Traditional craft revival - Solva Wool Mill, Wales

My friends often tease me for my folky ways, but thanks to my father's hippy roots I've grown up to love traditional crafts. On our recent trip to Wales, we stopped by a working woolen mill in Solva. Not only did I fall in love with the woven rugs, blankets and knitted accessories but also found the most adorbs cat clambering atop of a bin of cardboard and offcuts.

Solva is the oldest working mill in Pembrokeshire and the only one in Wales specialising in flat-weave rugs, carpets and runners. Over the past 30 years, the domestic trade has declined greatly. With us importing wool and brands choosing to manufacture abroad, it's likely the majority of our wool products promote air freight and are potentially sourced from countries where animal welfare is not a priority.

When we move next year, I'm hoping we can upcycle and reuse where possible, but if we're buying new, be supportive of traditional crafts and promote more thoughtfully resourced products. I fell in love with the geometric traditional tapestry rugs. If you're interested in visiting a working Welsh mill, there are more details here: welshmills.org.uk/millsopen

Here are some of our snaps from Solva and check out the links at the bottom for stockists of traditional welsh products.

Solva Woolen Mill
Blodwen - Modern welsh traditional products

Fields of praise, Wales

Here are some snaps from our long weekend in Wales. Despite it being my family's native country, this was my first time exploring Wales outside of the Valleys. Staying with the boy's family on the coastline near Haverfordwest, highlights from the trip included cantering a horse named Speckles along a sandy bay, visiting a working Welsh woolen mill and feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of vivid hues on offer outside of the city. Will post more pictures this weekend  but below are some of my favourite colours from the weekend offered up by the Welsh countryside.

Hope you like them,

Megan xo