Currently, I am on a short trip in Melbourne so while poking around a local post shop (which by the way is full of fun gifty things from which I left with a handful of coloured pencils and a Miss Giggly impossible towel (don’t ask!) I was quite delighted to see displayed a novel by local Australian author Dorothy Johnston - a story set in 1950/60’s Geelong following the life and experiences within a town whose industry circled primarily around an industrious wool mill heading into a declining industry.
In Dorothy’s acknowledgements at the beginning of the book she thanks “the many employees and ex-employees of Geelong’s woollen mills who gave their time to talk to me”. It really showed in the writing. I fully enjoyed the attention to detail. “I fell asleep thinking of music and designing, and was aware of nothing till Highlands’ wake-up whistle beat into my dreams. The whistle won in the end; yet always in my dreams there were the colours, the lines, the patterns, coming together as I wanted them.”
Initially, the unfolding of the story felt like the development of a polaroid where you are transfixed to see which detail would emerge next. I later realised it wasn’t a photograph, but series of moments more reflective of the consistent whirl of a loom itself, revealing its story, and sometimes abruptly changing as a yarn snaps or a bobbing flies. “‘Shuttle!’ I shouted loudly as I could. ‘Shuttle!’ My shuttle had flown right out of my loom and cracked against the wall, sharp as a bullet.”
I will think carefully about this book and the crafted personas within. The wool industry in Australia and New Zealand DID change. Mills closed, families and towns forced to evolve. Dorothy, keep weaving stories and I shall practice ducking quick enough.
________________________
One for the Master by Dorothy Johnston
#foreverblankets #nzwool #newzealandwool #staywarm #labellove #woolhistory #nzwoolmills #kiwiana #graphicartsnz #buylocalnz #newzealandmade #australianwriter #australianwool
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We’re so excited to share the news that this coming Thursday night we will be releasing the gorgeous new “CATHEDRAL COVE DREAMS” travel rug - number three in our Adventure Awaits collection.
Referencing one of New Zealand’s stunning landscape treasures, “Cathedral Cove Dreams” weaves in the earthy tones found in the cavern that defines this iconic beach to create a blanket that is sure to delight on any journey - indoors or out!
In large travel rug size of 150cm x 170cm this blanket is fringed on the top and bottom edges.
In keeping with the heritage of these blankets, they are finished off with our very own “Adventure Awaits” embroidered label. As an early purchaser you stand to receive one of the ‘First 50’ off the production line. Each of the first fifty "Cathedral Cove Dreams" travel rugs are individually numbered, making them extra special.
"Cathedral Cove Dreams" travel rugs are $279 each.
To be one of the first to purchase CATHEDRAL COVE DREAMS make sure you are signed up for our monthly newsletter on the website (you can find the link at the top of the website www.freshretrolove.co.nz )
Then on Thursday 7th July at 7pm we will be sending you an exclusive subscriber only PRE-SALE link.
This pre-sale is for 72 hours only, after which we release them for general sale to the public on our website.
So, if you love the look of this earthy, outdoors, vintage inspired wool blanket, now is your chance to secure one for yourself or someone special.
Adventure Awaits wool loves!
Kathleen and the team at FRL
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Lucas de Jong from Seven Sharp and Kathleen Green (me!) from Fresh Retro Love discus the awesomeness of New Zealand wool blankets.
What a month February was! When 2022 rolled around we weren't expecting to find ourselves sharing the Fresh Retro Love story on the telly! As you can imagine we had a lot of activity following the Seven Sharp interview which aired the 9th February. If you are a new subscriber as a result, an extra special welcome to you!
If you missed our wee moment, head on over to our Facebook page where you can watch our chat with Lucas de Jong.
Things have settled down a bit now, so we thought it was time to pop up for air and say hi and bring an update on the latest at Fresh Retro Love.
REFRESH BLANKETS: It is so wonderful that many of you have embraced our service of making your own favourite wool blankets fresh and new again. You've been keeping the couriers very busy with drop offs! A Refresh includes wash, patch repairs, blanket stitching, label repair and a complete brush on both sides. If that sounds like something you're interested in just send us an email with a photograph of your blanket so we can confirm it is the right sort that we can help with and then we will let you know where to send it! Easy as!
RETRO: Restored blankets for sale continue to be of interest. The tricky thing with these is we only ever have one of each available so they tend to go very quickly. For ease of finding them we add freshly restored blankets to the ‘Recently Added’ section of the website. You can also find it about halfway down on the front page.
(Pro-tip: we post a photo of each newly added blanket up on our STORIES on Facebook and Instagram, which is a great way of staying up to date with the very latest additions).
BRAND NEW: If you love a splash of retro inspired colour in the softest of lambswool, check out our collections of NEW WOOL original Fresh Retro Love blankets.
After the interview we sold out of "BERRY" and "GRAPE" blankets (both will be back available early Winter) and are VERY close to selling out of "Pink Misfit!" too (not to be repeated at this stage).
This leads us into some exciting new designs in production so keep an eye here for our next release in our 80’s inspired “Quiet Riot” collection (first colour clue: anyone love PRINCE?), and also our “Adventure Awaits” travel rug series (earthy outdoorsy!).
If you sign up for our Newsletter, you will have the inside scoop on these releases have the opportunity to be amongst the first 50 blankets purchased and secure a numbered blanket.
As the evenings start to get cooler we send you lots of cosy wishes and many thanks for your all your support, comments, emails and encouragement. And an extra big thank you for taking Fresh Retro Love blankets into your homes.
Warm regards,
Kathleen & the team Fresh Retro Love.
Fresh Retro Love NEW WOOL blankets in this photo (From top): "Tim Finn's Pants", "Pink Misfit!" (now sold out) and "Black Sand Sunset"
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Who remembers making a blanket fort as kids? Our own constructions were pretty simple - two or four high back chairs with a blanket slung over the top. It was enough to make us feel like we had created our own magic place separate from the world of grown ups.
So in true stay at home style are announcing a fun competition to MAKE A BLANKET FORT and BE IN TO WIN your choice of one of our beautiful Winegum Collection blankets Berry or Grape valued at $299
Here are the details:
Create your fort - it can be as simple or elaborate as you like. The main prize will be awarded by prize draw.
Creative efforts will also go into the running for one of two prizes of $120 store vouchers which will be selected by our team.
Send us your photos! Either send your photos to info@freshretrolove.co.nz , tag us in your photos on Instagram or on Facebook share your photo in the comments. By sending us your photos you are giving us permission to share your creations to our socials.
This is open to those living in New Zealand and prize sent to a New Zealand address.
Fresh Retro Love Blanket Fort Competition is open for the duration of Level 4 Lockdown in New Zealand. While we are in Level 4 (the whole country or in part) the competition is open. Closing date will be announced when the whole of New Zealand is in Level 3 or less.
You may enter more than once (maximum of three times per person), each fort needs to be unique.
This competition is not just for kids! Adults set up a blanket fort in your dining room, bubble beverages are allowed. Flatmates, we know you are creative, show us your eclectic styling. Paw family members… yes a blanket fort can be small and snuggly.
Don’t forget pillows and snacks!
Good luck blanket fort creators. We look forward to seeing and sharing your photos. Please share among your friends too - bring the blanket fort back!
Fresh GRAPE Love and Fresh BERRY Love blankets - first prize, you choose your favourite!
#bringbacktheblanketfort
#blanketfortnz
Fort Photo via Pinterest
Fresh Retro Love are pleased to be partnering with HUG Charity (Happiness Understanding Giving) this winter. As we are now fully in the colder months for many the challenge is keeping their families warm and healthy due to the plunging temperatures and extra costs of power during winter.
The benefits of wool are many including the immediate and safe warmth it provides. Having a woollen blanket can help to bridge the gap in keeping the electric heating costs down. Warm evenings and cosy sleeping an essential for all children, elderly and families.
This winter HUG are on a mission to collect 600 wool blankets that are then distributed to families in need.
Fresh Retro Love will be making our own contribution with wool blankets donation but we are also happy to assist YOU to be a virtual wool hugger by giving you FREE DELIVERY for any blanket sent to the HUG address purchased from our website. Coupon code HUGDELIVERY
The address for HUG (for orders or your own contribution) is
Nutrient Rescue
228A Waltham Road, Sydenham, Christchurch, 8023
For more information about this kind and generous charity their website is www.hug4kids.nz
Thank you HUG for the great work you are doing helping those who need assistance keeping warm this winter.
Thank you to those who have already generously contributed!
Be happy, healthy and warm wool loves!
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"Hi Kathleen, I have been lucky enough to come across these two pastel blue wool blankets manufactured by Aranui and having read that you like blanket labels a lot - whether you can tell me a bit more about them. (I know you are super busy though)
I know you did mention that the wool mark symbol came along a bit later so I would guess the newer label has the wool mark. In addition the label with the man on the horse looks to be an older style and the blanket seems much thicker. The 22-NZ-66 is referring to the fibre size? Assume unregulated in the older blanket or perhaps did they have summer and winter weights?
Both blankets are unused condition.
Anyway would love to hear what information you may have, fellow blanket enthusiast.Thanks in advance.
~Catherine"
I thought I'd share my response for other label love readers!
Thank you for your question Catherine. Aranui Mill in Christchurch is one that I haven't found a lot of information about. According to my notes it had a relatively short but productive business from 1950 - 1970 and at its height employed around 200 people. I would agree with you that the first label with the horse would be the older of the two. The older labels are almost always embroidered and interestingly often had more intricate imagery like this one. Roslyn labels are a good example of this. As you mentioned it is also thicker style (though lots of 70/s and 80's blankets are lovely and thick) but from what I can see it is a classic blue/cream check was very popular in the 50's and 60's.
The second label has a more 60's style font, clean and fresh lines were very popular in advertising of that time. It also has a lot more info filling the space which was a common trend. A printed label, while yours is nice and bright sadly often the printed labels didn't last like the embroidered ones.
I love the slogan "luxurious warmth without weight", a great tagline that a number of mills had versions. Pre-duvet there must have been a demand for lighter and summer weight wool blankets.
The Woolmark logo was invented 1964 so gives a nice short window of dating your blanket between 1964 and 1970.
The Woolmark Licence is interesting because I was led to believe it was micron/country/fibre length (the labels where this appears doesn't often say Woolmark Licence just the printed number). It would seem more likely this is the number the Woolmark company gave when this product was approved as certified. Therefore shortening the date again of this blanket to 1966-1970. Again an assumption that the 66 refers to 1966. Also worth noting that metric wasn't introduced until 1976 so the mm for fibre length doesn't fit mill dates.
It's an interesting comparison and poke about to be sure! I wish I had more confirmed answers. It is an area of interest that I wouldn't say I'm an expert on but would definitely would like to be.
If there are more informed reading this and can add to this collection of musings I welcome your comment. Thank you for your question Catherine and enjoy your beautiful wool blankets.
Kathleen
Just over a week ago wool fans from around New Zealand were treated to the latest Rom-com film A Love Yarn, set right here in New Zealand.
The story centres around Sophie Dale, an American woman who has made New Zealand her happy home. Sophie owns a delightful yarn store where she shares the joy of wool and knitting with her fellow townsfolk. All this gets tipped upside down after learning her top supplier of yarn, King Farms, is stopping production. Oh noes!! Enter the charming city styles Samuel King who has travelled from New York to audit the business model of the farm and start the sale of its assets. Desperate to keep her shop going, Sophie convinces Samuel to give her two weeks to learn the ropes of yarn spinning and raise enough money to buy the equipment herself. Things get a little complicated when matters of the heart start to also knit together (that was my attempt at a wool pun! eep!).
This week I was lucky enough to chat with Becca Johanson in Canada, the very talented screenwriter behind A Love Yarn. In our conversation she shares her story of how A Love Yarn came to be and her own real life wool passion.
Becca at a market event with her wool eye candy
Thank you for chatting with me Becca and congratulations on the exciting release of A Love Yarn. Your main character Sophie has a cheerful yarn store and I see you also have a colourful yarn business - how fantastic! Please share with us a bit about yourself and your wool adventures.
I have my own yarn dyeing business, Puzzle Tree Yarns, which I sell online as well as at Wet Coast Wools, a shop here in Vancouver that used to be run by a friend of mine (Her name is Glenda and I named a character in the film after her!) I don’t have my own brick and mortar location, but perhaps one day! Rent in Vancouver is ridiculous so for now I dye in a corner of my home and am lucky to be able to make that work. I've been dyeing for 3 years this July, which is very exciting!
In addition to Puzzle Tree Yarns is screenwriting something you do on a regular basis or was A Love Yarn your first? What led you to screenwriting?
I’ve loved writing since I was a kid, but I’ve been screenwriting since 2013, when I graduated from University with a degree in film production. I wrote and directed 8 short films over the years but when I had pancreatic cancer in 2014 and a daughter in 2018 it started to be clear that writing was a better avenue for someone who maybe couldn’t handle hectic set life anymore. It was hard financially for a few years because it’s a tough business to break into, but eventually I got an excellent agent and sold the first romantic comedy I ever wrote, which turned into A Love Yarn! For me writing feels like the lowest stress and highest creative output job in film, which really vibes with my personality. Other people may disagree, but my experience with screenwriting has been very positive. It might be the types of films I’ve chosen to write…who could be stressed out writing about romance and sheep??
Your yarn dyeing business and screen writing are both industrious careers, how do you integrate both with busy family life?
Since I have two jobs I have to juggle the yarn aspect and the writing aspect. I value my family time so highly that I’ve really tried to be as efficient as possible with my work. I dye yarn about two mornings a week, and when I’ve got script ideas I put them down for later and if they start to come together I start mapping them out and by the time I get to the script stage it only takes about two weeks to get a first draft. My partner and I swap off childcare depending on who has plans and work that day (he works from home too) so it’s really flexible at our house. If I need to take a call I will usually take it in the car, because its the only quiet place sometimes with a three year old and a giant dog running around together!
A Love Yarn is a Canadian/New Zealand made film, are there similarities between both countries in regards to wool farming history? One of the themes in your movie is around the mill ceasing production, this has been a reality in New Zealand over the past 20years - is that something that has occurred in Canada as well?
It certainly has happened here as well. Canada is lucky to have a few very good and very respected yarn mills (shoutout to my favourite mills, “Briggs and Little” and “Custom Woollen Mills”!), but it still isn’t a super profitable industry from what I hear. I’ve also heard farmers say they have trouble getting a good price for their wool, and keeping animals is expensive (I grew up on a cattle ranch, but I imagine the vet/feed costs are similar). There are smaller operations starting up since the advent of “mini mills”, like “Longway Homestead” has in Manitoba (I recommend you follow them on Instagram! Lots of cute sheep pics and milling videos). The equipment they use is from the same company used in the movie, I believe.
Homespun, character Sophie's welcoming yarn store (filmed in Matakana just north of Auckland)
The original screenplay, was it set in New Zealand or was that something that was adapted by the film company?
So, this is a funny story. The movie has changed a few times; originally it was a Christmas movie set in the States! And the first step was to make it a Spring rom-com. The shoot was planned for Montreal in May 2020 but Covid put everything on hold. I was surprised in July by the production company saying they were instead going to be shooting it in New Zealand in August. New Zealand was perfect; almost no Covid, absolutely breathtaking scenery, and lots of sheep! It got a script edit by a New Zealand writer at one point, to make it fit the location. I love all the local flavour they added to it!
Here at Fresh Retro Love we loved the wool references and wee knitting accidents as design elements - around here we call them features not flaws! We also noticed a few of the wool facts. Did you consciously include these wool references and benefits? Sharing the good news of wool is so awesome, to see in and hear it in a movie is wonderful!
It was definitely on purpose! I tried to include as many facts and terms as I could to really fill out the world and make it more about wool and fibre crafts. Because yarn and wool are such big parts of my life I wanted to make sure anything I wrote about it was accurate. There are a few lines that ended up in the final cut that aren’t quite right, but considering how much wool content there is and how many other non-fibre-aware people it had to go through in the process, I consider the final product a win!
Is there a shift in Canada back to locally made products and sustainable buying? Knitting ticks so many boxes from producing something with your hands to being beneficial for mindfulness and anxiety reduction. Is this something that you are seeing as becoming more important to the consumer?
During the pandemic there have been a lot of people taking up knitting or get back to fibre crafts as a way to slow down and even before this I have noticed a lot of emphasis on making and mending. Most of my business is from people wanting to buy local yarn!
At the time of this chat the movie hasn't yet screened in Canada. What are your hopes for it and the way it comes to life? How do you feel about its release?
I’m a tad nervous, since it’s my first feature! So far the overall review is a positive one. But I hope the release and subsequent airings of the film make it so as many people as possible can see it— Not just knitters/crocheters etc, but I’m hoping maybe it will turn people onto fibre crafts who hadn’t considered it before. There are so many benefits of fibre crafts and being a part of the fibre community! In particular I’m excited for my grandma to see it…she’s been phoning me asking about it for months. Hallmark-style movies are her favourite types of movies, and I’m learning from speaking to people that almost everyone loves a feel-good rom-com. It pleased me to no end that I can make something that is so widely viewed and enjoyed.
What inspires you each day? What do you love most about the screenwriting process and your yarn business?
A lot of my inspiration (for both of my jobs) comes from watching what other movie and shows people are making. Though my creativity really blossoms when I’m given something to do and my only job is to make it beautiful; be it bare white yarn, a script idea, or even just my day to day activities with my daughter. I do oil painting on weekends and garden a little almost every day. I always need to be making and tending to things; that’s what I love!
During the writing process what kind of research would you do? Is your wool background second nature or was there additional work that you did?
Most of the wool info was stuff I picked up over my 10+ years knitting. I am in some knitting groups and you learn so much from being in that space. You learn about dye lots, different pattern techniques, dealing with moths, and less practical things like the “Sweater Curse” ( it’s hard to forget that one!). Some of the milling info I did research online. Most of the farm scenes were directly inspired by my own life growing up; bottle feeding baby animals, fixing water troughs, and learning to use farm equipment are just a few of the things that ended up in the film.
Going forward can you imagine A Love Yarn 2? Perhaps something else on your writers desk? What are the next steps for Becca and your screenwriting/yarn biz career?
I must admit (with slight embarrassment) that I sent the producers a pitch for the sequel right away, just in case they want to move forward with number two. I would be delighted to continue with it! There are so many interesting things left to explore not only with the wool/sheep parts of the story but also the Sophie/Samuel relationship. It’s out of my hands, but a girl can dream!
Oooh yes, I’m excited about the possibilities for Sophie and Samuel too! You have our vote! Thank you Becca, it was a delight to chat with you and share with us some of your creative process. Again massive congratulations on the movie release A Love Yarn, we loved it and fingers crossed we get to see more of Sophie and Samuel. All the best to you and your family and Puzzle Tree Yarns!
Some of Becca's colourful hand dyed yarn selection
If you missed A Love Yarn’s initial screening on TVNZ it can be viewed it On Demand right here. Grab your favourite cosy blanket, a hot chocolate and your knitting (for the full immersive experience) and enjoy!
]]>I purchased a copy of a Kaiapoi Woollen Mills receipt a while back and during an office tidy last night came across it again - the tidy got promptly put aside as that rabbit hole suddenly seemed to more enticing - go figure!
It's hard not to be hit with the first thought that this humble receipt seems more like art. The font alone is amaze and the attention to detail shows a real pride in their work. This was no half effort! The mill viewpoint image I’ve seen before on the occasional label and shows what they wanted to present to the world. It's impressive!
The wording: “Bought of The Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Co Ltd” is of particular interest and quite a mouthful really. Titles are important as name changes usually correspond to a timeline within the mill and is often helpful when determining a blanket's age.
Mill image blanket label with similarity of style to the receipt
The date on this receipt is, wait for it.... 9th June 1911 I start to feel a little eerie when I realise I’m researching a receipt that is 110years old almost to the day!! This feels significant but since I’m not sure what to do with that thought after a moment of wow we move on…lol. (To the day!)
The receipt is made out to a Mr. W. Moriarty, so I ask Google if it knows of such a person. Not really expecting anything to result it turns out Google does! There are a couple of newspaper advertisements as W. (William) Moriarty owned a business unsurprisingly called Moriarty’s and was a bootmaker who also sold soft furnishings, clothing, groceries and alcohol. Quite diverse!
Moriarty's advertisement, source Papers Past
It is amazing what you can learn from Google, a little more searching discovers a photograph of Mr Moriarty’s grave site (!), he died just a year after this receipt was made out at age 76. This suddenly feels a little too personal so we go back to the receipt… What did Mr. Moriarty buy?
Around this part I get a little lost. I won’t rewrite it all but perhaps you can follow along using the image above.
3 10/4 A4 Blk ts
The blanket lover that I am hopes that it might mean 3 blankets at size 10ft x 4ft (single?) - the A4 makes no sense since it certainly isn’t referring to a metric page size. Equally Blk probably means black and ts… goodness now we are in code. Can we hope that it meant blankets? Google doesn’t know either. Do you?
The receipt goes on a little clearer with 3 Epsom O’Coats (Epsom Overcoats!) and two different style trousers. Pricing at the right with unit prices (shilling/pence) and then line total and grand total in pounds shillings pence.
Epsom Overcoat by Paul Smith
For further interest I found an inflation calculator, long story short the first item (Blk ts) would work out to about $80 in today’s money per item and his overall purchase that day was approximately just over $800.
Further info from the receipt show that the mill itself located in Kaiapoi had Warehouses in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Greymouth, some that I have seen photos of, further confirming Kaiapoi Woollen Company was a big business for its time.
Also interesting that transit of goods was at the buyers risk rather than the common of today that it is the supplier responsibility to get items to the buyer safely.
There is a little tiny bit of writing in the bottom left of the receipt under the image. My needle working eyes (I just aged writing that!) can't make it out so will have to come back to that with a magnifying glass.
And finally of note what I assume was contact details (?): Telegrams “Kaiaponia” Wellington. Kaiaponia seems to be something of a made up word that Google doesn’t recognise. Perhaps it works a bit like a phone number/account name in the sending of Telegrams. Again I'm still learning, so more information needed to confirm.
So while there is still a few gaps I will file it for now as an interesting bit of ephemera that gives a little more insight to one of our beloved mills and the customers they provided for. Mr William Moriarty was part of that story evidence shown by his simple order of (possibly) 3 blankets, 3 coats and 8 trousers. I wonder if he would find it surprising to know it was of interest here and now a full 110 years later.
**Note: If you can see errors or add info to my learnings please message or comment. Thank you for following along :)
Greetings wool friends,
Rug up! For May is the month to shelve the shorts and settle in for hibernation. In this blog update we feature ‘This NZ Life’s’ article about Fresh Retro, and give you an update on our growing business. And Sunday 9th is extra special, because while we celebrate the amazing mums out there, we will be bringing our newest wool release into the world!
Winegum Collection Blanket #4 is here!
You asked for purple and we listened. So, get those ordering fingers ready. Introducing…
Fresh GRAPE Love
Starring colours:
Hat – navy sophistication
Aster – vibrant purple
Lilac – Aster’s quieter friend
Peony – a rich merlot
Vanilla – warm subtle sweetness
Green Apple – a crisp contrast that pops
This stunning blanket is an entirely new wool product – fresh off the production line. Single size at 150cm x 200cm - ideal for a single or king-single bed blanket; a super generous snuggle blanket; stylish picnic blanket or the inevitable ‘hut’ slung over two dining-room chairs.
Made of softest lambswool possible, these blankets are created using the latest milling technology and are 100% Pure New Zealand Wool.Each blankets’ top and bottom edges are stitched with strong cotton in your choice of Apple Green, Magenta or Fresh White. And in keeping with the heritage of these blankets, they are finished off with our very own “Fresh Retro Love” embroidered label. $299 each.
Join an exclusive club: For each new release, we commemorate the first 50 blankets sold with hand-embroidered numbering on the label, and a 'First50' swing tag. Get in quick!
"Fresh GRAPE Love" Release will go Live at www.freshretrolove.co.nz. Sunday 9th May at 7pm
*All orders on received on Sunday will be dispatched Mon 10th and Tues 11th May.
Our Wool Journey is Getting Attention!
We were recently interviewed by the cool folks at This NZ Life/NZ Life & Leisure Magazine who have penned a wonderful article on our back-story and we are just a bit chuffed. Read it here:
http://bit.ly/FRLarticle
While you are there pop over to their WIN page - we are giving away a "Fresh PACIFIC Love" blanket valued at $299!
The Winegum Collection
Many of you know about our Winegum Collection ("Grape" is too new for this pic!) These are brand new blankets, designed and manufactured right here in NZ. The "Fresh Berry Love" blanket (bottom of photo) has just about sold through - another run due June for those of you who haven't added one to your collection. There are reducing stocks of Fresh Citrus Love and Fresh Pacific Love, so get in quick if you are thinking of purchasing these.
Old School is Popular!
Our restored blankets are one-offs and vanish faster than a toupee in a hurricane. To avoid disappointment make sure you are following us on Facebook and Instagram Stories to get pole-position on your faves.
https://www.facebook.com/FreshRetroLove
https://www.instagram.com/freshretrolove/
Growing Team
Increasing popularity combined with the cooler months, we have hired two new bods to help us keep up! What a nice problem to have, and a warm welcome to FRL Crew Samantha and Stacy. It’s a joy to have you on board!
As you know, we sell nationwide via our website and recently held a market stall at the well-attended General Collective market which saw blankets start their next journey to new homes. We are so happy to meet new and repeat customers enjoying the wonderful world of wool.
Finally, we are continually humbled by the support and love from around NZ and abroad, and want to extend a hearty thank you to you all!
Stay warm and well,
Kathleen, Adrianne & the team Fresh Retro Love
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Last night I was doing a bit of wool mill research (as you do on a Friday night) and I found something that stopped me in my tracks! It’s a historical New Zealand Census for 1910. In it had some extremely specific numbers that made me so excited!
So here’s where I got up to:
1910, effectively 111 years ago. Which is only 39 years after the first wool mill (Mosgiel Woollen Mills) opened and pre-WW1. At that time there were 11 mills operating and our population was just over 1million.
Blanket pairs 67,201
Shawls & Rugs 49,073
Holy moly! 67000 PAIRS
So you could say Shawls, Rugs and Blankets combined that EACH mill was producing almost 17k of blanket items that year.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this info that is now taking rent in my head.
I think I get a bit caught up when find an actual firm piece of information because SO much of my findings are based on observations, making connections and deductions. A fully fledged piece of info is a marker I can then build on and create the bigger picture. Why? Maybe I’m just bat-wool crazy. Or maybe because if I can understand better I can serve and share better too.
It’s safe to say the world 100 years on has got a hella lot smaller, our options are greater and NZ imports are huge. Our technology has increased, globally production is off the charts but here in NZ manufacturing has plummeted in many areas beyond just wool. There are so many complicated parts of this conversation. Much around labour costs, labour conditions, environmental areas beyond my expertise and knowledge.
I find it a little heartening to know what was. How capable NZ was at that time and the following 70ish years. I know there is a shadow side of working conditions in some of these factories. It only takes a browse of the Census as a whole to be confronted with frankly rather horrific language and social stigmas of the time.
For now I will muse as I repair… Are we ready for progress forward in taking back some of our capability? Will enough of us say no to the cheap and easy and instead opt for workmanship well done? Are our emerging workforce even interested in this type of work or is the call of Insta-famous too much?
I am hopeful. Also 67,200 and ONE Pairs!!
If you are a regular to our Facebook and Instagram Stories you may have seen a couple of days ago we shared about a TVNZ program, National Treasures that screened on Monday night.
While it was the Kaiapoi Maori Chief car rug that adorned the Queen's knee on her visit to New Zealand in the 1950's that we sat on the edge of our seats to see. We were pleasantly surprised by the segment not much before featuring the wool shed at Burnview Station in Herbertville on New Zealand's East Coast, carved with the names of the shearers and wool hands of generations before.
During the interview with Mavis Mullins, she shared her story of her four generations of family that have worked the station including her grandmother, Mavis Barclay who worked there as a wool classer in the 1930's. Mavis spoke with passion and knowledge of her family history and connection to the work ethic that brings her to the farm today. She reminded me, YES sharing the story of wool, the positives and innovations that creative New Zealanders are doing is going to keep turning that tide to a wool resurgence.
"Shed is steeped in history"
"There is something really special about walking into a woolshed"
"Burnview Station has a proud history"
"New Zealand was built on the back of a sheep"
"It's actually a story about nation building of Aotearoa New Zealand. We just have to listen to it"
"For us this is about whanau, we worked as a family, and you know, that kaupapa still kind of resonates today"
"...give pride to people and industry"
"...we have a value proposition"
And from the presenter: "I also have learnt that wool is probably going to be our future. e hoa ma. I mean, it's sustainable. It's good for the environment."
"So perhaps in the future we should return to wool"
It filled me with pride and excitement to hear these things. It's the story we share here at Fresh Retro Love, it's the story of our nation's wool farmers and the story that will change things for generations ahead. Let us not lose our sheep nation status, let us be known for our beautiful wool production and the innovative and quality items made from this wondrous fibre.
Keep sharing YOUR story of wool, big or small and watch that tide come in.
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National Treasures is available on TVNZ Now for viewing. This episode was Season 1, Episode 4
Our Fresh Retro Love (FRL) Refresh service is open for February! (and probably through till Spring).
This is where you send us your favourite blanket/s and we work the FRL magic.
Bullet point process for the skim readers: :)
Cost for a Single-Double NZ Wool blanket Refresh is $50 per blanket plus delivery, Queen/King $100 per blanket plus delivery. Specialised repair projects price on application.
Process includes wash, stain removal, invisible darns or patch repairs, blanket edge restitch (in colour of your choice) and a complete rebrush.
Refresh service does not include collectible blankets, numerous moth hole repairs, satin replacement (though I can remove and replace with blanket stitching), highly marked items, thinning blankets, Aircell or mohair blankets.
If you are not sure just send me a message I'm happy to discuss!
Auckland based enquiries I may be able to assess in person.
It would be my pleasure to make your loved wool blanket fresh and as new again!
Restore to Relove
Kathleenx
Happy New Year!
I hope the start of your New Year has begun full of fun and fresh beginnings. We were lucky enough to have a week or so break with a few days away. If you have been watching our Social Media you will have seen some of our blanket photos coming from different parts of Northland. New Zealand really is such a beautiful country!
We have lots planned and already well underway for 2021. January puts us right in the middle of the Festival season. As I write this we have just done and dusted the Kumeu Hot Rod Festival and have just enough time to regroup before the Auckland Folk Music Festival at the end of the month.
It is so good to meet our customers in person - I get quite happy when people tell me they follow us online! SOOO much work goes into photographs, captions, staying consistent - don't get me wrong, I love it - it IS a lot over and above actual blanket work (who knew repairing blankets involved so much writing & photography?!..hehe). So when I meet with you'all in real life and you have been seeing and resonating with what we are sharing I do a little happy dance. I think Vaughan is even getting used to being recognised these days!
This week we had our design meeting with the wool mill for our new wool blanket, number four in our Winegum series. Squee! No secrets are being let out about that one. Blanket number three is due end of February and we can't wait. We've already let the cat out of the bag that it's going to be in blues - I will add here for my lovely Blog readers that in true Fresh Retro Love style it is going to be bold and bright with a quirky retro twist.
February I will open up our Refresh service up again - that is, where we work some Fresh Retro Love magic on your blankets. More info on the booking process to come so start popping any aside that you might wish to make as new again.
Along with some of our regular market events and restored blankets regularly added to the website there are a couple of other fun ideas up our sleeves while remaining flexible. If 2020 taught us anything, it is who knows what will come next. Like many at the start of a new year I've been thinking about goals and themes - some years I've had them and other years nothing really stuck. This year though I've got a phrase and it's sitting with me like a friendly thunderbolt "Do small things well". Every blanket wrapped, every email replied to, every card made, every social media post sent... small things, always done the best we can, adding up to bigger things that make a difference.
Thank you for following along with us into 2021 :)
Wool loves
Kathleen
Today I've been working on a beautiful Gordon Clan Tartan. As I took note of the history that I could piece together, I felt this rising in my chest that I always feel when you touch on something bigger than the task at hand.
My job is to repair wool blankets. It sounds so simple and functional. Yet as I write I feel moved. This blanket is carefully woven in the Gordon Clan tartan design. That alone represents hundreds of years of family pride.
The blanket was created by Roslyn Woollen Mills - one of our very first Wool Mills which opened in 1879. Interestingly by Scottish immigrants Ross & Glendining (there is a fascinating article about them by the way on the NZFashion website). It would have been manufactured pre-1969 as Mosgiel bought out the Roslyn Mill and blanket labels after that date generally include a Mosgiel reference.
Roslyn Woollen Mills manufactured it for Bing Harris & Co Ltd another early New Zealand company that supplied many products including clothing and footwear as well as soft furnishings such as wool blankets for 157years. Now closed in 2015 but talk about a significant contribution to our retail history.
Three not so small factors combined in just one wool blanket. Suddenly this blanket feels bigger and more important that just a 150 x 170cm square of coloured fabric. Our history comparatively to other countries is so short and within this blanket is evidence of strong family history, many years of employment and the resulting contributions to the community. Today I think about the history, the industry and the employment. Tomorrow it will be something else - the wonder of wool, the exciting colours, the kindness to the planet. Whatever way a wool blanket is taking my thinking it is never just.
Note: Blanket availability in this photo - under review by customer. We have tartan blankets come available regularly and are happy to take your request.
Hi wool friends,
November is upon us and you can certainly feel a ramping up into the end of the year. I thought I'd send an update as we head into the summer season. It may come as a bit of surprise to know this is our busiest time of year as wool blankets are typically associated with winter but the as the full on market season has now kicked off things start to get a little crazy! Between now and February Fresh Retro Love will be at a number of market and festival events.
As you can imagine, there is a little bit more of a juggle (than usual!). Don't worry, you will continue to see new items added to the website and we are filling customer requests as matches come up.
We love these events as we get to meet so many of our wonderful customers in person and get to talk about beautiful New Zealand wool. Come along and say hi - free blanket pats!
Blanket selection at our recent Labour Weekend Market
Finally with everyone being a bit more out and about have you got your car set with your Summer essentials? Check out our last Blog post for 15 Reasons To Always Keep a Wool Blanket in your Car.
That's about it for now!
As always thank you for all your support and encouragement. Hope you are well and look forward to be of wooly service to you soon.
Kathleenx
Do you keep a wool blanket in your vehicle? My answer will come as no surprise as as a resounding YES, but considering I carry SO MANY blankets in my car the hardest part is actually keeping it in there!
To son or helpful partner "Can you help bring in the blankets from car?" Invariably our personal one gets snagged in the process. Douh! I tell you it is wrenching when a crazy blanket lady such as myself has to sit on the grass. The horrors! hehe.
There are lots of great reasons why keeping a blanket in your car is super useful or even essential. Here is our top fifteen reasons to keep a wool blanket in your vehicle:
It will come to us in huge lengths so we will still need to turn it into blankets, every day I look puppy eyes at the courier to see if he has my labels... Lucky for him it's contactless drop off cos when he does drop them off... well, there will be hugs.
What else, actually there is a whole bunch of things but I won't bore you with the details. Thank goodness for my brother-in-law Bert who is good at figuring out IT stuff. Needless to say any holdups aside we a looking at couple of weeks - so hard to know! Everything seems to take longer but we are on track. It's our first! So bear with us, its going to be worth it.
So that's about where we are at right now. There will be lots more details to come... but to answer a few questions we have been getting from you all. Our new release blanket is 100% New Zealand lambswool and made right here in New Zealand every step of the way. It is Single/Large Throw size and we will have a pre-order as soon as we have our first one to show. Pricing and delivery dates will come at that time. We want to keep it as affordable as possible and are also implementing payment options through our website to make easiest for you. All updates will be shared on the various Socials - plus sign up for our newsletter and you'll never miss the latest info.
Our commitment to you is to bring you a quality product that you can use and love and then pass on for generations! We love that your purchase and support becomes part of our collective Kiwi wool story.
oooohhhh.... one other thing... since you have read this far I'll share with you a delightful tidbit clue.... scroll down..
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This blanket is the first part of the WINEGUM COLLECTION.... sqweeeee!!!! watch this space!
Wool loves
Kathleenx
Adrianne and Kathleen plus a whole lotta Spring wool
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The number one question I get is How do I wash my wool blanket? This is a super fair question. Somewhere along the way the message has become confused that washing wool is hard, difficult, troublesome, long or just basically runs the risk of ruining your wool blanket. Nothing could be further from the truth! There is one rule... remember it and you don't even have to read the rest.
COLD WATER ONLY
That's it!
However since that would make the world's shortest Blog Post I'm going to give you a bit more information and things that I have learned from literally washing HUNDREDS yes actually hundreds of wool blankets.
Let's start from the beginning with a few qualities of wool.
Wool is durable Did you know a wool fibre can bend 20,000 times before breaking - that is a lot! Many of these blankets are 40years young. Don't be scared of washing it, it's not going to keel over because you put it in the washing machine.
Wool is naturally dirt repellant Wool's natural fibre sheen and moisture repelling qualities it also means wool blankets don't get dirty quickly like other textiles and it also means they dry super quick. Put it to the test! Wash your normal clothes and a wool blanket on the same day (not the same wash! LOL) and I guarantee the wool blanket dries first. The idea that you need lots of time for a blanket to dry is a MYTH.
So how often should you wash it then? My rule of thumb in our home blankets is once a season. or if you spill something on it. Light usage in a spare room? Just air it out for a day in some warm sun. Blankets from my teenage son's room? Definitely at the end of the winter season!
How to wash a wool blanket
You've decided to give it a freshen up wash. Firstly give it a bit of a shake and check over the blanket for any marks. If there are any, treat it with your preferred stain removal product and let sit for an hour or two. Avoid rubbing the wool to remove the mark.
Place in your washing machine - yes washing machine - and set to Wool Wash or Cold Water Wash.
Here is where you have a variable:
Wool blankets wash up better with more water.
I know my machine so 9 times out of 10 I can let is set at the auto sensing level and it is fine. If I have a particularly large blanket or something that I feel needs some special attention - maybe a delicate trim, or the wool is finer than normal or extra dense woven blanket. I will manually set the water level higher.
This brings up another variable. I like my Top Loader for blankets. Comparatively Front Loaders use less water which is great for day to day washing. Wool blankets on the other hand really come to life if they have water moving around them. The individual fibres get happy! (ok so I'm not being very scientific but you get the idea). Go ahead and use your Front Loader for a regular sized Single blanket but if you have a large blanket that needs more than an air out maybe see if you can borrow a friend's top loading washing machine for the morning - take scones and have a catch up while it washes. I like scones... hehe
Detergent Easy simple answer is Liquid Wool Wash. You can find some nice environmentally friendly ones just at the supermarket. Use it for your delicates too.
Extra info is - you CAN use your normal washing powder to wash your blanket. It is more about dissolving than anything. Pre-dissolve in a container if you have concerns. Also I tend to always use liquid detergent on darker colours or very densely woven wool such as vintage army blankets and travel rugs.
Avoid powders that contain bleach ingredients such as nappy laundry powders that may effect the colours unless you are washing something like a cream wool dry cot blanket.
45min wash and your done! Hour if you want!
Drying
As mentioned wool dries fast. Yay! Best way to dry is over a clothes horse or on something flat and aerated. Even two chairs back to back will work. I prefer this instead of a washing line. Washing lines will either leave a sharp crease straight down the middle or if you peg it up, dent peg marks on the wool. Worse still the weight will stretch the fibres and the weave and pull on the blanket shape. Not great!
Ta da! you're done!
Storing your wool blanket
Blanket boxes and linen cupboards are the usual choice. If you use a vacuum bag just make sure the blanket is nice and dry. Avoid storing on a sun exposed shelf - they may look awesome folded all nice in your open shelf but they WILL fade on the exposed edge. This is worth remembering for blankets that are kept in cars or over the backs of sofas too. I always keep my Travel Car Rug out of direct sunlight.
Pesties - I'll be honest I don't have a lot of experience with moths, I live in a cool house where maybe moths don't like (thank goodness given my blanket cave, they would have a right party). Perhaps someone has tips they would like to share.
Extra Wool Love
Fabric softener - I don't use it but my mum does. Both turn out lovely so personal preference here.
The beautiful blankets you buy here at Fresh Retro Love, I brush them, both sides - firmly but carefully. It is SLOW. But it picks up any naughty bobbles, hairs and brushes the pile up nice. Happy blankets.
I also iron the smoother weaves. Yes call me mad but it makes a difference. Our blankets are often mistaken for new and this is one of the very reasons. Select the Wool temperature on the iron and NEVER iron the label unless it is on very low heat (I have bad dreams about this!).
Note
Mohair - Same as above but choose the gentle spin/wash. Just make sure the temperature doesn't default. Adjust to cold always.
The above instructions are for woven wool blankets specifically. Knitted wool garments or open weave Aircell Blankets require more gentle care.
My main point is not to be intimidated washing your wool blanket. Just remember the number one rule: Cold water only and your blanket will give you many many years of warm winters, fun picnics and cosy couch evenings.
Any questions, comment below and I will do my best to help!
Stay well and warm
Kathleenx
Welcome to our new website! A LOT has happened in the last two months so I thought I'd share a few updates of where we are at and some of the things we have been working on.
Many of you found us via the NZ Made Facebook page. Pretty safe to say putting up that post changed EVERYTHING. Prior to lockdown Fresh Retro Love ambled along pretty happily. I would describe us a market business that sold online too. Enjoy your lockdown break Kathleen haha because things are about to change!
End of lockdown came near and my partner went back to work. The couriers were about to open up to everyone again so I decided to start putting some attention back to the blankets. I had seen the NZ Made site and to be honest the quality and beauty of some of the products there was a little intimidating. At that point the size of the group was probably half what it is now. (Well done Sarah Colcord - group creator!). I had seen some posts do well and thought to myself if I got 500 likes I'd be really happy. I steeled myself, prepared my post and sent it off. The next few days I spent making sure my Facebook Page was up to date with product. I thought I might do a few sales - that would be good. Sunday night I went to bed early and somewhere around 11pm I woke up with a bit of a start and looked at the time. Initially I thought something was wrong with my phone! It had virtually exploded. What the 'eck was going on! There were notifications and messages everywhere! My little NZ Made Post resonated. I have tears just thinking about it. Not everyone 'gets' my blanket biz. But you did! You do! For three days solid I responded to amazing emails, messages, phone calls, comments, DMs you name it. I completely sold out and started taking requests. Those first two weeks were a blur! So here we are two months later. Now I call myself an Online business that does markets!
Since you are reading this Blog you will have noticed we have launched a REAL website..haha yays! Brand spanking new with a logo and all! Facebook & Instagram are great for keeping in contact and staying current but not so great for showing you what is available, plus if you see something you like, now you have payment options! Our plan is to build our online selection. Here lies the challenge though, you see my request book is still full and the preparation of the blankets is a slow process. In fact I'm pretty sure the opposite of instant is restoration! But I also think that is where the beauty lies. Soo not a huge amount of blankets are making to the website yet but it is growing and you will see more and more come available. As a side note, I'm still taking requests so send me a message if you know what you are looking for and can't find it here.
The other part of the juggle is building selection for my market events for those who like to see in person and touch the blankets to make their choice. I LOVE doing markets it's in my blood and Fresh Retro Love are back out and about. Winter is always a tough season for outdoor markets but keep an eye on our social media Stories to find out where we are next.
So clearly I need a bit of help..haha. On that note I welcome Adrianne business partner and financial whizz. Together we have some ridiculously exciting things planned. I also have Mum (mum's are best) who is a machinist superstar and all round go-to. Bert, Brother-in-Law and ever patient IT trouble shooter, email fixer, and why isn't the Instagram updating question answerer. Vaughan(y) my love, my calm and my market muscle. I have two teenagers Brooklyn and Oliver who are self sufficient enough these days to cook (for me even!!) as long as I pay for it. haha Thank you Hello Fresh. And some wonderful friends who encourage me every step of the way. So I have good support while I adapt and spread wool love.
What else has happened?... We got mentioned in the Herald Viva (sqwee!), I got engaged (also sqwee!) and this Womble's heart got a bit bigger. Yup going deep for a minute. I have realised during this time there is a bigger picture than blankets. I knew retro old school blankets made a connection - heck it's just one of the reasons I love them so much. But there is so much more than that. Wool is important. Our farmers are important. Our personal health and the health of our environment are important. Choosing who we buy from and why we buy has reaching consequences that often we don't even realise. Fresh Retro Love are thinking about that too. We have some exciting things coming together with that in mind.
So let this be my official thank you. Thank you for giving me an increased sense of purpose. Thank you for seeing and appreciating the work I do. Thank you for loving my attention to detail. Thank you for encouraging me with your messages and photos, I love getting them. Thank you for understanding and your patience even when you haven't heard from me in a while or if I make a mistake (bound to happen eek). Thank you for buying Kiwi Made and seeing the value in quality products especially during this weird and transitional world we are in. I SO appreciate all your support and helping make my one of a kind business stretch and grow into a new era of wooly blanket memory making.
Warm wooly fluffy hugs
Kathleenx
Dancing lambs, snow tipped mountains, sea princesses, smiley moon faces, factory sheds and made up words!
If you have been watching our Instagram or Facebook stories for a while you will know I have a complete fascination with blanket labels. I've never been one for history, preferring the art room and craft table but (wait for it - the dreaded words) "as I've got older" a real appreciation and interest in cycles of life has grown. I now find value in stories that are fading and a have a desire to regain some of the substance of our heritage in our screen filled world. These little 5cm x 5cm windows share a glimpse back into 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's New Zealand life.
Happy lambs
At face value blanket labels tell us where the blanket was made, what it is made from, who made it and sometimes the blanket has a name. Labels varied through a companies evolution so are also helpful in dating a blanket. This is useful information!
For the Wellingtonians
Napier, Kaiapoi, Roslyn, Onehunga, Timaru, Wanganui (blanket spelling), Waverly, Milton, Mosgiel, Omaru, Wellington, Ashburton to name a few. I believe there were 18 major wool mills back in the day. I have yet to make a defined list but it's on the To-Do list. These wool mills shaped our home towns, many of us have had family members who worked within the factories. This creates a sense of connection, familiarity, ownership and pride. I love the sense of journey and connection to our wonderful country. Yes it's ok to be proud to be a kiwi and what we have created!
Classic Kiwi imagery
Blanket labels tell us what the blanket is made of. Wool! Beautiful warm durable, environmentally friendly wool. Here's a interesting, once in a blue moon secret. I've had the odd blanket that lied! I sell wool. I can spot it a mile away, and I can tell you if there is acrylic or something else in there. I'm not sure the labelling was as strict back in the day as it is now. You make a false claim on a label today and you will get called on it. Anyways I find that slightly more amusing than anything. Oh and for peace of mind, on that odd occasion I think that one of our blankets is not pure wool, don't worry I'll let you know.
93%, not 92% or 94% :)
The blanket labels give us some information about us as a people. Many link to our Maori heritage with beautiful stories of vulnerability and strength. Scottish bloodlines, many of whom made up our first sheep farmers and there is the occasional curious international reference. For example El Rey and Calypso blankets - was there a Mexican influence at some point?
Margarita anyone?
I see some interesting companies too who commissioned blankets to be made. I love seeing the old Farmers logo come up frequently. Other familiar ones like Rendells, Smith & Brown, Lincot along with less familiar names that have closed or been bought out over the years.
Dreamwarm with happy moon faces for Rendells and the familiar Woolmark logo.
Blanket labels are fun. I always get a giggle from some of the made up words. I suspect blanket manufacturers of the 70's didn't take themselves too seriously! We have Cuddlesnug, Galaxie, Fleeso, Wondawarm, Warma, Cosylite, Osowarm, Mountie, Robinwul... just say those words out loud and tell me you don't feel a little happier! And that's just few.
One of my favourites, pretty in pink
And finally some labels are just beautiful. They really are little pieces of art. I have my favourites. Usually embroidered with detail and fine design.
Robinwul did a few different versions of this. Always lovely.
Fun fact: Blankets were often sold in pairs or even fours. The top blanket only got the label.
Fun fact: Wool ALWAYS outlives the label (and the satin in a edged blanket).
Fun fact: Embroidered labels last longer than printed ones. And yes if you iron your label too hot it WILL melt...lol.
Fun fact: Some labels are collectible and raise the value of a blanket.
Our use of words have evolved over the years
I do get asked this from time to time, yes I do have a label collection but in case you are wondering I have a firm rule - I never remove a label from a useable blanket. My label collection comes purely from blankets that are destined for the SPCA or feline rescues that I donate too. I occasionally sell the odd double up label. I think they look neat in frames but again, only ever from an unrestorable blanket.
Thank goodness the mills sometimes included the clan name. So many tartans with subtle differences.
Well, I hope you learned something new. Even if only to notice the labels in your own linen cupboard (blankets on beds people!) in a fresh way or further cement that I am a blanket weirdo. haha. If you have label and blanket original info or stories to share I'd love to hear it. Please send me a message or leave a comment below. I will finish this Blog post by taking liberties with Forrest Gump 's well known quote. Life is like NZ wool blanket, you never know what you're going to get.
Have wonderful and warm day beautiful people!
Kathleenx
Fab view of the Kaiapoi Wool Mill.
So yes, let's delve into some blanket magic. You might learn a bit about wool, you might learn a bit about restoration, you might learn a bit about knee touching (sorry!) or you might just learn about where we will be popping up somewhere around the country next week. OOH and also I would LOVE to hear from you. Please message me your blanket stories. I am a wee wool history sponge. Old or new. I would love the opportunity to hear and share.
Stay tuned, grab that wooly blanket and catch ya here again soon.
Kathleenx