BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE.- This autumn, Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House shows a new exhibition exploring the beautiful textiles and designs of Annie Garnett – a creative Arts and Crafts designer and entrepreneur who became a key figure in the revival of hand spinning and weaving in tThis autumn, Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House shows a new exhibition exploring the beautiful textiles and designs of Annie Garnett – a creative Arts and Crafts designer and entrepreneur who became a key figure in the revival of hand spinning and weaving in the Lake District.

Annie Garnett (1864 - 1942) was a talented colourist, designer and keen businesswoman who established and managed the Spinnery at Bowness-on-Windermere, making beautiful textiles using traditional methods. Her work was influenced by the ideas of the writer, art critic and social reformer, John Ruskin. Her colours and designs were inspired by her beautiful garden in Windermere and the landscape and colours of the Lake District.

Especially unique to The Spinnery, was the production of distinctive fabrics including rich wools, embroidered linens, and 'throwans' a mixture of flax and silk that changed colour with light and movement. Her designs and patterns won multiple awards and gained national and international commissions. Among her customers were a daughter of Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra.

This exhibition features treasures from the Annie Garnett archive, held at the Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, Kendal, and tells Miss Garnett's story through photographs, diary entries, personal objects and the textiles themselves.

Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House will be exhibiting its collection of newly idenhe Lake District.

Annie Garnett (1864 - 1942) was a talented colourist, designer and keen businesswoman who established and managed the Spinnery at Bowness-on-Windermere, making beautiful textiles using traditional methods. Her work was influenced by the ideas of the writer, art critic and social reformer, John Ruskin. Her colours and designs were inspired by her beautiful garden in Windermere and the landscape and colours of the Lake District.

Especially unique to The Spinnery, was the production of distinctive fabrics including rich wools, embroidered linens, and 'throwans' a mixture of flax and silk that changed colour with light and movement. Her designs and patterns won multiple awards and gained national and international commissions. Among her customers were a daughter of Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra.

This exhibition features treasures from the Annie Garnett archive, held at the Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, Kendal, and tells Miss Garnett's story through photographs, diary entries, personal objects and the textiles themselves.

Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House will be exhibiting its collection of newly identified and very rare Autochrome images which allows them for the first time to show Annie Garnett's original garden, in glorious colour.

This show has been curated in collaboration with Professor David Ingram, who has been carrying out new research on the Archive.