon by the fire + a cup of Earl Grey and chocolate digestive!

Update !!

Quite a lot has happened since the lovely throws arrived.Matching cushions are being made from the extra yardage.Also some new sweater styles and the tweed covered footstools are finished and on display at Posh Sardine in Arnside along side ponchos knitted from the fleeces of the Arnside flock of rare breed Whitefaced Woodland sheep ------- see article in Lancashire Life starring Sandra,Jane and me being totally overshadowed by the handsome sheep!

handwoven tweed hats

poncho in the workroom and new tunic style sweater

new cream throws

Here is an  image of  one of the cream throws in the Autumn sunshine showing the tasselled fringe and the lovely open herringbone weave.

new throws

Here we have some beautiful throws handwoven from last years fleeces Wool from farms in Silverdale,Whitewell,Yealand Conyers and Arnside.Woven for me by Jane Flanagan on her all singing all dancing loom in her own weaving shed (of course I'm not jealousof that!).
The plain cream has the same herringbone design as the dark/light throws and shows the lustre of the Masham wool beautifully,the two tone maybe has more visual impact but both are lovely soft ,warm items for sitting room,bedroom or car and items of lasting beauty and usefulness Images show the two tone throws in finished state displaying the tasselled fringe and the weaving just started.Picture of the plain cream herringbone throws will follow.

new poncho design

Its Autumn !-------- Well it feels like it!So you need to get your poncho,shrug,capelet,shawl out!

fleece collection and new hats

All fleeces collected and 41kgs already sent off to be spun.No pictures it was just too hot on Thursday to think of anything but grabbing up the fleeces and heading down the motorway.Some really big beautiful fleeces from the Morecambe Bay conservation grazer sheep,as well as the usual North Country Cheviot, Bluefaced Leicester, Masham and Whitefaced Woodland I've bought some Black Welsh and lovely Herdwick fleeces.I'd like to weave floor rugs/mats with those but might need a different loom..............!!!!!
Morecambe Bay looked amazing shimmering in the heat,swallows swooping and dipping in and out of the barns,farm dogs resting in the shade,hay gathered in and a hot sticky trip down the motorway for me!Not fair !

These hats have been made from my handwoven,felted tweed by the multitalented Simone from Roses workshop just down the coast in bright and breezy Blackpool,I think the grey one is unisex.I'm heading off to our local 'antique' fair (haha) to find a retro/antique-y/blingy bit of costume jewelery to pin on the black hat ------ chic or what??!!

Footstools

At last I've collected the footstools & I'm really very,very pleased as they are beautiful! Upholstered by Rhonda Fraser using my tweed handwoven from local wool ,stools constructed by Chris French both skilled artisans working in the Morecambe Bay area.Very definitely a local product to be proud of !

Lancashire Farm Wool Teddy Bears

Look at these cute handknit teddies! Available from Fine Yarns on Lee Lane in Horwich .They are beautifully made by Bridie,the shop owner, in Lancashire Farm Wool & are marching out of the shop very quickly!! Bridie also stocks the wool should you feel inspired!

Bluebells at Heysham

Took new stock to Greenlands Farm Village & stopped in Heysham to look at the Bluebells.What a display on an atmospheric misty day! Beautiful flowers,lovely perfume & Heysham is one of my favourite places.

Acorn pics

The clever people at Eden Arts took a picture of my acorns so I can add this thanks to them!There are some really beautiful exhibits in the Woollen Woods exhibition & some funny & quirky ones as well!

Woollen Woods exhibition

I've sent some knitted acorns & oak leaves to Eden Arts canopy project exhibition at Sizergh Castle.My acorns are 'seasonal' Spring,Summer,Autumn,Winter versions & I realize I should have taken pictures before sending them ---- too late now!The exhibition is entitled The Woollen Woods' & runs from April 12th to September 1st.There should be all sorts of woolly creatures & vegetation decorating the the trees ladybirds,owls,bats fungi etc.I thought as Sizergh is a National Trust property my acorns & oak leaves would be appropriate.Hope to visit the exhibition & hunt out my acorns & take a picture of them in situ!

Wool display in Morecambe

Here is a nice picture of Lancashire Farm Wool displayed by Vicky in the window of The Little Shop of Hobbies in Morecambe.Tastefully draped over a lovely chunk of driftwood fished out of Morecambe Bay! Perfectly suited to the 'natural look'!