Jonathan >

Today, being still on the lion side of March, was back to wind and rain after yesterday’s fine weather. As the month progresses, days like this will become fewer, and the roaring will give way to the more restful sounds of skylarks and lapwings.

So, today was one for indoors work, and with the re-opening of the Hebridean Woolshed’s garden shop looming ever closer – usually at or just before Easter – the pressure is on to complete ongoing projects and get more stock into the shop.

Today I twisted up some skeins, weighed them, and put on the paper bands with descriptions and prices, and took them up to the shop. Here’s one each of the recent new designs, before that ceremony commenced.

Denise >

What J has omitted to mention is that the darker blue yarn – 80% Extra Fine Merino in two shades of blue, 20% natural black Shetland – has been promised to daughter Catherine, in Navarra. J himself rashly promised to send enough for her to make into something for all of them – for herself, for Ion and for little Enaut! So, in truth, J will be busy this week replacing that wool with a new batch – quite likely more of the same!

As for me, today I’ve made – from start to finish – three cushions (‘pillows’ for many reading this) with a Harris Tweed tartan (the obverse) that’s being used for the first time. The colouring is warm and subtle – the colours of autumn amongst the woods and hills. The plain-coloured Harris Tweed reverse is a favourite! Buttons on the reverse are covered with the tartan.  Hopefully customers will like these as much as other designs I’ve made!  The cushion cover is 40cm square.

The Hebridean Woolshed : New design for 48cm square Harris Tweed Cushion – Obverse

The Hebridean Woolshed : New design for 48cm square Harris Tweed Cushion – Reverse

The price for this cushion cover is is £40 excl p+p.  In the Hebridean Woolshed’s garden shop, cushions are normally sold with a quality cushion pad, for £45.

Jonathan >

D is occasionally paralyzed by doubts over the choice of colour, and at such times nothing I do or say seems to reassure her.

The facts should convince her, though : never has any cushion design failed to sell just as quickly as any other of the same type and cost.

This evening I’ve indulged in the luxury of browsing our bookshelves for something new to read that catches my fancy – not merely one from the pile of books already read by D! I’ve settled on In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great by Michael Wood [BBC Books]. Just reading it, I can hear the distinctive character of his voice – its depth, intensity and rhythm – which makes his TV programmes spell-binding. Michael Wood’s an historian with an amazing talent for story-telling, transporting viewers and readers through time and space.

I shall fall asleep dreaming of encounters, in the Hindu Kush, with the blue-eyed descendents of the generals and soldiers of Alexander, or discovering his long-lost tomb!