The story of the Healing Seashore Shawl is a conversation, and this is what this case study reflects. Megan and I worked closely together to get exactly what she needed in this profoundly healing piece. She wrote such a beautiful testimonial about the commissioning process that I couldn’t resist including it in this post. Read about the plants, the people and the sheep who contributed to the making of this project.  The Seashore Shawl was a special project for me because of my closeness to the recipient, who has been a dear friend for many years. At all times I consider my work to be healing, both for me as a maker and for the person who will receive and use the finished piece. To be commissioned with this primary quality in mind was a real honour. I enjoyed taking into account the requirements that Megan generously shared with me so that we could get it just right.  Megan : From start to finish, commissioning a special shawl from Gaelle was easeful and special. She very thoug...

A throw of impeccable provenance Over the years Sarah Hobhouse from Colonsay Wool Growers, Balnahard Farm, has bred her wool sheep according to the highest welfare standards, refining her approach over the years to achieve the best fleece quality and produce yarns of excellence with superb provenance. Sarah explains, “Sheep are predominantly Blue face Leicester crosses—crossed with Hebrideans for the brown and grey shades. For the cream yarn the sheep are about two thirds Blue Face Leicester, leaving the last third either Blackface or Lleyn for the hardiness that they need to live outside on Colonsay.” Sarah adds that some are also Teeswater crosses, but she is phasing those out, as their long fleeces are not adapted to life on the Scottish hills, where bracken, heather, and sand accumulate in the fleeces and makes it impossible to keep them in the condition required for producing wool. The Isle of Colonsay - Photo by Sarah Hobhouse For the making of this piece I asked Sarah to send me...