Number 69: Rare Sheep, historic Weaving Mills and 'Lord of the Rings'.
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| Stansborough Mill and Store visit. |
Shawni has a wool throw that has caught my eye and she mentioned Stansborough to me. The story of creating and registering a New Zealand wool breed, the 'Stansborough Grey's', sheep whose wool is unusually silky, soft and lustrous.
I was excited to visit their store and mill today, out of the rain and cold.
We were completely enthralled by the business. Stansborough still use Industrial Revolution Weaving Mills from the north of England; bobbins flying, metal clanking, wood thumping, gears grinding; absolutely amazing as we watched the apprentice weaver making up a bolt of fibre for Gandalf scarves.
Stansborough's unique fibre created by their grey sheep was used to costume most of the main characters appearing in the Lord of the Rings sagas.
We met Cheryl, the creative genius behind the business, she shared her story of the farm, keeping a breed of sheep from extinction, learning to weave on the monstrously huge mills, designing her gorgeous range of throws, blankets, shawls and textile heirlooms, which are all innovative and highly prized worldwide and her client list is jaw dropping.
And now me, I now own a twill weave Stansborough Grey throw.
