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Previous news stories
18 September 2013
Old News stories
Cat and Fiddle book launch - Jackie Morris
Mill Restoration - new shop
New arrivals - Heddle and Bobbin the mills latest employees
Starlight Sailor book launch - Jackie Morris
Hampton House - new stair runner for Hampton House, Maryland
2013
September
Song of the Golden Hare
The inspiration for this book began with Jackie Morris having a strong desire to write a story featuring hares. From this first thought followed many hours of her sitting in cold fields watching hares yawn, stretch, run and leap. During these moments Jackie captured the essence of wild Hares and has transformed their behaviour into this incredible tale.
It is an original story that sounds like a folk song. Echoing the Pembrokeshire landscape this book crosses the borders of song and story. It is a picture book for all ages. Song of the Golden Hare tells the story of a boy who can't sing but loves music, of his family who guard a secret, of a golden hare, of a journey, of a hunter and his two great hounds, one silver and one black. It's about love, song, courage, patience, rebirth, renewal, hope and trust.
How to order a copy
The book goes on general sale in October but you can pre-order a copy from us now as they will be arriving during the week of the 9th September. The book costs £12.99 + P&P.
Please email anna@solvawoollenmill.co.uk and include the following details:
Name
Address
Contact number
Which book(s) you’d like to order
What dedication Jackie can write for you.
If you would like to join the mailing list for details of future books.
Special Prize Draw
For every copy of Song of the Golden Hare bought from Solva Woollen Mill you will be entered into an exclusive prize draw to win this beautiful and unique painting by Jackie.
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Many thanks for those of you who have ordered a copy - your entries have already been added.
Launch Party for Song of the Golden Hare
For the launch of this very special book we are holding 2 events at Solva Woollen Mill.
The first is on Friday 13th September; 6pm - 8pm when Jackie will be here to sign books, chat about the Golden Hares and answer any questions you may have.
Then on Saturday 14th September she will be here from 12pm – 4pm.
From 12.30pm she will read an extract from the book and talk about her experiences of seeing hares in the wild.
For more details have a look at our facebook page Solva Woollen Mill
Best wishes, Anna & Tom
August
Hi Everyone
Exciting news for Summer 2013, Jackie Morris’s latest book is now available from Solva Woollen Mill.
It’s the delightful tale of “Little Evie in the Wild Wood”.
Here’s what Jackie says about Little Evie on her blog:
“Little Evie stepped over the stile and into the wild wood. She followed the pathway her mama had shown her when she was young….”
And in the heart of the wild wood Evie finds something dark and wild and beautiful with great big ears, all the better to hear her with.
This isn’t Little Red Riding Hood. As a child I hated that story because the wolf gets killed and the wild is the evil. This is rather a book about a child going out into the world for the first time. Evie has a task. She has a basket to deliver for her grandmother. Perhaps it is an apology for all the fear that has been fed to children by the original tale of Little Red.
This book is as magical as Jackie’s previous books and slightly different this time as she hasn’t done the illustrations.
Instead she asked her good friend Catherine Hyde if they could work together. Catherine and Jackie have known and appreciated each others work for a long time. So Jackie wrote the words and Catherine has painted them into a beautiful dark world of woodland magic.
We’re very lucky to have pre-release copies for you all to enjoy before the book goes on general release in August.
If you would like Jackie to dedicate the book to anyone let us know by email or if ordering online then add the details into the special instructions box when you order.
Ordering in the UK
For those who live in the UK and would like who’d like to order a copy in the UK follow the link to our webshop.
http://www.solvawoollenmill.co.uk/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=221
For Orders Abroad
You will need to email the following details so we can work out the cost of postage:
Name
Address
Contact number
Which book(s) you’d like
Any dedication for Jackie to write
If you would like to join the mailing list for details of future books.
Competition
For everyone who buys a copy of Little Evie you will be entered into a prize draw to win this watercolour and coloured pencil study by Catherine.
Launch Party for Little Evie
This will be on Saturday 10th August 2013 here at the mill.
Fingers crossed for a warm summer’s day so we can sit outside and enjoy the summer sun.
We’re delighted to tell you that both Jackie and Catherine will be joining us. They will be here from 4pm when Jackie will read from Little Evie and Catherine will sit beside her drawing as she talks.
Jackie will chat about her inspiration for Little Evie and how it was collaborating with Catherine and having someone else for the first time illustrate her words.
The evening will continue until about 7.30pm so there will be plenty of time for everyone to chat to them both and have books signed.
Look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you at the launch on the 10th August.
If you need any more details let us know – anna@solvawoollenmill.co.uk
2011
Jackie Morris Book Launch - “The Cat and the Fiddle - A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes”
Jackie has in her library a well thumbed book of nursery rhymes from her own childhood which is still as well loved today as it was the day she unwrapped it many moons ago. She has captured with her amazing illustrations the magical beauty of many familiar as well as lesser known rhymes which can be enjoyed by everyone young or old.
We’re delighted to be able to offer you the chance of joining us at the mill to meet Jackie and have the opportunity to purchase one of these fabulous books before they go on general release later this year.
All are welcome to join us on Friday 16th September 2011 from 5 – 7.30pm when Jackie will be at Solva Woollen Mill meeting people and signing any of her books purchased.
An opportunity to own an original piece of art by Jackie Morris.
To celebrate the book launch Jackie has once again kindly donated a unique drawing to be raffled during the evening.
It is the original sketch for “Pussy cat Pussy cat where have you been” that Jackie drew before deciding on the illustration which is in the book.
Raffle Tickets will be given, 1 ticket per book purchased, and a prize draw held towards the end of the evening for one lucky person to have the opportunity to own an original piece of art by Jackie.
For those unable to attend this event signed books can be purchased from our online shop.
Any books bought between now and the day of the event tickets with the individuals’ details will be entered into the draw.
If you need any further details please contact us.
Look forward to seeing you all on the night,
Tom & Anna
T: 01437 721112
E:launch@solvawoollenmill.co.uk
25th April
So one week after the shop being opened and much to the relief of those tired cyclists dying for a cuppa and other regulars who have missed the lovely homemade cakes, our new 'Dye Shed' tearoom is also open. This part of the mill has not previously been open to the public, so it's been really exciting renovating the area and bringing it back to life. We've reinstalled the flannel press on the plinths above the fireplace and put back one of the last remaining dye pots we still have that Mr Griffiths would have used for dyeing the wool. Diane Evans kindly lent us books about plant dyeing from which our super talented friend Sara Crisp has painted a display of local plants and the colours they would have produced to dye the wool. It's such a relief to have the tearoom open and all looking fabulous - again thank you to everyone who has helped make all this possible.
18th April
Finally after 21/2 years of planning, organising, digging, concreting, building, painting oh and continuing to weave; our beautiful new shop has opened. We've completly transformed the original mill building from 1907 into a lovely open light space which we're really proud of and hope all those visiting will enjoy. We've been lucky enough to have a host of good friends and family who during this time have been truly supportive and generous. Either providing hands on building work, many a welcome supper, constant encouragement when it seemed we'd never get it finished and towards the frantic end late night take aways, weekends of hard slog, picnics galore and the construction of many a box or two. To these people we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks without you all this would have been a far harder project to tackle and not nearly as enjoyable... thank you all xx.
2010
November
Jackie Morris Book Launch
The Ice Bear is Jackie’s latest enchanting, magical book.
Set in the pristine polar arctic regions back in a time when people and animals lived together in harmony, a bear-child is stolen away from his mother. A hunter and his wife find the child and, wrapping him in sealskin, they sing him songs of the ice, the wind and the great white bears. One day the child wanders off and a bear comes to take him back to his mother. But by now the hunter is on the trail, determined to kill the creature that has taken his child!
Tom and I are proud and excited to be able to host our second book launch for Jackie’s latest book.
All are welcome to join us on Saturday 27th November 2010 from 5pm onwards when Jackie will be at Solva Woollen Mill meeting people and happily signing any of her books purchased.
Own an original piece of art by Jackie Morris.
To celebrate the launch Jackie has created a unique Ice Bear drawing.
Raffle Tickets will be given, 1 ticket per book purchased, and a prize draw held towards the end of the evening for one lucky person to have the opportunity to own an original piece of art by Jackie.
For those unable to attend this event signed books can be purchased from our online shop.
Any books bought between now and the day of the event tickets with the individuals’ details will be entered into the draw.
If you need any further details please contact us.
Look forward to seeing you all on the night,
Tom & Anna
T:01437 721112
E:launch@solvawoollenmill.co.uk
April – Restoration
We had hoped to open the tearoom for Easter, not looking likely with only a few days to go!
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March – Restoration (the big dig)
The final clearing takes place before we remove the old concrete floor ready to lay a nice new dry one.
February - Restoration
The tearoom has been closed so that we can remove the kitchen.
January - Restoration
Work is progressing with the project to restore the old mill buildings.
Now that the snow and ice has finally cleared we have been to get back to the many jobs that need to be done before we can move the shop into the original mill building.
2009
We are pleased to have been asked to host an exclusive book launch of Jackie Morris & James Mayhews' fabulous new book 'Starlight Sailor'. Come along on Friday 30th October, 6.00-8.30 pm, meet Jackie who will be signing first editions of Starlight Sailor along with her other popular titles.
September - After a year of hard work by our patient architec Wes Spees and team we have finally been granted planning permission, the three stage build will ultimately replace our existing weaving shed allowing us to give members of the public better access to see the weaving and the extra space we need for production.
August - we now have a signed stock of Tell Me A Dragon by Jackie Morris
June - Solva CP school attends a drum workshop at the Mill.
April - we had an unusual visitor, now named George and too young to be out on his own he has gone to England to be raised until he is old enough to come back and be re-introduced on a Welsh river.
February - We ship a stair runner that is to be fitted in the White House of the Confedracy
2008
November - Launch of fabrics by Vanessa Arbuthnott, the full range of Vanessa's fabrics can now be purchsed in our shop.
August - New arrivals - two new kittens, Heddle and Bobbin, start their training.
June 25th - Royal Visit, great excitment, after months of secret planning their royal hignesses the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrive at the Mill.
April - We receive a commission to weave floor rugs for Prince Charles's new Welsh home 'Llywynwormwood' .
January - Vanessa Arbuthnott launches a range of floor rugs that we have woven to match one of her most popular patterns.
2007
After 5 years of preperation and sampling we finally weave and ship the replacement stair carpet for Hampton historic house in Maryland, USA. The carpet will be installed in time for the grand re-opening of Hampton to the public in November 2007 after two years of major works.
To celebrate the mills centenary we throw a party, friends and family were invited, they came, celebrated, drank and watched the newley restored wheel turn for the first time.
January 31st - The mill has been open for 100 years.
