Waitrose Picnic Blanket Competition

 

Win a picnic blanket (like the one in the Waitrose tv advert – only smaller)

You could win a picnic blanket (150cm x 200cm) made by Melin Tregwynt just like the one featured in the Waitrose television ad (only smaller).

The blanket used in the television advert was the size of four tennis courts and weighed one tonne! It is no surprise that it has been certified for a Guinness World Record as the largest picnic blanket in the world.

The blanket used in the advert was sent to Westfalia Farm, one of the Waitrose Foundation farms, and cut into more than 500 quilts and then given to crèches across our Foundation farms in South Africa.

There are 30 picnic blankets to be won, and the closing date for the competition is 31st July 2008. Terms and conditions apply.

Winners will be sent the picnic blanket within 15 working days from the closing date.

For your chance to win simply click enter and follow the instructions.

All entries must be received by the closing date of midnight on the 31st July 2008.

We weave the largest picnic rug in the world

Back in March we were approached by Waitrose and asked to make the largest picnic rug in the world for an advert they were shooting in April and that has just been released. We managed to weave this rug which is 40 mts x 44 meters in the three weeks available and it was a sensational job.

This project was only realised because of an amazing amount of hard work & commitment from the staff at the mill, plus tremendous support from our yarn supplier & cloth finisher. It just goes to prove that UK manufacturers can still be best in the world at the fast turnaround of high quality and bespoke products. There were plenty of problems, the main one being the short time available but we really enjoyed it, Waitrose were really pleased and the advert is fantastic.

After the filming the rug was cut up into smaller blankets which all went to the various children’s charities in Africa that Waitrose supports. It was a wonderful project to be involved with (see more details below).

There will be a documentary about the making of the picnic blanket and the advert itself out soon, probably on Channel 4. We’ll keep you posted.

Update on 2008-05-28 15:57 by Eifion Griffiths

For those of you who asked for more information about our giant picnic rug.

The giant picnic blanket which forms the centre piece for the Waitrose television ad was specially commissioned is equivalent to the size of four tennis courts - 40 metres x 44 metres and weighs one tonne - has been certified for a new Guinness World Record* as the largest picnic blanket in the world.

Following the filming of the ad in Durban, South Africa, the blanket was donated to the Waitrose Foundation, a project dedicated to improving the lives of South African Farm Workers who grow and pick fruit for the supermarket. Farm workers at Westfalia Farm, an avocado growing farm in the Limpopo Province, will turn the blanket into over 400 individual quilts with workers being paid for each quilt they make. The quilts will then be donated to crèches across Waitrose Foundation farms and distributed to the workers of the Foundation farms for use in their homes.

Melin Tregwynt on The Apprentice again

Watching the television on Thursday night I was amazed to see our blankets on four programmes one after another. Different channels of course. We were on Cwpwrdd Dillad at 8.30pm. and Pedair Wal at 9.00pm. both on S4C the welsh language channel. Then I turned over to BBC1 and saw our cushions on the Apprentice.Our cushions have been used in the Apprentice House for the last two years. We’ve certainly lasted longer than the candidates.

Lastly over to BBC2 for The Apprentice - Your fired and there we were again in the backgound when John Alex and Lee were attacking Sara and Raef came to the rescue and our cushion provided much needed comfort. Blanket coverage for a Thursday night.

Melin Tregwynt at the Movies

Update on 2008-05-03 15:25 by Eifion Griffiths

I should explain that the above film was made by Design Wales. They provide design support for individual Welsh businesses and undertake a wide range of activities to encourage and develop the use of design in Welsh industry and education.

Apologies for the long silence but it's been a busy time

I’m sorry that our journal entries have been sparse over the last two months. It was so hectic in the run up to Christmas. It’s always a busy time but this was the busiest. Both Mandy and I were taken ill during our visit to Japan in November and it took us ages to recover. No more excuses.

The mill is still busy even though the Christmas holiday season has long gone. Monday was typical. We’re preparing for Showcase Ireland in Dublin this week and getting ready to sail over through gale force winds. ITV Wales were at the mill filming during the afternoon; and we also had a meeting to discuss throws and cushions for a large new leisure development opening here in Pembrokeshire next June.  See here for more details on what’s being planned.

The Usual Suspects - Rear View

This is a great product shot of Muji staff wearing their Melin Tregwynt scarves and stoles. I love this. It’s so quirky, full of fun and so Japanese. They really enjoy their advertising and love to create something unusual that makes you look twice. It reminds me of the film the Usual Suspects.

Happy New Year

Selvedge Magazine

selvedge articleThat reminds me. There was an article on Melin Tregwynt in the Sept/Oct issue of Selvedge magazine. This is a great magazine for those of you interested in textiles. Selvedge covers fine textiles in every context: fine art, interiors, fashion, travel and shopping. The articles are really interesting (well I would say that wouldn’t I) and it offers the world’s finest textile photography, unparalleled design and peerless writing.

Those of you who want to, can download the article here (1MB) or just go and visit the Selvedge website. They also publish a free e-newsletter for subscribers.

Birkenstock Update

Birkenstock are using our traditional Welsh Knot Garden fabric for a new range of mules. They were only going to be launched in Japan this year and Europe in 2008. Following an earlier mention here and a short news item in Selvedge magazine  (a brilliant read for those of you interested in textiles) there was such interest, that Birkenstock decided to put 60 pairs in their Neal Street, Covent Garden store.

 Get over there while stocks last or check out their UK website as they are also available online. A real exclusive.

See our full range of blankets, throws and cushions online

You can view them either by colour or by design. We also offer slippers, dressing gowns and socks, together with clothes, hats, bags and scarves, our own specially designed range of ceramics and other Welsh gifts.