Bailey's Book

The recent publication by Mark & Sally Bailey, "Hand Made Home", includes a selection of items from Damson and Slate:

Cushions
Publisher: Rylands, Peters & Small

Apple Green Waffle Throw



Amroth Throws

Herringbone Weave Throws
140 x 190cm

Christmas shopping?  Of course you are.  Damson & Slate have a selection of warm, 100% wool throws available in a choice of our favourite colours - Slate, Damson, Oak, Barley and Bilberry Blue.

Damson & Slate at Burford Garden Company



Gelert Linen Cushion - Damson








We are so pleased that the Burford Garden Company, Burford, Oxfordshire - http://www.burford.co.uk/ - are now stocking items from Damson & Slate.



You can find a selection of cushions in our new linens and really useful doorstops in fabrics such as mixed tweed.









Mixed Tweed Doorstops













Gunpowder, Treason and Plot



Menig Bach

 Bonfire Night on the 5th November - having a party?

Our Menig Bach (Little Gloves) are fingerless mittens. They keep hands warm and toasty but leave fingers free - just perfect for striking a match and lighting the touch paper.

Designed and handknitted in Ceredigion, using local organic plant dyed Shetland wool, we have a range of beautiful colours for you to choose from.

Halloween



Lampshades

 Staying in on Halloween?  Light up your home with our new range of lampshades - choose from linen and woven tweed.

September in the sunshine



Weave Cushion

 Decorex ends today and we have so enjoyed meeting everyone - it has been so busy! 

The sunshine is here to stay until at least the week-end, so it is time for Damson and Slate to sit, relax, mull it all over.  Thank you everyone.

Decorex International - 25th-28th September



Damson and Slate will be at Decorex, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London - http://www.decorex.com/ - from Sunday 25th September until Wednesday 28th September.

We are pleased to announced that Damson and Slate will be launching their range of printed linen designs from the "Welsh Saint" collection, inspired by vintage Welsh weaving patterns and quilts.  These fabrics look fantastic when mixed and matched in a single colour way. 

There are 4 designs available:     Gelert - Briog - Collen - Teilo

and are in 8 colourways:

           Oak *  Sand *  Mouse *  Damson *  Heather *  Rust *  Slate *  Bilberry Blue

Further details about these fabrics can be viewed on our website  http://www.damsonandslate.co.uk/.

Autumn in the wings ....



Celtic Beret

 The stormy winds have headed this way and we have had lashings of rain but we are pleased to see that the swallows are still with us.  Obviously, hats are just the thing and our customers have been flocking in to buy from our collection.

We have also been very busy getting ready for Decorex trade fair, held at Chelsea, London,  from 25th September.   More news about this event in future bloggings ......



Mohair Beret - natural dye - Logwood



Summer Solstice

The first day of Summer brings lashings of rain - never mind, we have Wimbledon and Glastonbury to enjoy. 

Those of us working at the shop are going to be out and about enjoying local events.  Tonight we are heading to Newport for a beach walk and then on to a pub for supper.  Naturally, we will be wearing our Damson and Slate hats and scarves!

Fathers' Day week-end

Beannies

Are you organising something fun for dad this week-end?  The weather looks rainy (again), in these parts anyway.  Perhaps a new beannie is just the thing and we have a selection - such a lovely gift.

Bank Holiday 2

Felted Fustic Cushion

Cool temperatures and rain this Bank Holiday but that didn't stop us getting out and about, enjoying country pursuits.  The shop was closed on Monday, so we made our way to Brecon to inspect the lavender field where we had assisted in planting out MANY plants.  All looking healthy and thriving.

Some of us visited Llynfi Textiles in Talgarth.  Llynfi were holding an Open Day at their studio, so we were able to catch up, admire their designs & buy some of their wonderful, natural dyed, yarns - http://www.llynfitextiles.co.uk/. 

Overseas shoppers



Mohair Shawl

 The month of May beckons the early holidaymaker, as we have seen in the past few days at the D&S, Narberth shop.  A tour group from Cananda and the USA visited us last week.  The ladies were spinners, weavers and knitters and thus were attracted to Wales and our wool heritage.  The tour was over subscribed, so a 2nd tour party is to be arranged for September.  A warm welcome is awaiting them.

Other visitors to the shop from the USA were representatives from an American lifestyle magazine, Victoria Magazine - http://www.victoriamag.com/.  Photos were taken of the interior of our shop with a promise of a feature in the magazine's travel section.

Finally, just to remind you that the Chelsea Flower Show commences next week - the public viewing opens on Tuesday.  We don't know what sort of weather we will be enjoying but just in case it is chilly, don't forget your shawl ...... and maybe a bag to carry your lunch, or a plant purchase or three.

May Day Anniversary



Linen Bucket Bag
Multi colour

 What a busy time it has been - back-to-back Bank Holidays, summer weather and a Royal wedding.  The shop was closed for the wedding so that we could enjoy a party too. 

Damson and Slate enjoys a birthday this month, as we opened in  May 2009.  Happy 2nd anniversary D&S!

Easter holidays

Are you enjoying the warmth of the sun - just what we want for the Easter break. Pembrokeshire has its wild and breathtaking coast and countryside just waiting to be explored and this weather is perfect for walking and picnics.

The Damson & Slate shop will be closed on Good Friday, 22nd April, open as usual on Saturday 23rd April (10 - 5) and closed again on Easter Monday, 25th April 2011.

Enjoy your chocolates.

Fun in the sun

Yes, we are back from Wonderwool Wales, safe and sound.  We enjoyed the hospitality of friends of Damson & Slate (thanks N & B) and made new friends at the show.  The weather was just perfect - sun, sun, sun.

We have new items in the Narberth shop -  willow garden trugs & plant frames, pottery and slate cheese boards, linen aprons and our own natural plant dyed yarn.

Yesterday, Lucy Owen from BBC Wales News and Miss Wales were spotted in our favourite Narberth cafe, Plum Vanilla.  In our view those lovely ladies would look fetching in any of our garments.  Grey bobble necklace for Miss Wales?  Stunning.

Builth Wells here we come .....

D&S are off for the week-end to Wonderwool Wales and the weather is downright wonderful - blue sky, warm, warm, warm and we have also spotted our first swallows.

No need for that brolly then.

Wool Fest



Menig bach - little gloves
Hibiscus

 The clocks went forward but the glorious sunshine disappeared!  Never mind, our selection of woollens will keep us cosy and warm.

On Friday afternoon, we are off on our travels to Builth Wells as we will be visiting Wonder Wool Wales - http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/ -  Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April.  Fleece, fibre, yarns, notions, spinning, weaving, felting and some sheep!  Wonderful.

Springwatch in Narberth

Felted Bobble Necklace
Blues

Hedgehogs in the garden, woodpeckers drumming, warm sunshine in March, time going forward -  yes, we feel certain Spring is with us.




Oatmeal Mac Hat
and
Felted Bobble Necklace

 Our knitters, felter and natural plant dyer have been busy over the Winter months, so that now we can add a wonderful new Spring collection to Damson & Slate's shop and website. The felted bobble necklaces, shown here in blues and pink, are just so popular with customers!

In addition to our familiar style of knitted hats, there are  new designs to adore, not only in the neutral colours we know you love, but also in a variety of natural plant dye colours.  Just look at that madder red, mohair hat - vibrant, warm, stunning.  Our model is lovely too.

Mohair Hat
Madder Red

Japan

Damson & Slate's thoughts and good wishes are with the people of Japan.

Photo shoot down on the farm

It has been a busy week in the shop.  We enjoyed the company of a work experience student from the local school.   Paperwork was sorted, shop was tidied and visits to suppliers were made.  Thanks for the chocolate biscuits and hope it was fun for you too Gemma. 

A national magazine visited Damson and Slate to take photos of the set up here in Narberth, for an article planned to be published next January.  We turned up with our knitting pins, looms and hand dyed yarns and sat around, laughing and chatting.  What a lovely job we have.  Thanks to the boss for the scrumptious lunch.

Dydd Dewi Sant

March 1st on Tuesday and that means St David's Day in these parts.  Daffodils are in abundance - enjoy your welsh cakes and bara brith!

Half Term Week

It's February half term week and we are looking forward to meeting new (and familiar), visitors to our shop in Narberth. We know Spring is around the corner as we have seen glimpses of snowdrops and daffodils amongst gardens and hedgerows.

As you can see, the colour in our collection of apple green throws and cushions just looks so refreshing.  We just had to place a selection in our shop window display.





Dyn ni'n hoffi bwyd mor. Amser fish on Friday!

Here at D&S we just love to be healthy and wise, so have decided to eat fish for our suppers on Fridays.  We buy our fish from http://www.thecornishfishmonger.co.uk/ and it is scrummy.  Try some for yourselves.

Despite the weather no longer feeling freezing cold, you still need a warm hat to keep you snug.  Our sale ends on Saturday 5th February, so come along and treat yourself - 15% discount!!

Here we are again, happy as can be .....

Yes, it's back to work time.  The Winter break is at an end - we have endured seasonal influenza, day time television, waved goodbye to Christmas/New Year guests and stared at our empty bank balances.

To cheer everyone up we have re-opened the shop with a spruced up, new look, together with a generous Winter Sale.  Most of the shop products have a 15% reduction off their original price.  We also have a Sales table with a selection of items, individually priced.  We want to see you - so come along and do some Sales shopping!

Nearly forgot - this January we have also been joined by 2 new members to our respective homes - Bonny & Fizz.  No, not D&S babies but beautiful, adorabale, rescue dogs. (OK then, they are our babies).