Dear fellow crafters and textile workers, valued customers, dear friends,
“Spring is different but hope dies last” would be the appropriate description of the situation outside, I guess.
Here at the Flax Mill we have been holding back on the extensive annual gardening work, just done the absolute minimum to be ready “to go” anytime. Hermann is very frustrated about this.
I think it’s more than time for a few news-items from inside the mill and from the world of linen-making:
– The number of visitors during the first two months of 2020 was unusually high. February is always one of our busy months with customers completing their stocking up etc. Despite the absurd weather that hasn’t changed in 2020.
– Some mails came recently with people wondering whether we are making cloth only now and no finished products. We introduced a good lot of new fabrics (mostly linen) in our last two newsletters but for those who might have got the wrong impression: We are well stocked with finished pieces!
* Various new designs of Irish Linen handkerchiefs are now on the shop-counter, the presentable “box of 3” is very liked.
* Scarves and shawls, one of the “evergreens” in finished pieces, got an “overhaul”, a number of new designs by myself and Emma are now ready and woven.
* I have put a lot of emphasis on hand-embroidered table–ware recently. All one – offs and very hard to keep here (table cloths, runners and napkins) but there’s always the one or the other jewel to be had.
And finally:
We have (as we write this) 30(!!) different hand-woven linen table runners and a good dozen of handwoven blankets on stock – any visit to the mill is worth it!
Flax Mill Outside Flax Mill !
We are more active outside Ireland this year with two shows away from these shores.
-Flax Mill will be the “featured manufacturer” at the
25th International Linen Days
in and around the famous baroque castle of Rammenau near Dresden.
The weekend event (last August weekend 2020) draws makers and visitors from literally all over the globe. Of course our readers will get all the details soon.
-It looks as though we will also go to London for the
Selvedge World Fair 2020 .
One of the most bespoke events in the UK will experience a joint presence of Flax growers/scutchers “Mallon Linen”, the “Ulster Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers”, “Flax Mill Textiles”, the Irish Linen Weavers and finisher/embroiderer Deborah Toner.
All details on this soon as well.
– It’s no longer a secret, that we are also going to put up the large “from Flax to Linen” presentation/working demonstration we have staged at the Shane’s Castle Steam Rally in recent years. It will be even bigger this time and you’ll get all the details on this in about 10 days!
So much for today – for all of you who are women: Have a great International Women’s Day!
For all our friends: Hope to meet up very soon,
Love over Gold
Marion