Birth Announcement

To Daisy (formerly of Bunnavoneader)

The gift of a son

Safely delivered yesterday at around 6pm. 

Mother and son doing well despite the atrocious weather.

Scalpay Dog goes Globetrotting

One of our Hebridean Harris Tweed dogs - woven by me and sewn by Martina has found its way across the Atlantic to a new home in Hampton, New Hampshire (above Boston on the map).  He certainly looks very comfortable and we see he's made a new friend - Sammy the cat - already.  Lazy days, relaxing by the pool, surrounded by trees and supping on maple syrup - what a wonderful future! 

Hands up who remembers the little ducklings hatched by one of our scatty buff orpington hens in June.  Well, here they are now.  Mum still keeps a watchful eye on them from a distance, but they definitely know they are ducks, and so does she.  She adopted another couple of chicks from a previous brood and seems to have taken to a life of domestic bliss with some enthusiasm.  

On Sunday morning we saw a Peregrine on a light pole opposite the house - too far away to take a photo, but near enough to see the characteristic zebra striping on its chest.  What an amazing bird.  There are rabbits under every stone and in every patch of bracken at the Outend (wonder if the population explosion has anything to do with the mink eradication programme?) so we hope that the selection of birds of prey visiting us will increase.

Yesterday we had our annual visit from our buyers in London who sell to the theatre/films/tv etc costume makers.  Latest news is that some our linen was used for the BBC series "Merlin". 

Reviewing a Really Busy Week

     Last week was the busiest so far of the season.  We welcomed over 50 visitors to our loomshed and now need to spend some time replacing stock - a nice problem to have!  Many thanks to Sandy & Co from the States who always bring delicious maple syrup when they visit, as well as lots of enthusiasm and news. 

     Also, we paid a visit to Harris Tweed Hebrides to pick up some cloth they have been finishing for us - below is a green and white linen - 12 x 12 herringbone.  Some striped, some checked with green and some checked with natural.  About 28m all together. It's got a very nice feel to it, whilst still retaining our signature "tweedy" effect.

This is our new Harris Tweed.  A few weeks ago I showed it on the warping mill ready for beaming.  It's a burnt orange with Hebridean wool as the warp, and the weft is the burnt orange, twill weave and single width as always.  Completely unique.

And here is a close up of it with the orb mark.

Currently there is another Hebridean Harris Tweed on the loom, but the next to go on the beam will be this one pictured below.  A striking mix of pink, blue and three highlights on a colour gradated warp - in either a twill or a 2 x 2 herringbone, whichever looks better.  Weft will most likely be pink.  We are really excited about this tweed - can't wait to start.....

And finally, we are still waiting for Daisy and her pal to lamb.  According to the calendar, daddy is now most likely to be Mr 4-Horn Hebridean, fresh back from his working Christmas and New Year in Galson.  So maybe Tuesday or Wednesday will be lambing day.