ABOUT ARDBEAG
Hand spun and woven in the South Highlands...
Ardbeag textiles are a sustainable slice of South Highlands life, handspun and woven in Scotland using locally sourced fleeces from small farmers.
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Each of my unique pieces is made in a 300-year-old farm cottage perched on the edge of the Gare Loch, inspired by the beautiful landscapes I can see from my loom and spinning wheel. My husband and I have renovated our home sustainably and sympathetically to its history and the nature around it, and my crafts have the same ethos at their core.
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I source my fleeces from small farmers, delighting in the range of natural colours and textures offered by the different local breeds. I hand-sort my fleeces by colour and usability, and spin them into thick, soft skeins at my spinning wheel.
I soak the skeins five times in fresh water, which we then use to water and nourish our garden. I hang my clean skeins out to dry over bushes in our garden, allowing the sweet heather-scented air of the hills to mingle with the earthy lanolin smell of the wool.
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Once the skeins are dry, it’s time to weave. I use a traditional floor loom, set up in front of a picture window so I can watch the changing landscape as I work. I hand-finish each piece, tying off the tassels carefully to ensure durability. Any trimmings or leftovers are kept for future projects or stuffing cushions.
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Our crafts could, after generations of service, be returned to the earth entirely. They are made without chemical dyes, soaps, or plastics: just natural Scottish fleece, like the strands caught on fences or lining the nests of our garden birds.
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My wish is to work in harmony with the beautiful lochside landscape around me, drawing on its endless inspiration and sustainable resources, and weaving wonder into every rug, shrug or throw I create.
My textiles are truly one-of-a-kind, each as wild and rugged as the woods and mountains on our doorstep.
I sell them to small boutiques and galleries and online via my shop However, most of my work is made on commission - so get in touch to discuss what you'd like!
