March 2010

Luckily I work from home so all the wintry weather hasn't stopped me and

I've been able to keep making even although the snow has been falling

thickly outside.  Usually the start of the year can be quiet but this year

the orders started flooding in just after the New Year.

I I've been working on some weddings and of course the horseshoes always sell well at this time of the year, I suppose into the New Year folk start thinking of the weddings they have to look forward to and start planning. Cake toppers have been popular this year too.  More and more folk seem to be looking towards having a greener wedding and of course straw work is very environmentally friendly.

I've just finished making a couple of commissions for Theatre productions,

Les Miserables and Oklahoma.

I seem to be booked in to do a lot of teaching this year.  If you are interested in learning this craft have a look on my diary page to see if there is a workshop that you can attend.  You could also look on the Guild of Straw Craftsmen's website for information too www.strawcraftsmen.co.uk If you can't find a suitable course then please send me an e mail with your details and I will let you know when a workshop becomes available.  It might just be that a few friends want to get together and organise a workshop for yourselves.

This Sunday I am in Airyhall, Aberdeen at a fair, 11am - 4pm.  I am also

giving a talk and hands on workshop at Portlethen Church Hall on 26th March and one in the Catholic Church Hall, Inverurie on 30th March.  If you want

any more information on these please e mail me.

Nov 2009

Well here we are into the last month of the year.  I have never had a year

like it, it has been so busy but satisfying. I have just finished putting up

an exhibition at the Creel Inn, Catterline, it will be there until the start

of January.  New items will be added to the exhibition in the next couple of

weeks.    I had a very successful workshop in Laurencekirk this month and

during 2010 we hope to run a workshop regularly there every couple of

months. The first one starts on 31st January, so if you fancy having a go at

this lovely craft please get in touch.

Lots of talks and demonstrations this month, I really enjoy showing

audiences how exciting working with straw can be.  It is a fascinating

craft, with something to suit everyone.  If you fancy having a go and can't

come to one of my workshops then you will find kits, books etc in my on line

shop to get you started or have a look at www.strawcraftsmen.co.uk for more information.

Quite a lots of bookings have come in for 2010 and it looks like it is going

to be a year of travelling and teaching.  The first event of the year will

be a lecture at Aberdeen University, MacRobert Building entitled 'From

Cornfield to Catwalk' on 26th January 2010.

I wish you all a very peaceful and happy Christmas and thank you to everyone who has supported me this year, whether you purchased a piece of straw work, attended a workshop or just showed an interest in the craft. I really enjoy hearing from you so please keep in touch.

Oct 2009

I started the month by attending the Guild of Straw Craftsmen's conference

weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  We had a lecture from Veronica Main who

is Curator of Costume and Textiles at Luton Museum where they have a

fantastic collection of straw items especially straw hats.  During the

weekend we also visited the Straw Museum in Norfolk where there is a large

collection of straw work.  This weekend gives me a chance to meet up with

all my straw working friends and also to try out some new techniques.

Fantastic.

During the month I have done several talks and demonstrations and I always

try to encourage people to have a go at plaiting.  It's amazing to see the

reaction when people realise that they can make their own Hairst Knot.  I

had a very enjoyable day at Glenbervie primary school where we had 70

youngsters plaiting!

Exciting news this month when my straw work was featured in Elle Decoration magazine, the article was styled by Graham Hollick.  Hopefully this will bring straw work to a new audience.  I was also asked this month to make 3 large Corn Maidens for a company and you can see the end result in the Photograph.

You will see on my Books and Tools page that I have started selling straw thread which has been hand spun by the woman of Sreepur Village in Bangladesh, their website is www.thesreepurvillage.org if you want to find out more about this charity.

I am just finished preparing for a workshop being held in Laurencekirk, I'm

looking forward to that.  My first Christmas Craft Fair will be at the

Woodend Barn, Banchory on 13th and 14th November followed by a Heritage Fair at Haddo, Ellon on 15th November.  The end of the month sees me at Fyvie Castle for another Christmas Fair and then a Winter Fair at Portsoy at the start of December.  Keep an eye on my diary page for other events and look forward to seeing some of you at the above mentioned venues.

Sept 2009

That's the doors closed on the North East Open Studio event for 2009.  The 10 days fly by.  This is a lovely event to be part of and I always meet very

interesting people.  Recently I demonstrated in The Courtyard at Peel Farm, Lintrathen www.peelfarm.com There is always a warm welcome there and you can see a range of my products all year round too.  A new venture that has my work on display is The Art Cafe in Fettercairn.  They are also running a corn dolly making competition at the moment, materials and pattern are available at the cafe so pop along, get you kit and have a go!

I'm off to Cromar soon for the annual conference of the Guild of Straw

Craftsmen, www.strawcraftsmen.co.uk I'm really looking forward to getting

together with all my straw working pals and catching up with the news.

Then, I'm afraid, it's the start of the lead up to Christmas.  My Christmas

page will be on the website soon and new pieces will be added in the next

couple of weeks.

I'm off to Aden Park, Mintlaw to demonstrate in the Agricultural Museum on

11th October www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/countryparks/locations/mintlaw.asp and then the following week I'm travelling to Cambo Estate, St Andrews

www.camboestate.com for their Octoberfest where I will be demonstrating and encouraging visitors to have a go at making their own hairst knot. Right at the end of October I will be at Archaeolink in Oyne for their Wickerman

Festival www.archaeolink.co.uk.  So another busy month ahead. The photo I've used this month is of a piece I made recently as part of the Harvest

Thanksgiving at a local church.

July 2009

A bit late with the news this month.  The start of the month was busy with

shows etc.  I went to Speyfest right at the start of the month in Fochabers,

this is a music festival with a craft fair on the Saturday.  It was a great

day and made lots of good contacts.  I drove straight onto Turriff from

Fochabers and set up for the Turriff Show, again a busy event.  It's lovely

meeting everyone at the fairs, catching up with friends and having a chat

about the straw work with the customers.

After the shows I had orders to finish off and get in the post and then set

off to Yoxall, near Burton on Trent to pick up a load of straw from Rosemary

Sault.  It was a long journey but once there we had a very pleasant

afternoon with Rosemary and family. Rosemary's mum and dad came to see me, although I had met Rosemary's mum before I had never met her dad.  Her dad, Sandy Liddle, was the very first straw grower I bought straw from about 25 years ago so we had spoken quite a lot on the phone but never met. I really enjoyed having a chat with him. Everyone helped fill the trailer and we even managed to fill the car too!! All too soon it was time to start the drive home.  It rained a lot of the way home and some of the bottom sheaves got damp in the trailer so there was nothing for it when we got home than to put all the sheaves into our conservatory to make sure they were completely dried out before putting them in my store.  What my family have to put up with!! Straw everywhere!

I was asked to submit some pieces for a photo shoot for Elle Decoration

magazine recently so we are all excited to see which pieces they have chosen to use.

Lots of events coming up.  I am giving a demonstration in The Courtyard,

Peel Farm, Lintrathen near Kirriemuir on Sunday 23rd August, I'm looking

forward to that and it gives me a chance to replenish my stock there.  Peel

Farm is a great destination for a day out, lots to see and they have a

lovely coffee shop too.  Saturday 29th August I am taking a beginners

workshop at Portsoy, I know there are still spaces so if this is a craft you

would like to try I'd love to see you there, details are on my diary page.

Another exciting event coming up on 6th Spetember is Huntly Hairst (Harvest) so very appropriate for me to be selling my wares there.  Also of course there is the North East Open Studios to prepare for.  This event starts on 12th September, catalogues for the event are out now and can be picked up in lots of places locally or from myself.  It would be lovely to see you at my studio, come and have a cup of coffee and a try at making a wee corn dolly for yourself.  Opening times are on my diary page.  As well as exhibiting here I will also have a selection of my work at Art at St. Mary's in

Inverurie.

It would be lovely to see you at any of the events I have mentioned please

say hello.  Off to plait again, plenty of stock to make!

June 2009

June has gone past in a flash.  I had a few very busy events during the month starting with Taste of Grampian which as usual was a superb event. It's nice to get the opportunity to meet the public and get feedback on my

products also to get together with other crafts folk and artists too. The other big event I exhibited at was the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. The show was amazing, I very nearly sold out!  I spent as much time as I could at the fair making stock, I spent the evenings in my room making stock and then turned up first thing in the morning to get those pieces finished off, priced and on the stand before opening time.  I met so many lovely people and was over whelmed with the interest in my straw work. Into July and I attended the Portsoy Boat Festival, the weather was so hot and the water looked so inviting! I seem to be making lots of straw Anchors at the moment.

I also spent a very enjoyable afternoon at Tarves Heritage Project where I

gave a wee demo and talk.  This is a very interesting place to visit if you

are in the area. I felt like a school teacher as I was in the  classroom

which is set out with the old desks etc.

Lots coming up this next month.  I'll be at the Cullerlie Singing Weekend, demonstrating and letting folk have a go at making their own hairst knot.

My fingers are never stopped plaiting just now as I try to build up my stock for Speyfest in Fochabers and Turriff Show at the start of August.