All Things Considered

Knockando Woolmill – 1979
Posted by Simon Lewin

Regular visitors to All Things Considered will know that we've been following (and helping where we can) the restoration project at Speyside's Knockando Woolmill.

Work commences on site in early March and we'll keep you up to date with progress here.

But a short piece of film from 1979 has been discovered which gives an insight into the condition of the Mill when Hugh Jones and friends took over the running from Duncan Stewart.

Here are a few words about the clip from Hugh Jones...

"In the summer of 1979 the mill featured in a TV documentary. We had recently got the carding and spinning running again for the first time since we took over in 1976 and were busy spinning natural yarn for a large order for Japan - not "hideous tartan"! The star of the show was, inevitably, the late Duncan Stewart who took to the silver screen like an old pro - I remember he had a great time that day. Peter Machell wasn't one of three of us who bought the mill in 1976, he was a talented hand weaver who worked with me for 2 years, trying his hand at machine weaving. To me, the best of this is seeing the spinning workshop running (which it will be again in 3 years time) and, of course, Duncan who got the last laugh!"

Find out more about Knockando Woolmill.

Posted by Simon Lewin on February 21st, 2010

Kate Jenkins
Posted by Angie Lewin

My attempts at crochet still haven't progressed beyond wobbly scarves and grand plans for granny squares but I was inspired by catching sight of Kate Jenkins' crocheted caviar tin in the Rebecca Hossack Gallery window. Looking on her website I love this Tate & Lyle lion too.

Posted by Angie Lewin on January 15th, 2010

Angie Lewin’s Hedgerow
Posted by Simon Lewin

UPDATE Hedgerow is now available! Full details can be found on our St. Jude's fabric website.

Here's a quick snap of 'Hedgerow', Angie's new screen-printed fabric for St. Jude's.

It's printed in 3 colours on linen union and will be available in three colourways. Full details including pricing will be published on our St. Jude's website and via our e-mail newsletter in the next week or so.

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 23rd, 2009

Mark Hearld’s Bird Garden
Posted by Simon Lewin

Here's a sneak preview of our forthcoming fabric designed by painter-printmaker Mark Hearld, the follow-up to his first design for St. Jude's, Doveflight.

We'll be launching with two colourways on linen-union (blue and red) plus a single charcoal colourway on natural linen. We'll be announcing formally via our St. Jude's website and newsletter in the next week or so.

If you're anywhere near Edinburgh, the fabric forms part of the Mark Hearld & Friends show at The Scottish Gallery on Dundas Street. They have a limited supply of cushion covers available.

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 5th, 2009

Norfolk Yarn
Posted by Kate Sullivan

I'm currently getting my creative fix from crocheting. Hooking the yarn through a series of loops is extremely therapeutic and meditative. Crocheting also has the added advantage of being mess free and portable, unlike some of my other attempted hobbies. I'm drawn to charity shops for odd bags of yarn and have become a frequent visitor to Norfolk Yarn in Norwich who stock a great collection of wools and cottons from around the world.

Whilst in the shop one batch of yarns by Mirasol really caught my attention. I was then told that the sales of Mirasol yarn help an education project in Peru called The Mirasol Project.

'This project aims to raise enough money from the sale of alpaca wool and cotton yarns to finance the building and day-to-day running of a boarding centre at the ranch, to support the children of the alpaca shepherds in their educational studies. The boarding centre will focus on an integrated health and educational programme and provide a secure place for the children to develop their potential'

You can follow developments of The Mirasol Project via their blog.

Posted by Kate Sullivan on October 7th, 2009

People Will Always Need Plates
Posted by Angie Lewin

Spent last night at an event celebrating Liberty's "Britain Can (Still) Make It" event, curated by David Nicholls (design editor of The Telegraph Magazine) and Michelle Alger (Liberty's home & furniture buyer). It was great to see reactions to our collaboration with the Race Furniture Company and to have the chance to see the other exhibits - all UK designed and produced.

Stand out items for us included Matthew Hilton's Treviso desk, Benjamin Hubert's Gradient chair (both for Ercol) and the new range from People Will Always Need Plates, 'British Industry Is Dead, Long Live British Industry'...

"This new edition is a response to the perceived wisdom that Britain no longer makes anything. While the traditional, heavy industries have long been in a steep decline, a few are still struggling on and in some cases enjoying a resurgence.

Though coal mining, ship building, and much of our motor industry has been lost, the UK is not simply a nation of shopkeepers - or more latterly, IT consultants and telecoms engineers..." More

The exhibition runs until Sunday 27th September 2009 at Liberty, Regent St, W1 (once there, head up to the 4th Floor).

Posted by Angie Lewin on September 24th, 2009

Letterpress Exchange Group
Posted by Simon Lewin

Over at the Typoretum blog, Justin Knopp reports on the latest selection of letterpress work that makes up the 51st bundle of the Letterpress Exchange Group.

Posted by Simon Lewin on September 1st, 2009

Old Town
Posted by Simon Lewin

Graphic designer and photographer Nick Hand has been cycling round the coast of Great Britain to raise funds for the Parkinson's Disease Society. Along the way he has been recording a series of 'soundslide' films, documenting the work of artisans he meets.

On the Norfolk leg of his journey he called in at our friends Old Town in Holt to make this short film about their British workwear range. Find out more about Nick's journey.

Posted by Simon Lewin on August 28th, 2009

The Balvenie
Posted by Simon Lewin

Consultancy Here Design have been working on the redesign of packaging for Speyside's The Balvenie Distillery.

Although lithographically printed due to the volume, the designers collaborated with calligraphers, letterpress printers and wood engravers as they worked on the finished packaging.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 28th, 2009

The Magpie Eye
Posted by Simon Lewin

UPDATE Mark Hearld will be exhibiting a range of prints and unique collages at our North Norfolk gallery in Spring 2010. For details nearer the time, please sign up for our e-mail newsletter. We will also be launching the second of Mark's textile designs for our St. Jude's range in Autumn 2010.

Took a trip up to Scarborough on Sunday to visit the art gallery there for the current 'East Coasting - Art & Design By Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious' exhibition that includes Mark Hearld's inspirational collection of objects old & new - all in a room under the title of 'The Magpie Eye' (which we featured previously). The exhibition closes on Monday 4th May - if you're anywhere near do try and make it. In the photo below Mark explains some of the room's contents to Angie and Marie. For gallery details visit their website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 28th, 2009