The Biscuit Tin Handmade
Wool artist making small animals inspired by life on our smallholding using
wool from our own flock of sheep & from other small UK producers.
Upcoming markets
- Sun 7th Jul Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sat 20th Jul Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sun 4th Aug Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sat 17th Aug Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sat 31st Aug Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sun 15th Sep Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sat 28th Sep Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sun 13th Oct Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sat 26th Oct Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sun 10th Nov Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sat 23rd Nov Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Sun 8th Dec Richmond Artisan Market, London
- Mailing List
- Join mailing list
- Favourite
- Type of stall
- Gifts for her, Home Accessories, Home and Garden, Homeware & Gifts, Sustainable & Ethical Goods, Textiles
- Social
- Website
- thebiscuit.co.uk
- Selling in
- Berkshire, Bristol, Greater London, Hampshire, Wiltshire
Who we are
Belle is a wool artist based in Highclere, Hampshire, where, together with her husband, she runs a smallholding, rearing chickens, ducks, goats and a breeding flock of smiling Herdwick sheep.
The Herdwicks; Hilda, Ewenice, Harriet, Lady BaaBaa, Baaaarbara, Mint and Sauce, have a growing addiction to Rich Tea biscuits, something which started as a hand taming treat has become an everyday habit and, if they had their own way Rich Tea biscuits would be as freely available as hay – thus the biscuit tin handmade was born.
Finding that wool is virtually worthless and that from smallholdings it is mostly given to gardeners to use as mulch, she wanted to find a more creative use that meant the flock could earn their own keep, having needle felted for many years this seemed like an obvious remedy and although less earnest than those who weave and spin into beautiful products, by making contact with other smallholders who had small flocks and creative minds she has found plenty of plant dyed wools and other textures, breeds and colours to keep the palette wide.
Recently Belle has started to knit simple items using uk, rare breed wool in natural tones.
The sculptures produced are mainly inspired by the life and animals on the smallholding,as well as being rich in wildlife such as Hares, Foxes, Muntjac and Sika deer. \
Already holding a Silver Surfers Against Sewage plastic free award for the smallholding, the biscuit tin handmade is currently working to obtain gold status, Belle is committed to eco-friendly /sustainable practices and by using her own sheep’s wool is promoting zero-mile production. and frequently collaborates with another local smallholding Oaktrack (who use their Shetland wool to create amazing blankets, ponchos, cushions, hats and spun wool), to reduce the environmental impact of attending markets by sharing their resources and market stalls.
If you’re really lucky at some markets Belle will bring her delicious brownies and cakes all made with the smallholding eggs but zero dairy and entirely gluten free as Belle is a coeliac and runs an entirely gluten free kitchen (these bakes help the chickens to earn their keep!).
Contact The Biscuit Tin Handmade
