Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Harris Tweed


Harris Tweed is hand-woven in the Scottish Isles of Lewis and Harris, Barra and Uist. During 1846-7 Highland potato famine, Countess of Dunmore played a big role in promoting and developing Harris Tweed as a sustainable local industry.  

Tweed has traveled a long way. Tweed started as “tweel” Scots for twill. Story goes that round1830 a London Merchant misread tweel for tweed, and 182 years later it is still Tweed popular than ever.




Ballalan village, isle of Lewis

Sheep shearing by hand

Loading dye vat by hand

A loom circa 1960


Color samples

Yarn










Dr. Who in tweed




Credits: The Harris tweed authority, google etc.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Dad


These last few months have been crazy; we have gone through tornado outbreaks, hail storms, earthquakes, health scares what not, but all hell broke when I lost my father.  Some friends who had lost their fathers, said life is never the same after that. They were absolutely right. Time is a great healer, but do you ever get over this loss? 

I am glad he lived a very active and full life of 85 years, and was happily married for 55 years to my mother. Hope we all live good happy and purposeful lives like he did.

Best wishes.