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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 rugs and varafeldurs 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!
