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Dispatch
Part of a load of wool waiting to go out for processing. The numbers scrawled on each 275kg (roughly) bale identify the grade of wool, as well as the local wool grower it came from. These identifiers stay with the wool right through all stages of the process, both electronically and in huge marker pen, so we know who and where it came from. All we need now is a computer genius who can give us a system to let customers trace their products back to the origin, Original Beans style. Anybody?!The photo was taken by Stuart when our first load of the season went out (which feels like forever ago now because we've put a few out since!). Stuart is back for the summer being indispensible in the wool store and just generally keeping us all entertained. He's off to the mainland for a week doing architecture stuff, and is apparently missing the rock already: I finally got yun photo aff my phone if do wants it.P.S. Canna wait tae get back....am so fed up. Aaww!
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The Cunningsburgh Show
A mammoth photo post of the Cunningsburgh Show this Wednesday. 1.Entrance to the Wool tent 2, 3, 4.Oliver's fleece judging skills put to the test again 5, 6, 7. Some prize winning Shetland Sheep 8. Charlie Simpson and a herring feast 9. Cool footgear and a woolly dog 10, 11. More beautiful Shetland Sheep posing for the camera 12. Tractor love 13, 14. Elizabeth Johnson of Shetland Handspun's beautiful things 15 and 16. Yummy wool in the sun (which decided to make an appearance after weeks of grey, woop woop). x
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Rachel Antonio
Beautiful pieces in Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight from Rachel Antonio. Have a look at other pieces from Rachel's gorgeous new collection, which is beautifully crafted from British materials, on her blog. 1 Turtle neck tank top in shade 812 Maxi scarf in shade 2 and 54x
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Love Wool UK
Jamieson & Smith are delighted to be a part of Love Wool UK - a free style celebration of wool that any individual or group can take part in, just by signing up. We've specially commissioned two patterns for free download, which you get as a lovely little present by signing up here. 1&2 Inga Scarf in Shetland Chunky 3&4 Sissal gloves in 2 Ply Jumper Weight
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Olly on the telly
We were on the Scottish national news last night. Watch here, and skip to 16 minutes and 30 seconds in to get the full story of our recent wool price rise from Oliver, Mary Isbister (crofter and wool grower) and Mary Kay (amazing lady and knitter).Delighted! Untitled (Domestic Interior) (2000). Photo: Sarah Quinton.
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A Jamieson & Smith wedding
1 Old Shetland Wedding 2 Shetland Lace Wedding Veilsource: Shetland Museum and Archives Photo Library Derek (wool man, crofter and creator of the soon to be released Jeannie) got married last Friday. Cue a last hour of cake and presents and cups of tea (and no doubt some whiskey and beer) round at J&S HQ.
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Gulden Leeuw
So we left off on Friday on our way to the Gulden Leeuw for breakfast. It was docked just below our stores, and was very lovely. So lovely, in fact, that Oliver and I briefly discussed how amazing it would be to have a kind of floating extension to the yarn store, in the form of a beautiful Tall Ship. Brilliant plan. Anyhow, back to reality. All the ships left for Norway yesterday after being delayed for a day due to bad weather (shocker). The skyline looks strangely empty. But... there are still lots of visitors around, including Varian Brandon who popped in to see us with her current projects this morning. x
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Tall Ships
The Tall Ships Races kick off in Lerwick today. We can hear the sound checks from the stages along the harbour ahead of the first concerts this afternoon, and there are lots of visitors and sailors milling around. It's all a little bit exciting!Truth be told, we've been looking forward to this weekend for a little while, and Sandra couldn't help but design a special edition Tall Ships Toorie pattern featuring sea, sky, sails, boats, anchors and the obligatory Shetland flag! xPS. This post is also a warning that this woolly blog is going to turn into a blog full of sails for a couple of days. You can spy on all the ships arriving in real time (and this morning's well timed rain shower) with Promote Shetland's harbour webcam (hint: town centre cam is probably quite amusing from mid afternoon into the wee small hours).
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