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Nortower Lodges
Gosh, there's lots of exciting things to blog about today. Hazel and Kenneth Mackenzie have recently opened their beautiful holiday accomodation, Nortower Lodges, which are all done out in our Real Shetland Carpets. The Mackenzie family are one of our 700+ wool suppliers. So, as well as padding around on some woolly luxury, you can experience their way of life (and even spend time knitting with them). Now that's an idea for Shetland Wool Week... image: one of the 360 degree views from Nortower lodges
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Oliver Henry's 45 years at Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool Brokers
Oliver's knitted banner by Ella Gordon Oliver Henry (standing on pier) and Jim Smith (in boat), Uyea, Shetland Oliver loading wool for shipping Oliver and Catherine Henry, ready for a night out with the Hunter's of Brora team Oliver shearing sheep on the Isle of Skye Oliver hand sorting wool with a trainee Oliver feeding a Shetland pony at Berry Farm in Scalloway, the birth place of Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool Brokers Ltd. Oliver presenting prizes to textiles graduates Oliver's 45 year anniversary cake, a gift from Jimmy Moncrieff of Shetland Amenity Trust. Yesterday we celebrated Oliver's 45 year anniversary as 'Wool Man' at Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool Brokers. We thought we'd share some images of his time here since 1967. x
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Flying the (knitted) Shetland Flag
Here's a fun project for a happy Friday afternoon... Fly the Shetland Flag wherever you are (and send us back pictures from all over the world). Hooray! Designed by June Onigbanjo. x
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Shade card love
Just popping in to say that our new shade cards are now available online. You can choose to buy the full collection, or select your preferred weight of yarn. Each shade card comes in a folder for keeping patterns and notes beside your favourite shades of Real Shetland Wool. Hurray! Each one is handmade here in Lerwick and they come in to us in batches looking like furry sea creatures before being tucked away in their folders, ready for a new home. x
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Sheep Carousel by Kate Davies
We've been impatiently waiting for our postie to bring us a whole load of Sheep Carousel patterns. Well now they're here! This is the latest in a series of sheepy designs by Kate Davies. Kate is dedicated to the British wool industry and her designs celebrate and support native breeds. That's why we love her Shetland sheep collection - Sheep Heid, Rams & Yowes and now the Sheep Carousel. We especially love this new one because every time we see it we think of plinky plonky fairground music. There's no way this tea cosy won't make you smile (especially in the middle of this rather grey summer).
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Real Shetland Wool Duvets
So we're always trying to find new ways to add value to Shetland's wool clip for our local crofters and farmers, but our latest product is one our favourites. The team here have all been desperate to get their hands on one. They're safe, fire retardant, breathable and keep you cosy when it's cold and cool when it's not. Basically, we love them. Thanks to Jordan (pictured), Ava and Annie for trying them out in the photographs. You can choose from single, double or kingsize here and then wait impatiently to have the most amazing sleep ever. x
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Happy Birthday Oliver
36 today (apparently) despite being in his 45th year with Jamieson & Smith. Have a good day, Oliver. xxx
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Cones
Cones. Not the kind with ice cream... But just as good, if not better? Oil on cone 2 Py Jumper Weight, for the first time ever at Jamieson & Smith. Find them here alongside the clean cones that have been with us for a while. Oil on cone means that the yarn is still in its spinning oil, so it's perfect for using with a domestic machine (though you can still handknit with it and just handwash as usual when you're finished). Longed for by hand frame knitters and textiles students. We're adding colours to this range the whole time, so keep a look out. x PS. Looking online? The description tells you whether it's in oil or clean but for a quick (and very scientific!) way to spot the difference, oil is on a white background and clean on the beige background.
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