Limited Edition
Size: 64x74" exclusive of lush hand finished fringe ends
Weight: appx, 4 pounds.
As much as Scotland has taught me to slow down, I still hate being late. I was booked on the Oban ferry, yet, instead of being sensible and taking the A9 I decided to cut across Scotland from Blairgowrie to Oban via A827 along Loch Tay. I was expected at Ardalanish, Minty & Aeneas' breathtaking Soil Association member and organic farm on the Isle of Mull. Stuck intermittently behind a series of caravans moving woefully slow, of course I was late for the Mull ferry. Though, had I not traveled this route I wouldn't have found John Lacey (I had been searching for someone with his particular skills for almost two years), nor would I have had the pleasure of finding the Fortingall Yew or Dochart Falls. I was gob-smacked when I finally got to Mull and Ardalanish. From my visit Minty sent me away with three samples (choosing was nearly impossible) for public relations efforts and, of course, I had to buy a blanket for myself. There was never a doubt from the moment I saw them that they would be called the Colours of Scotland.
Shortly after my visit to Ardalanish I received an email request for assistance in choosing a special housewarming gift for a gentleman (in his eighties) who had just moved to Alberta, Canada. I asked for some background information. I was sent these words the gentleman had written, "...the usually brown, dry hills are totally clothed in a green mantle, again, reminiscent of Scotland, all that is missing from this picture is heather…" I knew my 'Iona Harbour' blanket would now be going to editors and the 'Heather against the Sky' blanket would be going to Canada. Many weeks later Runrig's Live at Celtic Connections 2000 playing on my stereo, Hearts of Olden Glory was being sung. The last time I heard it was live at the 2005 Celtic Connections in Glasgow as a guest of Runrig (thanks again guys). I started to sing along in my apartment, aching for Scotland. Suddenly, tears falling, I had clarity, read the lyrics on our Scotland pages to understand.
About the blankets, Bob Ryan and Marcus Stacey are weavers, master and learned apprentice respectively. Their warp threads (see detail image at right) are a tantalizing paint box of colours; yellow of Hebridean primroses, pink from her wild foxglove, bright leaf green of her fern fronds in spring, the grey and white of her clouds, a blue-y purple of her lupines. Inspired selection of colours (at most three) of wool representing some aspect of Scotland's wildly varying vistas are then chosen for the weft threads; the moss green of Iona marble paired with a deep plum red of yet unopened heather, the turquoise of Iona's waters with a pearl grey, a cobalt blue reminiscent of the waters in the harbor of Stornoway. Woven together the warp threads now offer mere flecks of Scotland's kaleidoscope, and before you is the tangible evidence of a painters' eye rendered in wool. Not, under any circumstance, mass repeatable. Bob and Marc choose only enough wool to make two of any colourway based entirely upon what they saw on any given day. The Colours of Scotland blankets weigh approximately 4 pounds, so be environmentally responsible, turn the thermostat down, put flannels on the bed along with your new blanket and be enveloped in snug Scottish warmth.
At any time there will be six Colours of Scotland from which to choose ~ each unique, and utterly representational of some aspect of Scotland’s landscape. (Strike last sentence and combine with below.
In respect and reference to the apprenticeship program at Ardalandish your purchase serves to benefit the Thistle & Broom Scholarship.
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