I opened up my studio shop for a couple of afternoons a week through the summer and met all sorts of interesting people who were visiting Orkney. When people visit my studio I often ask if it is their first visit to Orkney and I’m amazed at the number who say they come here every year. I think Orkney is a kind of “Marmite” place - people either come once and don’t like it (too quiet, too remote, not enough shops) or (and this is the more common response) they totally fall in love with the place and want to come back again and again. If you’re into the outdoors, big open skies, beautiful coastlines, wildlife, history, walking, crafts and locally produced food then it really is the place to visit and if you would like to then I suggest a look at Visit Orkney to find out more.
Also in the summer I showed at the County Show. Now I’m just to going to admit from the start that I was pretty sceptical about this one. Normally handmade crafts aren’t the first thing I would associate with an agricultural show but I am clearly out of date in my thinking. First thing on a morning in August I packed up the car and headed off to Kirkwall to setup my stand in the Craft Tent.
It was a scorchingly beautiful day and after a quiet start the craft tent was packed. I had printed up some special “100% percent Orkney beef” t-shirts for the show and they went down a storm! It was a fun day and I’ll definitely be taking part again this year.
Just goes to show you should never be afraid to try something new! Massive thanks have to go to my great friend Eilidh for coming along to play shop, putting up with me worrying about getting everything set up in time and going on little excursions for steak rolls, icecream and sweeties!
Posted: February 22nd, 2010 in exhibitions & events, inside the studio.
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