WOYWW 579

Well, I was going to have a week off as I haven’t done much this week. Then I heard a lot of noise round the back of the house and discovered that some neighbours have finally had the roofers arrive to replace their roof. I’d chatted to Katie a couple of days ago as I’d seen the scaffolding go up and remembered she’d said some months ago that it was going to be done. I popped round this morning to ask if I can have a rummage amongst the slates and she said I could take what I want. This is what I have so far:

These are original, Victorian roof slates and are likely to have come from Penrhyn Quarry or Dinorwic Quarry, maybe as far as Blaenau Ffestiniog. As I was rummaging in the skip, the roofers asked if I wanted full slates and offered to leave some for me when they get to the other side of the roof. If they’re good enough I can make place mats with them. The smaller bits can be used for something like this:

I may have a go at napkin decoupage for some of them. I do have an engraving tool that I’ve used a couple of times but could do with more practice. Lots of free stuff to practice on!

I have a set of placemats that I made previously from seconds that I bought at the National Slate Museum for about £1 each. To buy a perfect set of 6 cost a fortune. Mine are all slightly different sizes but I think that adds to the charm. I bought self-adhesive green felt to stick on the back; et voila! Well, I think that’s me for this week. Yesterday I started blitzing the lounge and need to carry on today. Who knows, I might even start logging how many books we have!! Hwyl fawr am y tro!

12 Comments:

  1. That sign is so pretty! Good on you for rescuing the slates, that’s something worth doing. Wales roofed the world at one point and I’m glad that the slates will have a second chance.
    Hugs LLJ 6 xxx

  2. How kind of the builders! They have no idea how much happiness those ‘useless bits’ are going to bring. Hope we’ll be get up to date . . ..
    Take care and have a good week
    Christine #26

  3. Lovely sign. I can remember playing with slates that must have fallen off the roof when i was a child . Have a lovely week . Soojay #19

  4. What a lovely bag of ‘treasures’, I’m sure the ideas on what to do with them will keep coming thick and fast! I love the little sign, it’s so pretty.
    Have lots of fun with your slate bits,
    Diana x #14

  5. Hi Camilla, how marvellous to be getting all that slate. As you say, it’s incredibly expensive, so being able to make your own placemats will be a great deal of fun. Stay safe, have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #5 X

  6. Hi Camilla. Good on you for rescuing that slate. It’s gorgeous, but I don’t think it’s Penrhyn… my relatives used to work there and it usually has more of a green look to it with gorgeous brown strips in it. I have a whole tub of it here as we had an enormous chimney breast covered slate when we lived in Rhuddlan – I rescued it!! It was good to see you the other day – even if only for a few minutes.
    Take care. Stay safe. God bless.
    Margaret #3

  7. Be careful, if you start logging, you will find you have seriously under estimated and may shock yourself! Great source of lovely slate, how nice of your neighbour. The sign is lovely, I can see you’re going to get a lot of pleasure from painting and creating with that lot!

  8. We had slate name signs on the last two places we lived in the UK – they were lovely! I have also been tempted by the slates at Llanberis…
    Good luck with your mats and hangings!
    Happy Crafting!
    Susan #8

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