Diary

A collection of news, events, affiliations and press articles

since the very beginning of my journey into weaving

March 2025

TOP 5: Regional FINALIST ~ Please Vote for me!

What a lovely surprise to find I've reached the Regional Finals for the Muddy Stilettos Cornwall Awards 2025 for 'Best Women's Style'! Yippee! I don't believe it! Therefore, I ask you once again please to kindly VOTE FOR ME. (The votes from Round 1 were not carried over to Round 2)

To do so, please follow this swift how-to guide:

• Click on this link: https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/vote/

• Then enter your email address

• Choose Category: 'Best Women's Style'

• Select: 'Weaver Rae, Hayle' 

• Complete the Bot puzzle 

• Click: 'Enter Your Vote'

• Then all importantly, Verify Your Vote: By simply checking your email (including spam and junk folders) and click the 'Verify Your Vote' button - this means your vote will then be counted. Please vote before 1pm on Tuesday 15th April. Regional Winners will be announced on the Muddy website on Wednesday 30th April.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in the first round, and for voting for me in this second round! I am over the moon to have received this wonderful little boost.

Honestly it's been a heck of a week so this has really put the spring back in my step!

x Weaver Rae

March 2025

AWARD NOMINEE!

I have been nominated for Cornwall 'Best Women's Style' 2025 with Muddy Stilettos Regional Awards ✨ How lovely ~ Thank you Muddy Stilettos!

You can vote for your favourite local businesses in Round 1 by visiting Muddy Stilettos Awards Nominations. It's quick and easy. Please take a moment to vote for me!:

• Just click the link https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/awards/nominate/
• Enter your email address and wait for the unique email in your inbox (be sure to check your Junk folder)
• Choose Category: Best Women's Style (Cornwall)
• And Nominate: Weaver Rae
• Business Location: Hayle
• Don't forget to solve the little bot puzzle!


Polls now closed for Round 1 (as of Thursday 13th March) ~ Result announcements for Round 1 were made on Tuesday 25th which is when Round 2 opens for votes! (NOW

Thank you everyone who votes for me ~ fingers crossed! 
X
Weaver Rae

Spring 2025

Easter: My First Market of the Season

Photograph: from Nancarrow Farm Blog

This Easter I am delighted to be unfolding my special handwoven collections at the first market of the season at:

Nancarrow Farm for their Spring Weekender 2025

Saturday, 5th ~ 09:30 - 13:00

&

Sunday, 6th April ~ 09:30 - 17:30

  • Local craft stalls showcasing talented independent producers

  • Scenic wild walks & children’s trails

  • Warming drinks & hearty breakfast baps from our wood-fired kitchen

  • Live music

  • Farm Lunches with delicious set menus featuring Organic produce from the Farm

Booking is essential to secure your parking spot! So do visit their website to find out more about this very special experience!

Book: Nancarrow Spring Weekender

February 2025

First Outlet

A beautiful wee shop in Fowey named Laura Lane Shop has become my first supplier and now stocks a tiny selection of my Long Narrow Scarves! Perfect for this cold snap!

A curiously Cornish curation of craft gathered by the wonderful Laura Lane Ceramics ~ so worth a visit!

Visit Fowey and explore @lauralaneshopfowey

Woman weaving on a loom in a workshop

February 2025

Announcements for 2025:

Little Weaver | Big News!

This winter I have been gently and firmly ushering my tiny business into new and unfamiliar realms! I am delighted to share with you the results so far

For the first time my woven work and I will be attending one of the UK’s leading craft shows and also an exhibition at one of the southwests highly acclaimed galleries:

This year you will find me:

As a Guest Maker at Make Southwest Gallery this summer!

For six weeks, from Monday 19th May in collaboration with Creative Kernow Associates

MAKE Southwest is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm

Address: Riverside Mill, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9AF

AND at…

Craft Festival at Bovey Tracey in the StartUp marquee! From Friday 6th - Sunday 8th June

Craft Festival will be open Friday 6th - Sunday 8th June from 10am - 5pm. Please check their website for admission etc.: https://www.craftfestival.co.uk/Ticket-info-BoveyTracey/

Address: Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9FF


I am so very grateful for the acceptance of these applications ~ and the chance to rove horizons new! I hope you will come and find me and my weavings at one or t’other!

Woman standing at a booth displaying wool products, with signs reading 'Inspired by Tide, Corn & Folklore' and 'Pure British Wool, Weaver Rae, Handwoven in Cornwall.' The table has maps, wool samples, and promotional materials.

Winter 2024

Recent Festive Markets

Market stall selling woven wool products, including scarves and blankets, with a sign reading 'Inspired by Tides and Folklore.' A woman arranges items and a signboard says 'Pure British Wool, Weaver Rae, Handwoven in Cornwall.'
Indoor craft fair booth with woven textiles and decor items, featuring a vendor and a customer. Display includes wool products, fiber art supplies, and decorative blankets. Sign reads "Inspired by Tide, Tor and Folklore."
Weaver Rae booth showcasing handwoven wool products from Cornwall, including scarves and blankets, with a display highlighting inspiration from tides and folklore. A smiling individual stands beside the items and promotional materials.

After a fallow spell on the market front through 2023, the winter just gone was a whole other story! I was lucky enough to attend an array of wonderful markets, all of which have been an absolute joy. It was my first time at a market in another county!

It really has been lovely to get out amongst you all again!

Thanks to my wonderful customers, passers-by and to the event organisers who have made it all so special!

Cornwall

  • Makers Cornwall Christmas Fair, Penryn Campus

  • Glas Folk: Pop-up Showcase, Provision Store, London

  • Christmas Market, Potager Garden, Constantine

  • Cafe Flora Christmas Market, Trelowarren

  • Cornish Christmas Market, St. Michael's Resort, Falmouth

  • Christmas at the Farmyard Market, Truro

  • The Food Barn Christmas Market, Flushing

Devon

  • Crux Craft Fair, Rattery Village Hall,

  • Wintertide, Buckfastleigh Town Hall, Devon

October 2024

Glas Folk: London Showcase

This November, I am delighted to have been invited to participate in an exclusive and ecclectic showcase of Cornwall makers

“Glas (pronounced glahz) is a Cornish word with no direct English translation. It captures the myriad blue/green colours found in the ocean. Folk is a nod to our collective effort, and the nature of our handwork”

Francli Craftwear

A design pop up hosted by Provision Store that celebrates handwork and tactility. Showcasing art, homewares, furniture and clothing from makers of Cornwall - Meet the Makers here: The Makers

October 2024

Find a Maker Member

A few wonderful and exciting things have happened this October

I have been welcomed in to the Find a Maker family!

This is a profound and diverse cacophony of makers and artists across the planet, selected for their quality - thank you to the Crafts Festival

Please go check out my new profile here

Woman at craft fair booth with handmade wool items, signs reading 'Weaver Rae' and 'Inspired by Cornish Folklore,' in a cathedral setting.

September 2024

Artisan Market at Truro Cathedral

Saturday 7th September 2024

Truro Cathedral, St. Mary's Street

It was my first time joining the brilliant Artisan Markets Cornwall for their September A huge success - if you get a chance to visit their other markets throughout the year in various locations - I highly recommend! There is something for every one.

A grasshopper sat on a patterned handwoven shawl outdoors

July 2024

Midsummer Craft Fair

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st July 2024

Pencarrow House, Trescowe, Bodmin, Cornwall

I was pleased to join a marquee full of fellow westcountry makers at the summer craft fair this year in the beautiful settings of Pencarrow House’ within their walled garden. My first market in rather a long time!

It was lovely to venture a little further afield with my woven wares and I very much look forward to hopping across the Tamar in winter for more!

"I'm a member of The Heritage Crafts Association" text on a sign

April 2024

The Heritage Crafts Association

For many years, the appreciation for considerately crafted objects has been of great importance to me. I have followed the curation and heraldship of The Heritage Crafts Association since I began my explorations into traditional craft during my years of studying art and design.

Now I am a practising craftsperson, I am very happy to be a member with a new listing on their Makers Directory amongst a whole world of fantastic and fascinating craftfolk - do take a look!

Crafts Council directory entry for Weaver Rae, a handweaver based in Hayle, England, with tags for textiles, weaving, and fashion. Includes an image of a person in a cloak standing on rocky terrain.

March 2024

Crafts Council

I am so happy to this year be welcomed into the Crafts Council community

Please see my profile here on their Directory of craftspeople

The loomsmith Eric Henry, who designed and built my looms, has now completed and installed his own design of a Dobby Control Mechanism - this is a huge step for my tiny weaving enterprise and will streamline my process by far, and enable me to explore new and more complicated patterns

~ Watch this space!

Discover more here: The Dobby

February 2024

The Dobby is a go go!

Weaver's hands operating a handloom, with text above and below describing a day in the life of a handloom weaver by the Cornish coast.

January 2023

Media Feature

A Day in the Life of a Handloom Weaver

In December 2022 I was kindly met by a collector of curious stories and analog cameras, Ric Davy of Cornish Lives who photographed a lovely depiction of my story and work

Do visit his website for the full story…

Text on a dark background reads "Pure British Wool" and "Handwoven in Cornwall."

As of late autumn 2022 Henry | Weaver Designs is now trading as Weaver Rae!

This is with the wish to better reflect my identity and values

The work of my partner and loomsmith Eric Henry has redirected him to faraway horizons rigging ships - he is still at large!

November 2022

Now Trading as…

Weaver Rae

I opened the door of my former tiny timber cabin to welcome visitors this Autumn

With my small selection of bespoke blanket scarves and regular width scarves available, and more products emerging through the Winter

The loom is rigged and the shuttle is flying so keep your ears open if you’re passing, you may just catch me!

Monday 24th October till Friday 4th November, 11am till 4pm. I am next door to the beautiful Bosahan Woods and on the way to Slice of Cornwall cafe, so do pop in if you’re passing*

There will be another Studio Shop Open House this Winter so stay tuned and Subscribe for updates

NOTE: * I am working from home under a new address, and am not taking visits at present (as of Feb 24)

A past event of an open studio when I was based at Trewardreva Mill. Selling handwoven artisan scarves with pure British wool in Cornwall.

Oct 22

Studio Shop Open

I held a little Open House…

November 21

Drift Magazine

‘The Pinnacle of Luxury Lifestyle in Cornwall’

During Winter 2021, we were lucky enough to be featured in an editorial by the beautiful Drift Magazine, whilst in our earlist days learning the craft of weaving

The full article can be read via the links below:

https://www.drift-cornwall.co.uk/post/woven-in-wildness

https://issuu.com/engine-house-media/docs/drift_17

Supporter of the Campaign for Wool

‘Live Naturally and Choose Wool’

It is with primary importance to herald the importance and many attributes of weaving and wearing wonderful wool and choosing to support British farmers

It is with great pride that I have pledged my commitment to abide by the ten principles of best practice laid out in The Dumfries House Declaration and chosen to support The Campaign for Wool - “a global community of sheep farmers, retailers, designers, manufacturers and consumers united by our patron His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. It aims to educate as many people as possible about the incredible benefits and versatility of wool in fashion, furnishings and everyday life. This in turn, supports many small businesses and local farmers whose livelihoods depend on the wool industry”

Unravel: Exhibition

A collective of designers, makers, knitters and weavers

Unravel ~ bringing together a collective of designers and makers who are gently challenging and exploring the impact of what / how we wear has on our natural environment, soil, soul and society

In the October of 2021 we were invited to showcase our early woven work amongst some of West Cornwall’s most vibrant and sustainable textile designers and makers

It was an honour to be part of such a wonderful, buzzing and thought-provoking hive of creativity and forward-thinkers

Loom Design and Build: Mark II

April 2021

The Eight Shaft Floor Loom

with Flying Shuttle

“Our own design eight-shaft floor loom has evolved from previous renditions, built on what I have learnt whilst building the four-shaft table loom. This new loom enables us to produce larger and more elaborate patterns more efficiently”

Eric Henry

Pictured here whilst under construction in the old Build Shed in Morvah, Cornwall, UK

See more of this Loom Building Design and Build Journey here":

The Making of my Looms

Wooden workbench with a blue-handled hand saw in a stone-walled workshop environment.

Art Studios Open:

Open House

We raised the bunting, hung the arrows and flung open our workshop doors in early Summer 2021. Alongside a collective of West Cornwall Artists, together celebrating the creative diversity between our coasts

The event spanned two weeks between Lands End and Portreath. It was initiated to replace the cancelled ‘Open Studios’ event of that year. It was a great chance to meet and show our community where we are

Loom Design and Build: Mark I

January 2021

The Pallet Wood Four-Shaft Table Loom

It all began when Rae was sat playing with a handheld frame loom. Eric saw the potential for increased efficiency, if we only had our own loom…

This is the first iteration of Eric’s weaving contraption, rough and ready compared to the second project. The tool upon which we both taught ourselves to weave

“Designed and built by Eric of pallets and string. We chose these particular resources as they were readily available during the spring of 2020 when many merchants were forced to close. The use of reclaimed materials presented their own set of challenges and took a little more time to prepare for use however the outcome stood the test of time and rigourous use…”

Eric Henry

Pictured here whilst under construction in the old Build Shed in Morvah, Cornwall, UK. Read in to the full story of the Loom Design and Build Journey here":

The Making of my Looms

White Handwoven Blanket Scarf of Cornish wool draped on a bed with its own cotton bag for safekeeping