February 2010

Ruth and Alan Gough, Wingham Wool Work, Wentworth, Yorkshire

Ruth and Alan Gough, spent two days with us recently and enjoyed meeting all the staff, touring the factory, and working with all the equipment.
Their business, Wingham Wool Work, in the village of Wentworth, Yorkshire, is one of the largest spinning and weaving retailers and sellers of the Ashford brand in the UK.

2009 is an important year for us!

In 1934 Walter Ashford founded our company and with the wonderful support of staff, suppliers and customers we are celebrating our 75th birthday this year.

As part of the year’s festivities we welcome distributors from around the world to visit us here in Ashburton. As well as meeting our staff, visiting the factory and learning more about our product range, they enjoyed seeing some of the beautiful parts of the country and trying some summer activities.

Takao and Machiko Nakayama, Sanyo Trading Co Ltd, Ibaraki, Japan

The last distributor to visit us this Jubilee year was Takao Nakayama, of Sanyo Trading Co and his wife Machiko. Sanyo Trading has been representing us in Japan for 35 years and Nakayama san enjoyed meeting all the staff, seeing the new products and experiencing some of the beautiful parts of the South Island.

In the factory with supervisor Alan Paterson

Supervisor Gary Hocking explains the four sider department
Lamb feeding time at Middle Rock station

Experiencing the icebergs on the lake formed by the Tasman Glacier. Mt Cook is in the background - Overlooking the Hollyford Valley, Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park

After three days we reach the end of the Routeburn Track!
Arriving at the Walter Peak sheep station on the 100 year old, steam-powered, TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown.

Daniela Linhartova and Paul Linhart, Dalin Praha, Prague, Czech Republic

Daniela and her husband Paul, who have been our distributors for the Czech Republic for ten years, spent three weeks with us training and seeing some of the sights in the South Island.

Daniela with Elizabeth and Kate, at the table loom
Daniela joined the Margaret Mecchia weaving course on distorted weaves and painted warps

Rescuing Corriedale lambs at Middle Rock Station, Rakaia Gorge
In the vineyards overlooking Akaroa Harbour

At the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Show
Getting in the swing at Lochmara Lodge, Queen Charlotte Sound

With Elizabeth and Richard at the Bay of Many Coves, Queen Charlotte Cove.

Linda and Henrik Larsen, Skytten, Denmark

Linda and Henrik Larsen live on one of the 76 inhabited Danish islands and have been our distributors in Denmark for five years. They spent a week with us meeting the staff, training and seeing some of the country.

Meeting the ladies from the packing department. From left Henrik and Linda, Sandra, Debbie (supervisor) and Janey - Linda enjoys double weave on the four shaft table loom with Nicola

Henrik learns more about the Knitters Loom - Factory Supervisor, Alan Paterson, shows the fine measurements required to make a spinning wheel

Jet boating on the Rakaia River, Mid-Canterbury
Seal Colony at Kaikoura

With Elizabeth's nephew, Anthony Genet, a glass blower from Nelson
The golden sands of Tahuna Beach, Nelson

Junya Matsumura, Mariya Handcrafts Ltd, Sapporo, Japan

Junya, representing Mariya Handcrafts Ltd, spent several weeks in New Zealand improving his English and craft skills. He attended an intensive week's training at one of our Dealer Retreats learning to spin, weave, card, felt and dye.
Mariya Handcrafts Ltd is a 3rd-generation craft & hobby business and has represented us in Sapporo for over 25 years.

Learning more techniques on the Knitters Loom
Junya receives his Certificate from Richard & Elizabeth

Spinning on the Elizabeth
Jet boating on the Rakaia river

Rock climbing on Middle Rock sheep station, Rakaia Gorge.

Miyoko Ito, La Mer, Japan

Miyoko has recently taken over the Ashford division of Ocean Trading Company Kyoto, where she was the division manager for over 15 years. Miyoko brings a wealth of textile experience to her new business La Mer which continues the tradition of importing & selling the Ashford range. We wish Miyoko continued success with her new business.
During her visit Miyoko enjoyed some intensive product training, a visit to the annual Creative Fibre Festival in Timaru and a high country sheep station.

Demonstrating at the Creative Fibre Festival in Timaru
Factory tour with Richard

Blade shearing at Middle Rock Station
Friendly Corriedale

Marc Peloquin, Canada

Marc Peloquin, of Harmonique Spinning Wheels and Looms, has been our distributor in Canada for 3 years. Originally from Quebec Marc speaks English and French fluently and now lives with his wife Sophie and young family in Victoria, BC.

Helping Murray pack his order
Making a silk scarf with Nicola

Practising the long draw with Nicola
Learning about fleece handling from Bruce Nell at Middle Rock

Motuara Island Lookout, Marlborough Sounds
Marc shows good form on the single ski

Dolphin watching.

Deland Liao, Foundertek, Taiwan

Deland has been our distributor in Taiwan for over 15 years and enjoyed an intensive week's training with us in March.

Deland & Moira working with the second heddle kit on the Knitters Loom
Meeting the staff

Deland with Elizabeth and Richard
Deland studies wet and nuno felting with Shona Schofield

Cindy Howard-Gibbon, Foxglove Fiberarts Supply, USA

Cindy, a fibre artist, has been working in the craft and yarn business for 30 years and became our distributor in 2003. With her husband, Chris Heinlein, she lives with her daughters on beautiful Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Cindy & Chris enjoy the Knitters Loom

Cindy and Elizabeth at Ship Cove, Marlborough

Boating in the Marlborough Sounds
Cindy at the helm.