Okay....so I failed miserably and didn't post  in April! Time just seemed to go by so fast! If I am to do this properly then I most definitley will have to set aside some 'me' time! I note that last time I blogged was whilst at home with a cold. ironically, this time I am once more at home....this time with my right hand encased in rather heavy, white plaster following an operation. I have a new thumb joint! So hopefully, once the cast is of and various bits of metal removed I will be able to start drawing and painting again pain free!


But, enough of that...these are a few things I did intend to tell you about last month!


Firstly- a call out to all you crafty students out there! As part of the Hebden Bridge WI Rag Market and in conjunction with the Hebden Bridge Fringe Festival we are holding a 'Pedlars' day'.....a competition and selling opportunity for students.
Do you make jewellery, bags, clothes or other crafty items to sell?  As part of the popular Hebden Bridge Rag Market on Sunday 1st July you're invited to come and peddle your wares!  There will be a prize for the best barrow, tray, bike or whatever!
Open to School pupils from year 6 upwards and Students in further & higher education. Entry is £5.
As part of the competition, entrants can sell their wares at the Rag market, held in the New Town Hall, and also around St George’s Square, Hebden Bridge.
For more details please contact us through the HB Rag Market Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hebden-Bridge-WI-Rag-Market/107451159343275
or phone Sue on 07944352913 for more details.

April was a busy month in our small market town. Spring, as well as time for the 'For Sale' signs to sprout outside houses along with the daffodils, is time for The Pace Egg Plays and the Rotary Club Duck Race.
Unfortunately the Good Friday weather wasn't too favourable, but that didn't stop the crowds from cheering on the boys from the Calder High School as they performed the Midgley Pace Egg around Hebden Bridge before heading up the Buttress to see the Heptonstall Pace Egg Play.
The Pace Egg is said to be the oldest drama in the world, dating back to ancient Egypt and performed by many civilisations across the centuries.
Now the Pace Egg Play is confined largely to the Calder Valley where it has become an established tradition, played out in all its gory glory on Good Friday. Each year, without fail, St George takes on contenders such as Bold Slasher, the Black Prince of Paradine and Hector, aided and abetted by other equally outrageous characters such as Toss Pot and the Doctor. The costumes - in particular the strange headgear comprising a towering edifice garlanded with flowers, peculiar to the Calder Valley - are as much a part of the fun as the action, where violent sword fights are compulsory as good finally triumphs over evil! Records of performances of the Pace Egg Play  date back to the middle ages but the custom had fallen out of favour until revived in 1952 by Calder High School. Pupils of the school have been performing every Good Friday ever since. The Heptonstall pace egg, which is a slightly different version, was revived in 1979 by the Heptonstall Players.

My son as Bold Slasher wearing the Traditional Midgley Pace Egg Headdress..

 

The Fool, St George, Bold Slasher & Old Tosspot.

The Midgley Pace Egg Performmed by Calder High School

St George triumphs over  Bold Slasher! The Heptonstall Players.

Old Tosspot - alsways a favourite with the Ladies!

The Calder High School boys performed their last show of the day in Heptonstall too.....as the rain grew steadily heavier and temperatures dropped! But the boys' enthusiasm kept them warm along with the knowledge that they had raised £541 this year for Great Generation, Alzheimer's Society and Calder Valley Search and Rescue. The Heptonstall Players raised £677.60 for The Red Cross Syrian Appeal and the Little Theatre, Hebden Bridge.

The Annual Duck Race is held in Hebden Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday. This year....it rained! But the Ducks still swam and people still cheered them on!


And they're off!



The finish line! The little yellow paddlers are collected in for another year

Lots more events to come in our community! Saturday May 26 is the day for all you Vintage lovers to pop into town & visit the Hebden bridge Vintage Fair! Held in the Holme Street Arts Centre I'm sure there wil be lots of fabulous stalls as always I'll certainly be going to see what bargains I can find!

Hebden bridge Vintage Fair Facebook Page

Fun with the blog layout!

Just discovered how to add photos and mess around with layout! What fun!

My next resolution is to change with the seasons! April will officially be springlike! watch this space!

Spring is in the air!

It's March! already! I don't know where the past couple of months went, but they disappeared pretty fast! I originally intended to post at least once a month, but life being what it is, somehow I seem to have lapsed - and it didn't take me long! After reading some of my friends and fellow WI members' blogs I feel I have been shamed into trying again! So...I WILL try to post regularly from now on....and sat at home, feeling bored with the coldy virus thing that has made me feel grotty for the past few days, what better to do than put pen to paper....erm...finger to keyboard...and update a blog? After all - it will save me from the horror that is 'Daytime TV'!

The Egg Stone at Bridestones.

Fine days in January and February meant I could get out and play with my new camera! We had some snow, although not as much as past years I still managed to get out and take photos ready for next year's Calendar! Gloriuos blue skies on a snowy day - what could be more beautiful!

Angelica Heads

 Angelica Ice!

Spring is now most definitely in the air, even up here on our windy hill where the Lapwings can be seen again, bobbing over the moorland. Hares were spotted by a neighbour, racing and boxing in the fields surrounding their house, and Curlews can be heard in the breeze...another significant sign - a breeze not a gale! Although morning frosts and the snow flurry we had yesterday is a reminder that Mother Nature can still surprise us! We had some amazing Icey rain during February. Everything looked as if it was encased in glass. Despite the lethal footpaths and black ice on the roads - it did look beautiful!

Sunrise over icy field, Blackshaw Head

There are a lot of events coming up this year. Hebden Bridge is a thriving artistic community so I'll try to announce anything of interest well in advance! Who knows - you may want to visit!

Easter brings the Pace Egg Plays, the Traditional Pace Egg Play performed in Heptonstall throughout the day, and the Midgley Pace Egg, performed by students from The Calder High School at locations around the Upper Calder Valley, with their last performance of the day at Weavers Square in Heptonstall. My son has already started rehersals -this year playing Bold Slasher - a part he has wanted to play since a little boy, when he would re-enact the battle with St George with his wooden sword. This time the swords are blunt steel and he's a lanky teenager! There have ben no injuries.....so far!

From then on there is a full Calendar! Duck Race, Blackshaw Head Plant sale and Craft Fair, Hebden Brideg Blues Festival, Handmade Parade, Arts Festival, Vintage Car Rally and not forgetting WI Rag Market and countless Arts & Craft Fairs and The Blackshaw Head Fete! .....A busy year in a small part of the Pennines....and I know there's loads more going on, but I can't keep track!

This weekend we are hoping for sunny skies to bring the tourists in! I will be busy at both the Holme Street Arts Centre on Saturday and Lee's Yard in Hebden Bridge with my stalls at the Craft Markets. New cushions made from recycled vintage fabrics and lavendar hearts - perfect for Mother's Day!

Christmas countdown!

It's that time of year again! Halloween has been and gone, the last of the Bonfire Ashes have been swept or blown away, so time to start thinking about CHRISTMAS! believe it or not there are only 41 days to go....!

Why not think about supporting your local artists and craftspeople? What better gift to give than something hand crafted? quality, well made and Fair Trade goods made by your neighbours. Cut down on carbon emissions and buy a gift you'll feel good about giving - and something that nobody else will have.

Yesterday at the Hebden Bridge Craft Fair many people were doing just that! A fabulous day in Holme Street arts Centre for creativity! It continues today with the Hebden Bridge Craft Market held in the centre of town, just off St Georges Square. Let's hope it's another good day despite the fog and murk! I have my twinklies at the ready to brighten up the day and will be decking my stall with my new Felt Christmas Bunting.

Funky Felt Christmas bunting! 1metre lengths - perfect for above the Fireplace!

 Yesterday I whizzed up a couple of chocolate cherry cupcake baby hats.......ever so cute - so today they will be added to my little peoples knitwear collection and I'll be taking my knitting with me to make more!

Right - off to wrap up warm and brave the elements to show my wares..........fingers crossed that today's buskers are slightly more talented than usual!



Frosty morning in Blackshaw Head

Rag Hags market success!

Last Sunday saw the Hebden Bridge WI Rag Market in full swing! As members of the textiles group we arrived early along with fellow WI members to set up the stalls, cut the cake and deck the hall with colourful handmade bunting. When the doors opened at 11 o'clock a queue had already formed and were chomping at the bit ( wrong analogy for makers, knitters and sewers I know...sorry!) to be let in to grab a bargain. The hall was buzzing! Full of craftsters both young and old "searching for something in particular" and buying textiles and wools that caught their eye even though they "shouldn't really! I have so much at home!".

I know I shouldn't really as I have plenty of fabric and too little storage space....but I did too! How can one resist fabric and 'stuff'? You never know when they might be needed! I was ever so excited to spot an early 1970's plastic orange and white sewing box - shaped like a stool,with a tray inside under the seat, it was identical to one I had when I was young! Brought back many happy memories of sewing clothes for my Pippa & Sindy dolls. Actually there's a thought....maybe this one WAS mine!!

My 1970's sewing box!

Lots of bargains to be had at the Rag Market

I am now busy stitching and knitting ready for this weekend. On Saturday - hopefully, I have a stall at the Craft Fair in Holme Street Arts Centre, and Sunday is the Craft Market in Lee's Yard both in Hebden Bridge. Lots of new handmade bits and bobs including Felt Christmas Bunting and 'So Hebden Bridge' woolly hats! And - as Christmas is only 46 days to go I'm bringing out the twinly lights for that Festive feeling!

Come along and say Hello!

oooh! I nearly forgot....and I was so excited when it arrived that I'm surprised I didn't mention this first! MY NEW FIDDLEFADDLEBANNER HAS ARRIVED! So now there is no excuse...you can't miss me on the market....fairy lights and a new banner. hope it makes a difference!



Bargains Galore!

Only a couple of days to go before the WI rag Market on Sunday 6th November and I'm nearly all prepared! Bundles of pure new wool fabrics and oddments of others have been measured and rolled and all the wool has been sorted and priced. As well as my bits and pieces there will be lots of other stalls selling all kinds of usefull and most obviuosly desirable crafty 'stuff'. Vintage patterns, vintage sewing boxes, bundles of lace and buttons - a makers paradise!

.......and whilst I'm here can I just promote my 'Hebden Bridge Calendar'? In the shops now ( - Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Todmorden and Halifax), or available direct from me. 12 photos of our beautiful Upper Calder Valley landscape, and I'm already out and about taking photos ready for next year! The Calendar is doing well so far, and it has also brought me an unexpected commission - to create a Calendar, using my photos, for a local company to send to their clients. a new venture perhaps?



Hello and Welcome!

Well, this is a definite first for me! Family & friends keep telling me not to be afraid of technology.......apparently I can't break the Internet, even if my witty No. 2 son tells me that if I Google 'Google' I most probably will. I suspect, however, that he's been watching too much IT Crowd!

 So.....where do I start? Well, firstly I have to thank Sue for inspiring me to do this! After a chat about 'Handmade In Hebden Bridge' after putting up our Hebden Bridge WI Rag Market banner on the railings in the centre of town (more of this later!) I have decided that a Blog is a fairly good way to advertise my wares and let people know about all the crafty happenings in Hebden Bridge - and there are a lot of them!

So! The first one to talk about is the WI Rag Market! It will be held on Sunday 6th November from 11 til 4 at Central Street School, just off Market Street, Hebden Bridge. The perfect place to buy all your crafting items ready for Christmas makes! Lots of bargains to be had from wool to vintage sewing patterns, lace and fabrics.... AND on top of all that we will be serving tea and cake to quench that thirst after your creative shopping experience! The WI is notorious for the quality of cake they serve up, and we at Hebden, Bridge are no exception! I can guarantee a mouthwatering selection of home baked treats.

Sue and I bravely put the brand new 'Rag Market' banner up at the traffic lights in the centre of Hebden yesterday and posters will be popping up around the local area so you won't be able to miss it! If you are reading this from afar - then why not pay Hebden Bridge a visit - full of quirky little shops selling lots of original bits & bats, we aren't the 4th Funkiest town in the world for nothing!

You can also follow me on Facebook  - http://www.facebook.com/#!/Betty.FiddleFaddle  and visit shop on Folksy at http://www.folksy.com/shops/FiddleFaddle 

I'm sure there is a way of adding these links to my Blogspot permanently - but I haven't got that far yet!

So that's all for now! Please keep checking for updates...I'll try to remember how to do it, but being a bit of a technophobe it does take me some time!