So the vision all begain thanks to a chance conversation between Louise Millard the organiser of Cotswold Wool Company and Victoria Heritage a local sheperdess based in the Cotswolds.
Not everyone is lucky enough to travel to the multiple shows that are available around the UK and as the Cotswolds is synomomus with wool it made great sense to put on an event in the local area.
It turned out the "event" would span three days over the Bank Holiday Monday at the end of April.
The event had no funding at all so the achievement is brilliant. Their was a real mixture of stall holders from yarn dyers, to an illustrator's, weavers and a stand explaining about the history of the woollen industry in Stroud.
I will just touch upon a few of the stall holders I spoke to in depth in my blog, so I hope you enjoy.
The main venue for the stall holders was in the Cornmarket, based in the centre of Cirencester. The history behind the Conrmarket dates back to the mid 19th Centurary. Built in 1862 for both social and commercial premises within the town.
Now owned by the Wildmoor Property who also own the Kings Head Hotel next door, the building has incredible sauna and a vault underground which is just amazing place to relax.
Over the course of the three day event there was a huge variety of stall holders, some staying for the full three days and others for a day or the two days.
There was a hugh variety of stands from being able to buy embroidery threads, to bespoke artwork, handmade cards and of course yarn!
James established his business back in 2020 and has gone from strength to strength.
He has worked on collaborations, been interviewed in a multitude of magazines and has dedicated fan base that support and encourage his work.
James's dream is to own his own studio and be able to create a hub for creative and like minded people to all be together.
His colourways are inspired many things including the pop industry and he has just produced a bespoke colourway inspired by the artist Taylor Swift.
His jorney started after attending a workshop run locally where he learnt to dye yarn and he has not looked back.
So if your looking for bright beautifully dyed yarn head to James's shop.
Like James, Kerry went on a yarn dyeing workshop to at
The Wool Kitchen based in London to learn her trade.
Kerry works from her home in Frome, Somerset where the yarn is dyed in here kitchen so a real cottage industry.
One of Kerry's etho's for her business is that her fibre and dyes should be as close to her home as possible.
She sources her yarn from
John Arbon based just 80 miles from her down in North Devon.
The dye's for the yarn are from her own foraging that she loves to do, using Rhubarb Root, Nettles and Madder Root.
So if your looking for natural dyes with a soft, gentle tonal colour range look no further than Kerry.
The owner behind Bungled and Botched is Ally.
Based in Stroud Ally attended an Art Therapy workshop in her local town and found that, as many people who knit it was a great source of help with mindfulness.
The process of just sitting and concentrating and knitting.
So she came up with the brilliant idea to create a kit that included everything you would need to make a cushion that she had designed.
The kits come with all the yarn needed, a comprehensive booklet showing you how to make the cushion.
Then the beads if that is what the design needs and instructions on how to make it.
For Ally it has helped her personally and her aim is to spread the mindfullness ability that comes with just taking time to switch off and craft.
I have been following Lorna of Fibre Valley Arts for a while now, I just love her illustrative art work.
Again based in Stroud Lorna establised her business in 2022.
Working from her kitchen table at home she captures both knitting, crafting and the gentle slow pace of life.
Lorna love's living in Stroud with the countryside on her doorstep, the history surrounding the area and the connection to the wool industry.
To create her artwork she uses a mixture of Gouche and Acrylic.
The duo that is Speckle and Stripe Yarn is made up of Kim (with dark hair) and Emma.
Incredibly this duo work in two different towns, Kim lives in Bristol and Emma is based in Cheltenham.
The background to the choice in names is just brilliant. The "Speckles" are from Emma's mindset of yarn dyeing and the "Stripes" are Kim's forta.
Their infulences for dyeing again are both so different with Kim drawing influence from travels in Alaska and Canada and Emma's from trips to India with the bright vibrant colours.
Kim's thought process is "scientific" and Emma's is like "a free spirit".
They both work from there homes, but the dream is to have there own studio.
The
Stroudwater Textile Trust was only at the show one day, but goodness what a fascinating font of information they had to share with me.
Back in the 1400's Nailsworth had within a two mile radius more woolen mills than anywhere else in the UK.
There are still two working Mills in the area, one is Dunkirk and the other is Giggs Mill.
These are the only two remaining working mills in the area.
They are responsible for the "Stroud Scarlet Red" uniform that is worn by the Town Cryer's across the land.
Along with the uniform for the British Milatory that is seen outside Buckingham Palace.
The yellow fabric that wraps the tennis balls used at Wimbledon comes from the Mill in Cam and the Green cloth that is used on snooker tables is also all made in these Mills.
After all that walking and talking it was a great releif to head to the cafe called
Diversitea which is in the Cornmarket.
Oh my goodness I had the most delicious cake combining Plum and Coconut. Not a combination I would ever have thought would work, but it was so tasty.
The town of Cirencester is a condensed town with a real diverse selection of shops and a regular market in the square.
The church
St John the Baptist Church was built in part from the profits of the wool industry and is a church I will be visiting and writing about in more detail in the future.
I adhored this little mouse that my friend managed to capture (due to her very helpful extra height to mine!)
Incredibly whilst walking around the park we came across this Cormorant just happily stood there airing out it's wings.
I had a magical three days over in Cirencester and am really looking forward to returning in the future to see what else I can explore.
Of course I will be looking forward to next years Cotwold Wool Weekend and hopefully being involved in bringing craft magic to many more people.
Until next time..........
