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. 

Valley born and bread

final result!

It's all a blurrrrr of activity!!

Well that's my excuse.  The day I visited The Bakehouse they wouldn't stand still long enough for a duffer like me to take a photo!  

But the aroma as well as the industry was very impressive. They're making  Real Bread and it comes in many delicious varieties all organic.  As well as Better bred white and brown and variety breads like olive, Moor Ale, chocolate and currant (mmm) and bagels there's a range of sourdough breads - Cragg Crusty, Mytholmroyd Maslin and Royd Rye. 

Sourdough is a natural slow process for leavening bread and it's all a bit mysterious.  Never fear they'll be sharing the secrets with us at the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Town Hall on October 5th. Sourdough starters and instructions on how to do it! And they'll have plenty to sample and buy.
yum, yum and again yum!

The Weavers Tale

Nicola with a beautiful cushion

Nicola Winters loves colour, pattern and variety and she loves weaving them together. After qualifying as a stained glass artist at college she found that the responsibility of all that breakable glass was not for her so she took her inspiration and planning skill, went from sharp to soft and took up weaving.

Now based at Northlights Studio in Hebden Bridge she plans to start offering workshops; a beginners day course, and a three day course for those wanting to go further and learn how to warp a loom.  Both will be reasonably priced and Nicola will only have 2 students at a time as it's engrossing work that demands concentration.  This is great news for budding weavers as courses in this dying art are so difficult to find.

At the Meet the Makers Market Nicola will have a loom with the warp ready for anyone who wants to have a go at making a little bookmark.  A simple twill design is planned, just like the famous Harris Tweed!  So come along to Hebden Bridge Town Hall on October 5th and get weaving.....

Soap Glorious Soap!

soap stamping

Back in 2008 Rob and Geoff of Calder Valley Soaps were working at Suma but were looking to move into manufacturing of some sort. By chance they were able to buy the business that was supplying soap to Suma. Since then they've gone from strength to strength, continuing to make bespoke soaps and building their own brand Elphin Soaps. that sells in shops from Lands End to Aberdeen. 

They're enthusiastic about the cold pressed process which retains the glycerin in the ingredients.  This process is 2000 years old and makes the gentlest soap.  (Apparently the mainstream soap industry sells the glycerin back to us in the form of moisturisers and creams!)  Rob and Geoff are meticulous in their sourcing and are always looking to improve their methods.  All products are fairtrade, vegan and cruelty free, and they're even moving towards replacing fairtrade palm oil with a blend of sunflower and coconut oil.  For perfume and colour they only use herbs, spices and essential oils.

At the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Town Hall as well as buying some lovely natural products, we'll be able to see the soap being cut into bars and have a go at stamping a motif in a bar ourselves.  So come along and clean up folks!

mmmm..what's that beautiful scent?