Lanhydrock is a late Victorian Gothic pile deep, deep down in the West Country, near Bodmin in Cornwall. But turns out it’s an easy drive from West Dorset along the A30 (at least it is out of season), skirting the top of Dartmoor and going across Bodmin Moor. The main reason for visiting Lanhydrock is…
DetailsSpinning, dyeing and weaving are taking over. Looking back, it’s only been a little over a year since the first spinning wheel came into the cottage and a less than a year when it comes to looms. But looking around the other day and there was fleece and yarn at various stages of processing everywhere.…
DetailsTablet weaving or card weaving is ancient and low tech. It produces narrow bands that are strong and decorative, used for belts, straps and trimmings. Ever curious to try out new techniques, this is just a little dabble. As the name suggests it uses tablets or cards. These tablets have a hole at each corner…
DetailsLast year was a year of discovery, venturing into the world of weaving. It started with the purchase of two vintage looms (read about all that here). Weaving is both beautifully simple and complex. There has been a lot of experimentation.Learning through trial and error. This post is an update on progress so far. The…
DetailsRag Rug Making – well it’s been quite a while since there’s been much of that around here. But after a frenzy of yarn dyeing and sock making leading up to Christmas there was time in that limbo over the ‘holiday’ period to finally get down to it in a big way. So there is…
DetailsChristmas Stockings – well they have to be red don’t they! And when it comes to natural dyeing nothing does red like cochineal. Cochineal is expensive, it always has been. Highly prized for centuries as producing the best reds for textile dyeing. When it arrived in Europe following the Spanish conquest of Mexico it was…
DetailsYou may have noticed that the Girl’s Own Store Website has undergone some changes this week. It was set up when the Bridport shop was in full swing. But since the doors closed (2 years ago now!!) the business has evolved and the website badly needed an update to reflect what’s going on NOW…
DetailsSpinster is a problematic word. The first meaning to brings to mind today is old maid. Not a description any woman aspires to. So having knitted and crocheted for years perhaps it’s no wonder that it took so long to get involved in spinning. It is, after all, at the start of the process of producing yarn.…
DetailsEeles Pottery is in the village of Mosterton, on the road between Beaminster and Crewkerne. Despite having driven past it countless times this was the first visit (they were open as part of Bridport Arts Week) – long overdue. It is a truly family affair. David and his wife Patricia set up their home and…
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