Winter is Back

Snow again on the hills, and on our field this morning, wild and wintery eh?

Spellack looms dimly below a shadowy Slieve Bearnagh:

But we are open, the fire is blazing; and Lemon Drizzle Cake is fresh out of the oven, so all is well!

Meet The Fleece!

We are proud and delighted to have in the Gallery Brena Sheep, made by our very good friend Frances.

Each one a unique hand built piece of ceramics.

They are a truly beautiful representation of the progenitors of most of our work.

The're delightful, and even more wonderful as: 

each one has a name,  a secret known only by its Maker - 

and its Owner!

Come and meet them today! 

meet the fleece!

each one an individual

beautifully crafted

hand built ceramics

I have a name!

three's a flock!

handsome...

full of character...

great fun!

each comes with a signed card

one of a kind

me too!

Made in County Down

Old Man Willow

Just across the river stands a majestic tree. It catches the eye of many an observer in the Gallery. 

It must be a hundred years old.

We think it's a Willow, possible Brown Willow - without the leaves our detecting skills are a little hampered.

Anyone got any suggestions as to what it is??

Sweaters

As well as the dyeing, felting, digging, training, greenhouse wrangling (more of which later!) carried out this week, we also completed three sweaters - our 'old faithful' product:

One for an order, one for a gift, and the last for stock - awaiting a home. 

Here they are hanging out to dry in the sunshine:

Triscele Red and Black

Triquetra Navy and Gold

'Special' Tullaree sweater dress, Plum and Lavender

We have sweaters in stock including the red and black one above, and also make to order. Our current designs:

Dyeing - The Natural Way!

we attended the  Landscape Partnership launch event for Mourne Heritage Trust today. This was held in the beautiful surroundings of the Silent Valley , some 20 miles from us deep in the Mournes.

For the event we put on a demonstration: 

Elaine: some 'live felting' and 

John: 'dyeing wool with natural dyes'

It's not every day that begins with a traipse round the garden looking for Dandelion Root!

The Venue - Stunning!

The Tors on Slieve Binnian

raw materials - all from the garden or the kitchen!

No... not soup! Onion skin and wool 'liquor'

Beetroot and wool

Result: dandelion root

Result: beetroot

Result: nettle

Result: onion skin

the dyer's table

felt making area

the beginnings of a butterfly

felting in progress

a lovely lily-like flower made by Elaine during the demonstration

a serious hat, made yesterday

Examples of Elaine's work

Two different style pots

Snapshot of the architecture - almost equal to the grandeur of the setting

A Year ago.

February 2012 saw us hard (very!) at work on the Gallery; much heavy lifting and block breaking done!

Elaine makes a breakthrough! Feb. 2012

the transformation today: Feb. 2013

Today we have done some rather more subtle re-modelling, by adding a 'comfy area' to the Gallery:

the new 'comfy area' by the window

looking towards the Mournes

extra seating for 4

what better way to spend the afternoon?

the view out the window

Felting at the Turnip House

many thanks to Frances, Margaret, Betty and Anne  for a great day's felting. The sun shone throughout. making the work go cheerily by. 

Included at no extra charge, was a Red Kite flypast, fantastic!

Here are the beautiful outcomes:

samplers - out of this world!

in the flow

iPad pouch #1

iPad pouch #2

Bag with flap

small bag

bag with flap