Gretel Parker
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woollyhare.bsky.social
Gretel Parker
@woollyhare.bsky.social
730 followers 320 following 130 posts
Needle felt artist, painter, Shropshire cottage dweller. Country/natural history lover. Likes toadstools, art, books, archaeology, folky stuff and history. Work for sale below -

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Gretelparker
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woollyhare.bsky.social
A little trio of my needle felt animals, Albert the dog, Ginger the Fox and Marzipan the Elephant, all off on a big adventure to one of my collectors in East Asia. I’m very happy that they are staying together, as friends. #needlefelting
Three little woollen needle felted animals, styled simply like little toys, are placed on a wooden shelf with a rough plaster wall background. On the left, is a jolly looking yellow elephant, who had knobbly knees and slightly bent legs, as if he is dancing. He wears a little crown and onemof nis knees has a tiny darn stitched onto it. On the right, facing the elephant, is a lively fox, with a big tail and his head pointing into the air, as if sniffing. Behind them is an old musical box, on which stands a small dog, quite stout and brave looking, like a pug, wearing a big red collar which has a tiny gold heart dangling from it.
November 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
scotthandcock1984.bsky.social
Episode one of Samuel Barnett’s Unknown — our weekly bonkers investigative podcast — is available to listen to NOW!
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
andymoorhouse.bsky.social
I’d never heard of the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels before moving to Devon. Went to see it one year, it’s a spectacular, slightly worrying and potentially dangerous sight! This year it is being streamed live on the BBC iPlayer 😊👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels: 'Not much can prepare you'
Up to 20,000 spectators expected to watch people carrying flaming barrels through the town.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
shitchester.bsky.social
The Trip to Shrewsbury

thechesterblog.com/2025/11/04/t...
The Trip to Shrewsbury
“There’s no bus from here to our university” says a student as he heads up Brook street. I walk to the train station on the greyest Tuesday, greeted by the statue of Thomas Brasse…
thechesterblog.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:50 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Lovely day for a ten mile cycle around Shropshire’s country lanes, bumping into the Wrekin around every corner. Mood is much improved. Legs ache, but it was worth it.
A bicycle parked in front of a metal field gate on a bright autumn morning. To the right is a thick hedge of ivy and to the left is a large oak tree, leaves turning golden and scattering over the ground. The sky is mostly clear, with a few puffy clouds gathering on the horizon, where we can also see the solid, majestic hump of the Wrekin poking up above farmland.
November 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
heartwood9.bsky.social
It's that time of year again......

theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com/album/rituals
Rituals, by The Heartwood Institute
3 track album
theheartwoodinstitute.bandcamp.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:29 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
It’s taken an entire day, but I have a lovely new blog post up, a little wander through Shrewsbury, highlighting some of the history and background to just a few of the centuries old buildings. Any historical mistakes my own!

allaroundus.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-to...
A town for all seasons
Gretel Parker's life, blogging about country life, needle felting and illustration.
allaroundus.blogspot.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
musicasecreta.bsky.social
We're delighted that Georgia Mann chose the Magnificat for her #Radio3 Essential Classics Album of the Week segment yesterday. It's "holy/holey" in all senses (Laurie had to reconstruct a lot of missing notes), and it was lovely to hear so much chant! Can't wait to hear what she will feature today.
October 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
shropshirelive.bsky.social
Travel News: The A49 is CLOSED in both directions between Church Stretton and the A5 near Shrewsbury due to a serious collision.

Emergency services are in attendance.

Due to the nature of the incident the road is likely to be closed into the night.

Thank you to Colin for making us aware.
September 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Stout-hearted little Albert and Ginger the dancing fox gaze up at the last golden leaf of their tree, waiting for it to fall and for winter to begin.
A wooden shelf is at the bottom of the picture, with a textured pale plaster wall behind it. On it, are two small wool needle felted animals. On the left is a little spotted pug type of dog, short and squat with an inquisitive face and wearing a red collare with a little metal heart attached to it. On the right, nearby, a long, lively fox, who has one foot off the ground, as if dancing. They are both looking up at a little piece of flat, golden glass which is hanging from a twig above them. The twig is bare and withered and stands in an old brown bottle.
September 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
plentywenlock.bsky.social
Great to have some of our music featured in this love letter to West Midlands Sound Lore by @noisenarrative.bsky.social out tomorrow morning at 10am on NTS alongside
@waysideandwoodland.bsky.social

www.nts.live/shows/roots-...

It’s West Midlands Autumn after all - are you in???
September 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Autumn church visit and finding a hidden garden in my latest blog post.

allaroundus.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-we...
A wedding cake church and autumn showers
Gretel Parker's life, blogging about country life, needle felting and illustration.
allaroundus.blogspot.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Yesterday’s sky, rain heading towards Shrewsbury from the west.
A wide, brooding sky with large, sweeping dark rain clouds smothering the horizon and a little bit of light flltering in from the left hand side. There is a strip of harvested field at the bottom, pale yellow sunlit stubble and red earth. On the horizon is a tree lined view to Bayston Hill, and a large oak is creeping into the picture from the left. A contrast of bright sun and intense gloom, giving a real autumnal feel.
September 14, 2025 at 10:50 AM
woollyhare.bsky.social
A dull, dry evening and a view of the distant Wrekin across the wheat field. #shropshire
A country view of a field of ripe wheat in the Shropshire countryside. On the far horizon are small clumps of dark leaves trees and the blue hill shape of the Wrekin, with long clouds bustling across the sky.
August 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Nice view from English Bridge this lunchtime. #shrewsbury #shropshire
The River Severn pictured from English Bridge, Shrewsbury, on a moody day. There is a wide stretch of dark water flowing away from the viewer, with numerous ducks, geese and a stately swan gliding along with the current. On the left side is a row of old terraced houses, possibly Georgian in age, perched above the riverside. Building work is being done on one of them, as there is scaffolding up. On the other side are clumps of trees lining the way of the river, with glimpses of more nice houses behind them and a tall industrial looking chimney. It has just rained and the clouds lie low, brooding and heavy. The muted colours are reflected in the surface of the river as it slowly flows southwards.
July 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
This afternoon’s work, finishing off a little running fox. I somehow managed to sew and needle felt despite the heat - but I’m all in now. 🥵
A hand holding a little needlefelted (woollen) running fox, with his head held high as if he is looking up at something. In the background is a bare plaster wall, a plain wooden box with three little white needle felted mice sitting on top of eggcups, and the metal end of a white old fashioned bed, Victorian style.
July 13, 2025 at 7:20 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Out earlier for a much needed cycle, before it gets too hot. Spotted a dragonfly who flew in front of me for a while, and a young kite being chased off by crows. #shropshire #cycling
A hot summer morning and the sky is a blazing blue, clear of any clouds. There is a bicycle parked in front of a metal barred field gate, with lush hedgerows either side. The lane is dry as bones and dusty. Behind the gate, a broad field of pale golden wheat, ripe and ready to harvest, with a thin horizon of trees and the dark line of the Long Mynd baking in the sunshine.
July 12, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
waysideandwoodland.bsky.social
Re-stock alert!

A small batch of the pro-CDr version of the debut The Balloonist album, with the iconic 'View-Master' disc design and lush booklet, will be going up in the shop tomorrow.

Plus, 3 copies of the 'Coastal Studies' postcard set!

digital.waysideandwoodland.com/album/the-ba...
The Balloonist, by The Balloonist
8 track album
digital.waysideandwoodland.com
July 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Nice cool, breezy morning for a quick hour of bimbling around the lanes. #activetravel #shrewsburymoves #cycling
A bicycle with panniers parked in a gritty lay-by in a quiet Shropshire country lane, in front of a gently rising field of ripening wheat, with looming, low clouds and patches of blue sky. There is a moderate warm wind blowing and a little bit muggy - but cooler when riding.
June 27, 2025 at 10:58 AM
woollyhare.bsky.social
‘Marzipan’, my little needle felted elephant, standing between two lollipop trees which are from my last needle felt pattern book.
‘Marzipan’, a long legged slightly clumsy looking needle felted yellow baby elephant, with knobbly, knees and wearing a pink crown with a tiny heart on the front. He is standing on a wooden shelf against a plaster wall background. He seems to be dancing and has a shy, happy smile and little black glass eyes, he has a tiny darn stitched to one front knee. He stands between two small needle felted lollipop trees, tall oval in shape, with patches and simple stitching on them. They have thin trunks and are standing in old cotton reels. A scale photo of a hand touching a little needle felted yellow baby elephant called ‘Marzipan’. He has a shy, sweet smile, long legs which seem to be dancing and knobbly knees. He is wearing a pink crow with pearl beading.
May 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
plentywenlock.bsky.social
Copies of Eric's 'A Further Guide to the Lore of Plenty Wenlock' have now arrived, ahead of the official publication date on Monday 2nd June.

36 full colour pages of local myth, legend and hyperbole.

plentywenlockpress.bigcartel.com

#book #guidebook #lore #border #borderlife #madeinshropshire
May 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Out on the bike again, blogged with lovely views of Shropshire from the top of a hill.

allaroundus.blogspot.com/2025/05/up-l...
Up a lace lined hill
Gretel Parker's life, blogging about country life, needle felting and illustration.
allaroundus.blogspot.com
May 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Finished my first watercolour painting of the year - it’s a big one at 50x50cm (20x20 inches). The working title is ‘Lucifer and the Angels’. The subtitle is included in the alt-text. #watercolour #magicrealism #watercolor
A large watercolour painting of three wonkily sewn toys. On the left is a little dirty, stumpy pony, with no legs. He has a wire halo tied to his head with red string and ragged wings which are stained with blood. Facing him down are a tall fox like toy with a large tail, which is staring crossly and behind him an even tally deer like toy with large white anglers tipped with gold. The background is mostly s celestial blue aqua sky and the thighs are standing in line on a strip of green grass. There is a small yellow star fallen by the pony. The title is ‘Lucifer and the Angels’ subtitled ‘The Devil comes in many guises, Lucifer is fallen. He is hiding his cloven hooves and his wings are stained with blood’.
May 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Gretel Parker
beelitmag.bsky.social
We're launching The Bee magazine today because the UK publishing and writing industries have a bit of a class problem.
May 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
woollyhare.bsky.social
Listening to two blackbirds having a song battle - not sure which is winning but I’m backing my own garden bird.
May 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM