Good news from a dairy farm!

Last weekend I went to the Pex Tenement Farm open day on the hillside above Todmorden. The weather was unseasonably warm and the sunshine made the colours of the fields and trees even more stunning.

It was so good to see a working farm, cows outside enjoying the lush grass 

And happy pigs waiting to enjoy some whey and left over cheese

 

I bought some delicious organic cheese, Camembert watch out.

And I'm pleased to announce that Carl and Sandra will be selling their cheese at our Christmas event, all the cheeses for your Christmas table and their special assortment packs which make fantastic presents.  We've called it Eggsmas!  And it's at the Egg Factory December 12th and 13, 11 til 5.  Lots of beautifully made presents to buy from local producers and activities, food, music and drinks! See you there! 

Winter coworking offer

New spaces and new prices.

As you will have noticed the winter is a-coming in. We're conscious that the Egg Factory, for all the warm welcome, is an industrial space and can get a little chilly when you're sat still. So we're making a special winter offer to members of £50 a month for unlimited desk time. You can have a small heater under the desk and if you wrap up warm, this should be a bargain. (Don't forget there's wifi and free tea and coffee) This offer will run from November 1st to March 1st and doesn't apply to printing, photography and big table use.

With this offer in mind we've been doing a bit of titivating of the desk spaces, and think we have something for everyone. 

If you've always wanted to hide away in a shed and stay close to nature how about this little beauty? tucked away behind the greenery in your own little world....

For those of a vintage disposition you can make yourself comfortable in this flowery study....

Or for the minimalist, white desk, white wall, no clutter....

Next to the window, the green desk guarded by the aloe vera

So get in touch if you're fed up talking to the cat and want to meet your fellow freelancers! 

Go eclectic with Bonker*s Clutterbucks

Bonker*s Clutterbucks are Peter and Kate, a husband and wife team passionate about making dioramas within old crates, cigar boxes, small pastille tins and glass cloches. 

"We love up-cycling old maps, score sheets and patterned papers which we collect on our travels."

 
Their work is intricate and requires meticulous cutting with a scalpel and delicate construction. 

The duo specialise in 3D hot air balloons and like to create scenes with anthropomorphic creatures in edwardian dress and an air of high adventure.

 

"Our name reflects our eclectic passion for all things nonsense….the second half also just happens to be an old family name!"

Peter and Kate can normally be found working & playing alongside their family in an old corn warehouse in Rossendale and we feel very lucky to have tempted them over the border so that they can share their inspiring and eclectic style as part of our autumn creative workshop program. Book your place now online or via phone 01422 846082

Join in the fun with Bonker*s on: 19th September and 17th October

Visit their website to read more about Peter and Kate 

Polish Pajaki Workshop with Louise Lockhart

proper pretty paper!

We're very pleased to say that on Saturday May 9th Louise Lockhart of the Printed Peanut will be teaching us how to make one of these very beautiful decorations, great for parties and celebrations and to hang over the table!

You may have seen them at the Christmas event 

Louise's stall

Louise says that they're so easy anyone can make one and that it's very therapeutic. It's all done with tissue paper and plastic straws, simples! Pajakis are part of the folk arts and crafts tradition of Poland, when the peasants passed the winter months decorating their houses with all sorts of elaborate cut paper crafts.  And we'll have loads of tea, toast and delicious spreads to keep us going.  

Please note our workshops must be pre-booked!  (Money back of course if they don't run)

Start your own Heirloom Quilt

a quilt made for a friend from her old clothes, bits and bobs

Have you got a special " patchwork quilt" drawer at home full of bits and bobs of fabric?  Old lace, linens and items of clothing that you're hoarding because you love them or because they're mementoes of people you've lost?  Aha, I've got the answer!  Come to my heirloom quilt workshop on Saturday May 2nd at the Egg Factory.

Not many people know this, but I've made many many quilts. And although I'm not naturally a planning person, I've learnt from experience that planning a quilt is the best guarantee that you'll finish it, without running out of fabric or time and that it will resemble what you originally had in mind.

So the workshop will be mostly about planning and designing, although you might get started on cutting and even sewing.   I'll have lots of pictures to look at and examples of the various simple techniques I use. I'm also offering free follow up quilt coaching if you get stuck. Click here to get booked!

Cobweb Felt Window Hanging Workshop

Sometimes you just must have privacy!  Something to stop those nosy passersby from staring in your window.  Here's a new twist on the trad lace curtain from Clare Ashton, master felt maker of Felt Feelings.  

Clare will be teaching us how to make this simple wall hanging at an afternoon workshop at the Egg Factory on Saturday April 25. 
 
Book here soon to avoid disappointment and you'll be going home with your own piece of British Wensleydale woolly loveliness.

Grow Your own Veg Plot workshop

Ha ha spring can't be far away, surely?? are you feeling the urge to grow your own veg? But don't know where to begin?  Have you made false starts in the past, do you have old well meant packets of seeds lurking in the back of the kitchen drawer, making you feel guilty every time you find them? I expect so, I do.

But we have the answer - come to our workshop on April 18th at the Egg Factory and Sally of Kingfisher Flowers will help you plot your plot.  You'll go home with seeds planted ready to grow! Then bring them back on May 30th and learn how to pot them on.  Don't be put off if you've only got a window box, Sally is ace at helping you decide what is achievable for you.

Please book in advance by clicking on the workshop menu on our website
or email us at madeinthevalleyshop@gmail.com

Get some dirt under yer nails!

Making and Doing at the Egg Factory

As part of our crowdfunding campaign last autumn lots of nice kind people bought a voucher for one of our making and doing workshops.  I'm sure they've all been waiting with baited breath so phew, at last we've announced the programme and it will be running over the spring and summer here at the Egg Factory.

There'll be something for everyone, from paper to willow, beekeeping to terrariums and we've gathered a group of talented tutors to show you the ropes.  

Most of them are on a Saturday afternoon, fun, relaxing, and you'll get to take home a finished object, or the means of finishing said object. Plus there will be tea and toast made from lovely local breads and a range of delish spreads, such as peanut butter, chocolate, luxury jams, and more!

To save yourself a place please book in advance by visiting our website
or phone us on 01422 846082 or email madeinthevalleyshop@gmail.com

and watch this space for more posts about the individual workshops as they come over the horizon.

 

Ruby Creagh leather worker

Ruby at her machine

At the astonishingly young age of 21 Ruby is already well on her way to creating a successful business. But she's not in a hurry, and the care she's put into her plan for the future is reflected in her products. Her beautiful leather bags are simple and stylish and designed to last a lifetime.

Ruby has an impressive CV, and it all started with her teenage love of horses.  Disenchanted with A levels she dropped out of school at 16, going to work full time managing a stable yard, followed by jobs at Robinwood activity centre and the ATC in Hebden Bridge. Now she works at the Heart Gallery and the Coffee Station as well as putting in 3 days a week for Geoff at Tan My Hide as an apprentice where she's learning the leather worker's trade, spending one day a week on repairs, and two on making. "I think it's the best way of learning as I can benefit from Geoff's knowledge and skills - much more than I could on a course"

We're looking forward to Ruby using the Egg Factory and hope it'll help her on her way. "I've made useful contacts there already and I think it'll have a great atmosphere." She'll be taking part in our Christmas event on December 13th and you'll also be able to see Ruby's work at Gimbals Artisans Emporium  in Sowerby Bridge on November 16th.

Kingfisher Flowers

Sally Baker of Kingfisher flowers is a woman of many talents - among other things she runs community allotments, teaches creative writing and is a published poet. But her passion is growing organic flowers so she's started a business doing just that.

Her beautiful sunny allotment is a peaceful plot that buzzes with life and colour although sometimes too many visitors want to share it with her.  "We've had birds and beasts of every kind, some are more welcome than others, but it's encouraging to see that it's a healthy environment."

Sally supplements what she can grow by buying seasonal British flowers and using foliage from hedgerows, (having asked permission from landowners of course!) She creates simple informal arrangements for all sorts of occasions and is happy to work with clients, sharing her skills and using material from their own gardens.  Another speciality is succulents and she'll be running terrarium workshops at the Egg Factory in the spring.

Meanwhile at the Egg Factory Christmas event on December 13th Sally will be helping customers make their own festive wreaths. Come along and get your fingers green!

Looking at the Lockharts

Louise with her products

When Louise Lockhart got her degree in Visual Communications she decided to make a start on her lifetime's mission - to illustrate every surface on the planet! And so the printed Peanut  was born. Based in Hebden Bridge Louise is now selling a prolific range of items from t shirts and soap to prints and party games, all decorated with her colourful exciting designs.
Some she produces herself but she's aiming at becoming the head designer of her own brand. "I've done a collaboration with Donna Wilson and I'd really like to run my business along the same lines getting the products made for me by UK small batch manufacturers."

Although Louise doesn't want a shop of her own she's become a dab hand at the pop up. With her mum Lizzie, recently retired from running the Art Foundation course at Bradford College, she's joined with several other local artists to form Hebden Pop ups.   Lizzie, "the bargain queen", sources interesting curiosities on her travels, and also contributes her own handmade textiles.  They both like the idea of targeting festival times when visitors and locals are looking to buy and made quite an impact at On Reflection hair salon the day le Tour came to Hebden Bridge.

Tour de France by Lizzie Lockhart.

So we're pleased that Lizzie and Louise will be subscribers to the Egg Factory, mostly using the screen printing facilities.  They'll also be popping up at the Egg Factory for the Christmas event on December 13th with fun things for customers to make and do, as well as a goodly range of delights for last minute presents.  Looking forward to seeing what they come up with!

Louise with friend Charlotte Meacham at last year's Christmas pop up shop

Some thoughts on crowdfunding

We all do our bit on the social media at Made in the Valley but this crowdfunding malarkey is making me realise how much I operate in a comfort zone. You've got to get outside it, fast! It's by turns exhilarating and scary, sticking your neck above the parapet. Gulp....

We've had some brilliant pledges so far for which we'll be eternally grateful people.  Meanwhile, put kettle on Mother, let's do another tweet (or is it twit, or twat even??) 

We're Here!

When the Made in the Valley team went looking for a new home last year we never expected to actually find one.  But we did - straight away! It was flat! It had parking! It was big!  (Erm, too big? Never fear, Wood and Wire needed a new home too, so we split it in two.)

We got cleaning and painting and transformed it from this....



To this



And we decided to go down the coworking route, creating a making and doing centre for startups and homeworkers to incubate their businesses.

We're nearly ready to open our doors properly and we're launching a crowd funding campaign next week to get us on our way.

Watch this space!

Getting ready.......

Some news!  We're going to be moving to the new space very soon, and after we've settled in and made ourselves respectable we'll be welcoming other coworkers. 

Lots of work to be done and lots to be spending money on, of course. Being impoverished types we've got to 'bootstrap' the project, so we're selling off our family silver in Bridge Mill over the next few weeks in our Dead Horse shop.

Not actually silver of course, but one man's clutter is another man's treasure! 

We're off to the Rag Market!

Next Saturday we're off to the WI Rag Market with a load of beautiful bits and bobs. Time for a sort out  and a chance to raise funds for the new coworking space. So it's been good to own you, beautiful fabrics, buttons and beads, but get ready for moving to new owners who will love you as much as we have! Sigh.....

We're still here!

Made in the Valley are about to embark on a new venture - we're launching a coworking space in Hebden where others can come and work alongside us. It'll be a home from home for freelancers, microbusinesses and other worker bees, a chance to use facilities and space that can be so difficult to find. They'll be fun and games as well, and lots of goings on. Watch this space for news! 

The Actual Meet the Makers Market!

Well, we finally got there and a fun time was had by everyone.  The Town Hall was humming with visitors of all ages getting stuck in and having a go at making and doing! The weather blessed us and enabled people to get a breath of air outside (in the smoke from the fires!) when it got too crowded inside. 

Here are a few pictures kindly taken by Lisa Allen, who was the duty manager for the day.  She did us proud, keeping everyone happy and running smoothly.  Thanks to everyone who took part and helped - it was a day to remember.

a lively crowd in the main hall

having a bash at frame drumming

Helena from Incredible Farm cooks fabulous pumpkin soup, yum

The Bakehouse share the secrets of sourdough bread

Cragg Vale Bunting for the Tour de France next year!

Kitty Couture Hats do felt brooches

Meet the Creature Kits

All packed in and ready to go

At the Meet the Makers Market we launched these creatures into the world. They'll shortly be available to buy in our online shop in kit form so that you can make your own.  Get sewing out there!

Preparations for the Market

 I know it's a bit 'after the event' but I thought it would be a little bit interesting to see what we got up to before the punters came a-streaming in on the day. 


 We decided to decorate the Town Hall for the Meet the Makers Market with beautiful banners of making and doing words, all designed by Amy and hand screen printed by all of us. Although we say so ourselves, we think they look cool!

And we asked Clare and Helen, the Green Willow Workers, to make us some willow hurdles to serve as a back drop to the stalls in the middle of the hall.  Here they are being tried out while we figure how to keep them in place.  On the day they more or less stood up by themselves, they were so proud.  (If you email us you can buy one for your garden instead of a boring old fence, approx 4' x 5' and a reasonable price).

Cheese Please Louise

lovely soft cheese with a hint of garlic, with creamy soft cheese for afters

Pex Tenement Cheese Company make fabulous organic cheeses in their dairy on the Todmorden hillside.  They use their own organic milk, from their organic cows who graze on their organic fields.  I know that beautiful hillside well but it took a town dweller to tell me something new about it. While walking through the lush grass she said "it smells of butter". That sums up for me what's so good about the cheese - from the grass, to the cow, to your plate.  The taste of Todmorden!

Carl will be bringing a range of cheeses to try and buy at the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Town Hall  and his laptop with his informative and entertaining presentation about the company.