What Katie Did

Alston Craft Fair

A whole year ago I was getting ready to go to the Alston Craft Fair and the weather was glum. Today it is glorious sunshine, though we know it will be gone by 3.30 pm so - back to glum.

BUT!

if you are within driving distance of Alston, a wondrous place in the North Pennines, on 4th 5th and 6th December, call by and say hello. There will be so many great things for sale, all your present needs under one roof (all your future needs possibly too!)

 

Next, another great opportunity for local livers (?)

This is going to be a really interesting weekend and very generously subsidised by the Queens Hall Outreach Arts. Only a few places left. 

THEN!

as if all that wasn't enough imagine this..... imagine meeting the love of your life when you were a teenager and imagine spending the next 65 years being married to them. (SIXTY FIVE) 

 

That's what happened with my Mum and Dad and today is the day

HAPPY DAY and HAPPY EVERYDAY TO YOU BOTH

Joy in unexpected places

When the light fades at 3.30pm and the rain pours relentlessly from the sky, there may not seem to be much to brighten up the day. Small things make me smile. Every morning around this time I hear my neighbour getting her three small boys out of the house and into the car for the journey to school. There is always a bit of chatter and sometimes cajoling for the few moments this take and although I can't hear the detail I get the sense of it. It reminds me of when I used to do exactly the same thing with three small children.

I sometimes visit my friends when it is bedtime for their small girls. I know these girls rather well - these links from many years ago, for now Cala is 5! I have been reading to her from books our three really enjoyed - The Bullerbys by Astrid Lindgren, who is perhaps better known for stories about Pippi Longstocking, though I have never understood the appeal for this character. I urge all of you with small children to find the lesser known characters - Lisa and her friends at Bullerby (Cherry Time, Christmas at Bullerby, Springtime and the Six Bullerby Children) all out of print but copies can be found sometimes in charity shops or 'used' on Amazon. And when you are hooked on her simple child-centred stories, try Emil and his Clever Pig, Emil in the Soup Tureen or Emil and anything at all - he is the most wonderful character who gets up to mischief but always for the greater good. Then there is Lotta, and Karlson on the Roof, the Tomten and so many more wonderful characters. Yes, give Pippi a rest and check out the others.

There is such joy to be had between the pages of a good book and there is no greater gift to give a child than your undivided attention for a read-aloud story. This simple pleasure has put me in mind of all the other books we used to read aloud. Mairi Hedderwick of course and all her Katie Morag stories, Michael Morpurgo's Wreck of the Zanzibar read in one sitting for a gripping tale of courage and defiance! Then there is Grimble at Christmas - an unlikely tale from the late Clement Freud but a good read in the run up to the festivities. I'm sure you have your own favourites that are not on the conventional list - though there is nothing wrong with Beatrix Potter and Wind in the Willows or Whinnie the Pooh. Add your quirky favourites to the comments please - especially Martha, John and Owen - what do you remember that I've left out. Obviously not Heidi John!

A post without pictures - unthinkable! (Cala and me in the shed, from two years ago) Happy reading!

Eco-chicks don't fly

I know flying is disastrous for the planet, but sometimes the ends justify the means and this was one of those times.Look what you get to see!

every day this is what it looks like above the clouds. When it is dark and gloomy down here, it is like THAT up there!

Sometimes it looks spectacular from below

But always it looks amazing from above

sorry planet.

The morning after the Wool Event of the Week (Decade?)

Exhausted! Such a full on day of making with nearly 100 people. This drop-in workshop attracted people who were just passing by on their way to the library or the cafe, or people who had booked a day off work and travelled for miles to take part and everyone in-between. 

We said we would be demonstrating and involving people with carding, weaving, spinning, felting, knitting, crocheting, needle felting, sewing, and luceting and we did, including threading-buttons which a granddad did with his 2 year old grandson.

 

twins working well together

two friends really got the hang of peg loom weaving!

rolling that wet felt

we knit with this yarn as soon as it was made!

 
This was the 'before' picture as we were setting up in the gallery of the Queen's Hall. I haven't got an 'after' picture. We were too tired - seven hours of full on workshop. We will be doing this, or something like it again in the Winter, Spring and Summer. And we will show you what everyone made when we have collated it all in a week or two!

Thank you to everyone who gave up time to take part, but mostly thank you to Ellie who was a joy to work with!

One Day Only

the Wool Workshop is TODAY

try to get along if you can - it is going to be fun!

Culture

I am deeply gratified - someone has nominated me for a 'little blog award' on Dorset Cereals in the category 'Culture' - I have one vote (I am not fishing here) (honestly) (there is someone there with 96 votes and I don't know 95 people) (please don't) (thank you) (what's with the brackets?)

Anyway - I looked at my stats and spotted a hit from the aforementioned cereal people and wondered why they were visiting - lo and behold - a nomination - in 'culture'. I am astounded actually. They offer 'a really nice prize'. Do you think it is cereal? it must be mustn't it?

I don't think I have ever typed 'mustn't' it looks very strange.

Thank you to my mystery nominator - you have made me reflect on the way people see me and I'll relate this little musing of mine. I walked into my favourite cafe the other day and there was a nice person who I only know a little bit and she said 'Oh - hello Katie, how are you? ('fine' I said - blah blah, weather, autumn, pretty colours etc) 'Oh' she said again 'you always look so unique' 

And I got my coffee and sat upstairs and thought about it for a while and decided that I didn't mind being described thus. Unique. Cultured. They are only words - but how they end up being attached to me is a mystery. Not getting all philosophical here - just musing out loud - feeling in a musing sort of mood. As I write a good friend is in labour with her first child and my thoughts are there, but also further afield as the cycle of life keeps turning and bringing new challenges.

I can't remember when I last wrote so much here. A picture is called for I think - for those of you who are still reading to ponder on. Enjoy your day to the full - absolutely and completely. Today, I get to drive to Cumbria with Geoff and hold the other end of a tape measure while he works. But I get to be with him today and drive through some sensational countryside and chat. It will be just wonderful.

 

Wonderful Wool Workshop

The cogs have been turning and the plans have been hatching and now I can reveal that the greatest idea since Darwin (not really, but it's quite good) will be taking place in Hexham, on 30th October, in the Queen's Hall Art Centre with a lot of WOOL. Ellie is a felt maker and I just have a lot of stuff. We are going to collaborate to make something rather lovely. These nice people are funding us and it will be amazing. You are invited of course. Ellie and I will be playing with fleece all day long! I can't imagine anything nicer!

 

And this Sunday we'll be at the Auction Mart in Hexham from mid-day running two smaller drop in workshops - Ellie with wool, me with papper! I may even do it with a French accent.

Have you any idea what I'm talking about? check out the Youtube thingy on the next post!

Make a Papper Bag with this Frenchman

A Sociable Time

Well - I have eaten a lot treat food lately! It started on Thursday with a girls night in - Jan, Jayne and I watched Enchanted and ate lovely food with two sorts of Ben and Jerry's - this counts as a perfect evening in my book.

Then on Friday evening with apple cake and a marathon session sewing curtains for Lara. Lovely. Not finished yet, photos when we have.

Then it moved on to preparations for the Bed and Breakfast guests we were looking forward to welcoming to the treehouse! 

They had bid for this night at the charity auction to raise funds for this project. I went to the auction last year and had a lot of fun. It was this couple's 12th wedding anniversary, so effort had to be put forth. I had to test out the chocolate truffles didn't I?

And today, Lindsay and her friends Amanda and Fiona came from North of the Border for a jaunt and afternoon tea.

 

I went a bit over the top. There are left overs if anyone is nearabouts. 

I have eaten too much cake. A week of vegetables and fruit for me I think.