Zaza's Blog - January 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! As we enter a New Year, I have been looking back at 2015 and thought that I would share some of my favourite photographs with you. These show my transformation fro a simple sketch into the beautiful beast that I am today.......

Zebra Fact: Did you know that zebras can run at the same speeds as a racehorse?...... Just a little something I learnt whilst at the New Years Day meeting at Cheltenham! In fact, this has inspired me to consider a career as a racehorse and, having taken advice from local jockey Paddy Brennan, I shall begin my training soon - keep an eye out for a late entry for the Gold Cup.....!!

Our Top 5 Buys For Winter 2015

1: Character Beams

3: Decorative Birdhouses

2: Childs Wardrobe

4: Folding Bench

5: Elm Dining Table

6: Handpainted Christmas Decorations

1: Character Beams: We have recently replenished our stock of timber where you can find a selection of character beams. These are all processed and finished, ready to go - perfect for above the fireplace
2: Decorative Birdhouses: We love these Nordic style wooden birdhouses available in red and gold. Too good for our feathered friends - we think they look far better inside, filled with twinkling fairy lights....
3: Childs Wardrobe: This beautiful hand painted cabinet was intended for use as a childs wardrobe but would also work well as a freestanding larder in which to store your festive nibbles.....
4: Folding Bench: Possibly too low for use as 'emergency' seating around the Christams table but this original folding bench would be perfect in any hallway or boot room
5: Elm Dining Table: Imagine this bespoke elm dining table decorated with greenery and candles and surrounded by family and friends - stunning.
And, because it's Christmas.......
6: Handpainted Christmas Decorations: A little extra something - beautifully decorated hand made christmas baubles and bells are now in stock!

Zaza's Blog - December 2015

Hello!
So, this month brings all the excitement of my first Christmas in Wichcombe and I've really been getting into the spirit of things. In particular, I have learnt that i'm rather partial to a mince pie or two!
My friends over at Attwoolls have fitted me with my very own rug to protect me from the Winter weather and I have had great fun dressing up for the festive season - this year, I took my inspiration from a friend of mine named Rudolph.....
There are so many local events to look forward to and I'm determined to do everything!
Firstly, I'll be heading doen to the Christmas Advent Festival here in Winchcombe to make a start on my Christmas shopping and snaffle a few mince pies. Then, as i got so distracted by the mince pies and mulled wine, I'll have to go late night shopping in Broadway to pick up all the gifts that I forgot..... On top of this, I shall be joining in the carol service at Sudeley Castle, popping next door into Broadway Wines for a cheeky tasting, visiting Santa at Toddington Railway, enjoying the pantomime in Cheltenham and sampling festive menus throughout the town.
I'm really looking forward to it all and wish everybody a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Seasonal Update

Following a year that has seen us supply vast quantities of reclaimed stone and dress hundreds of thousands of stone tiles we, for one, are looking forward to a little 'down time' over Christmas.
As usual, the yard will be closed for a fortnight (this year running from December 18th to January 4th) and we wanted to give people advanced warning of this.
Our vehicles are getting booked up for deliveries so, should you be giving your project that 'final push' before Christmas and are looking for materials to be on site for December, orders need to be confirmed, paid for and pencilled in for delivery over the next few weeks. Also, any materials at the yard awaiting collection will need to be moved before our two week shut down......
We are already looking ahead to a busy start in the New Year. If you have confirmed jobs for 2016, it is advisable to contact us as soon as possible to get materials on order - particularly high-demand materials such as building & walling stone and stone tiles, as we are beginning to fill up our schedule of works.......

Should you be looking to acquire any paving materials for next year, some of our current stock includes 800Msq of Portland, 300Msq of Bathstone and over 600M sq of York flag.
We have also undertaken a large Oxfordshire stone project recently - please call for more details.

Zaza'sBlog - November 2015

Hello,
Well, what a month it's been! I'm still settling in to my new surroundings and must admit that although the weather is more misty and cold than I am used to, it's relaxing to perch in my spot at Winchcombe Reclamation overseeing all that goes on - it certainly makes a refreshing change from being cvhased across the Savanah by cheatahs!
Some of you may have seen my friend 'Wryno' traveloling through the cotswolds recently. He is usually based in Cornwall but, in aid of World Rhino Day, made a journey up here to visit. Keep an eye out for him - he's the 4m tall rhino sculpture being towed by a customised van - quite hard to miss!
Recently I have enjoyed all the fun of the mop fair and am excited about what November brings - in particular the upcoming firework celebrations. Fireworks aren't something that I'm used to though and I believe they effect other animals at this time so don't forget to get advice on how to protect animals at this time.
My social calendar has already begun to fill up with lots of events to look forward to such as the Open meeting at Cheltenham and the run up to Christmas ( I can't wait to see the special Santa trains go past from Toddington railway!) Overall, things have been pretty busy with many people stopping by to say hello and, now that I'm something of a local celebrity, I'm starting to enjoy the attention. I've even started to learn more about social media and you can now follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.....

Zaza's Blog - October 2015

Hello! 
My name is 'Zaza'and you may have seen me appear on the side of the road as you enter Winchcombe from Broadway. You may well be wondering what a 20ft tall sculpture of a zebra is doing here, so I thought it's best to introduce myself......
The inspiration came from Winchcombe Reclamation who arranged my construction. I support the plight of my cousin, the Grevy's zebra - quickly becoming one o fthe most endangered species due to hunting and loss of habitat - and what better way to highlight this cause than by constructing a larger than life figure by the roadside?
I am the creation of Cornwall-based artist Dave Danson Hill and one of a series of sculptures of endangeres pecies. I started my life here in the Cotswolds as just single sheets of wood but, with the addition of cleverly placed battens and metal stripes I now really look the part.
I'm settling in well to my new home in the reclamation yard at Winchcombe but in the future, with the help of associated wildlife charities, I may well embark on an adventure to raise awareness for this cause....
In the meantime, keep an eye out for my stories and updates and don't forget to wave as you go past!

Our Top 5 Buys For Autumn 2015:

1: Cast Iron Garden Planter

2: External Flagstones

3: Large Firebasket

4: Swing Back Pews

5: Roof Slates

1 - Cast Iron Garden Planter:  It's tempting to neglect the garden a little throughout Autumn but why not think ahead? This original garden planter would create a great focal point in a bare border over the Winter months and can then be planted out as soon as Spring has sprung.....

2 - External Flagstones: Now is the perfect time to finish those external projects before the onset of frost and the use of reclaimed flagstones can complete a project nicely. We have extensive stocks available including large batches of York and Pennant - instant character!

3 - Large Firebasket: It can't be avoided for much longer, the nights are beginning to draw in and the temperature is soon set to drop so turn your attention to your fireplace. Get the chimney swept, or install a new log burner and tidy the hearth area. We think that this large firebasket would be perfect for those cold nights in.

4 - Swing Back Pews: Whether you are looking for additional seating in the kitchen or dining area or need somewhere in the hallway to put on those heavy boots and wellies before a brisk Autumn walk, these original church pews are ideal. Adjustable backs allow them to face either way and we have a number of different lengths available.

5 - Roof Slates: Take a quick look at your roof and check for any missing, slipped or cracked slates as undertaking repair work now can prevent a leaking roof when the weather worsens. We carry a varied stock of reclaimed Welsh slates in numerous sizes - just contact us with your requirements.

Office Space

Here are a few things that can jazz up your home office space. Going for the shabby chic/retro look? Well this will be perfect for you. 

This traditional old fashioned desk would be perfect for a large office space. This could be seen as more suitable for a traditional home interior because of the size, style and decoration of the desk itself. The depth of the desk means that there is ample storage in the drawers, perfect for those with mountains of paper work. The large surface also allows comfortable space for a computer without it becoming too crowded. This piece would look great surrounded by some of the other things in this post. 

Please visit our Pinterest for some more inspiration. 

 This old school desk would look great in a children's bedroom, a place for them to draw and let their imagination run wild. The rustic old wood may not fit perfectly into your home environment, so why not give it a makeover? This can simply be done with a lick of paint. This can really brighten up this old fashioned item and make it brand-new, allowing it to sit in either a traditional home interior or a modern interior. Please visit our Pinterest page to see how you can do this. 

 This beautifully woven world map looks great against a backdrop of wooden cladding walls. The map could sit above a desk giving the office a wall feature, a conversation starter for people visiting or simply something that you can look at and imagine where you could be when you're sat at home working. The material texture of this map allows you to mark where you've been without creating holes in the fabric, so you could simply hand thing against a corkboard to save your wall from any pin marks. 

This piece can become a feature on a plain wall in any room of the house. 

These old fashioned suitcases are a great accessory for any house, modern or traditional. Stacking these in a hallway or under the stairs creates a unique space that can be used to display flowers or ornaments. 

Take a look at what we have pinned! 

Kitchen Collection

This summer could be the perfect time to give your kitchen a little makeover. Want a little inspiration on how to do so? Well keep on reading and I'll tell you how. 

 

The beautifully crafted Kitchen Island made using reclaimed timber and oak would look great in any home. The contrast between the painted timber and oak worktop makes it perfect for any style house that being modern or traditional. My favourite design feature of this is the large storage area at the rear of the unit. This space could be used to store a number of old apple crates giving the unit a shabby chic look. If this isn't your style then you could use it to store the necessities like plates or any kitchen tools that are too big for the worktop. Or you could simply leave this space free and use it as a place to comfortably sit at to eat your meals. 

The butcher's block. Perfect for a smaller kitchen giving you that extra space you've wanted. It's like a smaller version of a kitchen island. You can use it as storage and an extra area to prepare food. The unusual checkered pattern on the wood will create a real feature in your room, a focal point, and a conversation starter. This piece would look great in a traditional country kitchen.

A church pew is a great alternative to dining chairs. They are however usually seen as old and antique more suitable for the country-style interiors, but they can work just as well with modern decor. Church pews usually have relatively simple designs making it easy to place in any room in the house. If you don't like the colour of the wood, fear not. Painting the pew in a white or pastel colour modernises the pew and still allows the detail to show through. Not only can the pew be used in the kitchen, but also another great place is the hallway, a great focal point as soon as you enter the house and a great spot to put your wellies on. Please visit our Pinterest to see more ideas on how to style your church pew. 

How can you use these old apple crates in your kitchen at home? You can simply just use these for storage, in the kitchen unit or under the butcher's block for example. But there are other ways to show off these vintage boxes. Fix them to the wall and use them as shelves for your kitchen essentials or fix them side-by-side to create a book case for all those recipe books clogging up your worktop. You could convert this retro piece into a herb garden giving your kitchen an extra bit of colour. 

Please visit our Pinterest to find more ideas. 

Zaza

Hello, 

I'm Zaza the zebra who you might see hanging around the Cotswold’s. I guess you're wondering what I'm doing all the way over here and not at home in Africa with my fellow zebra friends. Well that's why I've decided try out using this thing called the internet to tell you where it all began. (Please bare with me on this one, I'm not used to this writing malarkey). 

So, in May 2015 my good friend Dave Danson Hill was asked by the Wilderness Wildlife Trust and TUSK to build a 4-meter tall rhino to raise awareness of the species and how its global population has been endangered by decades of poaching. The Wilderness Wildlife Trust supports a wide variety of projects across Africa, seeking to find solutions to protect and save endangered species. TUSK has worked to help keep many different endangered species safe. These include the African Elephant, black and white rhino, cheetah, chimpanzee, mountain and lowland gorilla, African wild dog and Grevy's zebra. 
This Rhino stands proudly on the cliffs looking over Port Isaac in Cornwall. He named this masterpiece Wryno. Due to Dave's links with friends in Africa, it was decided that this could not only support a number of different charities but also become a wide range of beautifully crafted 4-meter tall wild animals. And this is where I come in. 

I support the plight of my cousin, the Grevy's zebra - we are becoming one of the most endangered species because of hunting and losing our habitats. We used to be found in many different areas of the world. Here are just a few: Ethiopia, Kenya and East Africa. However due to our rapid decline, we are now confined to the Horn of Africa (Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya).... and now the Cotswold’s!! Who would of thought it ay?! Apart from all the rain and chilly weather, I'm actually really enjoying it here, no running away from cheetahs and lions, just relaxing and nibbling on your wonderful green grass. YUM! Our main predators are lions, cheetahs and leopards. We do however have extremely good eyesight, handy for spotting anyone coming our way. Our stripes on our bodies makes it difficult for the predators to pick out an individual, so running away as a group is safer for us all. 

Let's rewind a little bit so I can explain to you all how I became such a wonderfully beautiful, fantastic zebra. Believe it or not, my life began as a single sheet of wood; this became drawings that became paper models that finally became ME! Dave the designer spent many evenings figuring out the best way to build my 4-meter tall figure, how my stripes would be fitted and how my ears would be made.

Below are a few selfies of me showing off my stripes...  

If you have a moment, please take a look at my twitter page- Zaza Zebra to see what I get up to.

Our Top 5 Buys For Summer:

1: Bespoke Kitchen Island

2: Garden Sleepers

3: Traditional Staddlestones

4: Ball Foot Planters

5: Green Metal Bench

1: Bespoke Kitchen Island - This beautiful kitchen island unit made using reclaimed timber would be a great feature in any home. Includes a large, oak worktop and plenty of storage....
2: Garden Sleepers - These Summer months offer the perfect opportunity to sort the garden out and these sleepers could be used in most projects. Great for raised beds, vegetable gardens, steps and even homemade furniture or planters. We have treated and untreated new softwood sleepers in stock at present.
3: Traditional Staddlestones - Originally used to support structures such as grain stores and barns, these Staddlestones or stone 'mushrooms' have plenty of character. We have a number of different examples in stock, including this impressive set of five...
4: Ball Foot Planters - We have stocked these English-made, frost resistant garden planters in terracotta before but this Cotswold cream colour is particularly well suited to the area. Traditional basketweave design upon ball feet. Would look great either side of a main entrance, maybe planted with bay trees......
5: Green Metal Bench - A simple iron bench finished in a sympathetic green hue. Suprisingly comfortable with a deep seat - the perfect place to sit, relax and enjoy the outdoors before Autumn creeps in....
We have other design ideas for this Season on our Summer Pinterest Board - why not take a look?