Latest news with #handmade
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wimborne Craft Fair returns with 30 tables of arts and crafts
Wimborne Craft Fair is set to return, showcasing locally made arts and crafts. The event will take place at the Allendale Community Centre on Saturday, October 28. It will run from 11am until 4pm. The annual fair, organised by Wimborne Rotary, is free to attend but visitors are encouraged to donate to the charities supported by the Rotary. There will be 30 tables in the Allendale's Minster Hall, where crafters will display their work for sale. Bookings are already being taken for these, so anyone interested in showcasing their crafts should contact organiser Chris Mogg at crmogg@ Mr Mogg said: "Due to the limitations on space in the hall we had to turn away some crafters last year. "We have already had a great deal of interest from local crafters and I'd recommend securing your space sooner rather than later."
Forbes
2 days ago
- General
- Forbes
5 Tips For When It Is Time To Quit
HAMBURG, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 10: A Team of nine women and one man set a world record of the longest ... More distance running in high heels on a treadmill in thirty minutes at Holmes Place on November 10, 2014 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by) Last fall, I attended a workshop and spotted a young woman wearing the most beautiful shawl. I asked her where she got it and she said, 'I made it myself.' When I asked her if I could pay her to make me one, she replied, 'It took me about 250 hours. It would be very expensive plus the materials.' She inspired me to take a lesson at a local craft store. After attending an initial 90-minute lesson, the instructor sent the class on our way to finish our scarves. Since I knew I was making mistakes, I returned to the store twice to have them set me straight and get me on the right track. But I didn't want to make a scarf. I wanted to make sweaters and shawls! A few weeks later I was having coffee with a friend in her 60s who showed me a photo of the sweater she made for her granddaughter. It was lovely. She told me she has been knitting since she learned at age eight. I told her my knitting story and realized, 'I don't have time to learn how to knit.' Knowing When To Walk Away It gave me peace to realize I don't have time to learn how to knit sweaters. I was reminded of the book 'Quit: The Power of Knowing When To Walk Away,' by Annie Duke, a former professional poker player. She talks at length about how society rewards being persistent and staying with something rather than quitting. Quitters are considered losers. Duke explains that we can reframe quitting as an opportunity to better use our time, energy, and focus. When we do so, we have the permission to move onto something else. Duke said she wrote 'Quit' because 'I think that the stopping things part of the equation is very neglected.' In contrast, Angela Duckworth wrote a popular book called 'Grit: The Passion and Power of argues in her book, 'Success is less about talent and more about a combination of passion and perseverance.' She calls this combination grit. Duckworth encourages readers to cultivate long-term dedication to their goals, overcome setbacks, and maintain a growth mindset to achieve excellence. The most important lesson from 'Grit' for me was the emphasis on having a growth mindset. Duckworth distinguishes between a growth mindset, which is focused on improving versus a fixed mindset focused on proving yourself and not making mistakes. Having a growth mindset is about improving yourself yet accepting those aspects that no longer serve you. But I decided my life runway is too short to learn how to knit sweaters. I was not enjoying the process – mainly because it was going to take me too long to learn the skills needed to accomplish my goal. Since I have other hobbies where I can apply a growth mindset such as photography, I could spend more time learning and improving. In fact, I signed up for a photography tour in Guatemala next fall. This allows me to use my equipment, practice my Spanish, and travel to a place that has been on my wish list for a long time. As Duke would say, stopping learning how to knit gives me an opportunity to better use my time and energy. Tips For Quitting The Right Things/How To Quit Like A Pro So I am not going to be a knitter. And I don't feel like a quitter. The key lessons from Duke's book reminds me: Carol Orsborn, a writer and expert on aging, tends to focus on wisdom, balance, and meaning rather than traditional notions of productivity. Her work often challenges the idea that productivity is about efficiency and output. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of intuition, personal fulfillment, and integrating work with a deeper sense of purpose—especially as people age. Orsborn encourages people to shift from a purely goal-oriented mindset to one that values reflection, life experience, and authenticity. She suggests that true productivity isn't just about doing more but about doing what truly matters. What are you doing now that does not bring you joy? What do you enjoy that you would like to spend more time doing? Now might be time to be a quitter!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A tale of two Stampedes — business is a mixed bag for vendors
As the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth enters its final weekend, vendors and small business owners in the newly completed BMO Centre are telling a tale of two Stampedes — business is booming for some, while others are barely breaking even. 'With everything going on in the world, I think Canadians are being a little more cautious,' said Paulena Gidda, owner of Bullets N' Beads Jewelry. 'You're looking for Canadian made, you're looking for handmade. You're looking for unique items.' Bullets N' Beads reuses bullet casings from police or military, turning them into jewelry such as rings, necklaces and bracelets. Partial proceeds are donated back to veteran organizations and mental-health initiatives. Gidda said that while she thinks attendance is up, her sales are comparable to last year. And while customers are interested, they are sometimes hesitant to pull the trigger. 'It's a competitive market. But then again, being a Canadian artisan is a competitive market,' Gidda said. 'It doesn't matter whether you're at the Calgary Stampede, the farmers market or any other venue, right? It's getting harder and harder as a small business.' First-time vendor Chanelle Chalazan, owner of Chic and Charmed Boutique, said the large crowds aren't necessarily translating to sales. 'There's lots of people walking in here, but they're not really buying,' said Chalazan, who normally operates her business in Saskatoon. 'It's good that there's lots of vendors, there's lots to do. But I think when you have too much, there's too much for people to look at, so then they don't feel like buying.' While she is satisfied with her time at the Stampede, Chalazan said she wouldn't likely return as a vendor. Link Tong, owner of 3D pop-up card art shop Roses Without Thorns, is familiar with the risks of running such a business at the Stampede. 'Out of all the big shows in Canada, all the summer fairs I've done, the cost per day in Calgary is the highest. So it's a big factor for small businesses like us,' he said. Tong said his fifth year attending the Stampede as a vendor has been slower than normal. He speculated that could be due to a variety of factors, including fewer U.S. visitors, weather or the popularity of Coca-Cola Stage performers. 'I'm still doing pretty well, because consistency is everything for any kind of business. Especially small businesses and unique products — you need to be patient and build up your followers and clientele,' he said. Clare Marshall, author and owner of Faery Ink Press, said her first time at the Stampede has been a success. 'It's been interesting, because I don't think other people sell books here. As far as I know, I'm the only author, so I think people are pleasantly surprised to see me,' said Marshall. But is the cost of running a booth in the BMO Centre worth it for Marshall? 'The short answer is yes. The long answer is definitely yes,' she said. 'Every little thing you do adds up. And people don't always remember what you say, they remember how it made them feel.' For sellers at Elbow River Camp, business has been slower. 'I think it's the location,' said Pearl White Quills, owner of Indigenous beadwork shop Bright Swan Creations. 'A lot of people who do come through, they've been coming to Stampede for some years now. They have said that they didn't know that this was here.' White Quills said better signage on the midway might help direct more visitors to the camp, which is across the bridge south of the BMO Kids' Zone. For other vendors, the quiet riverside location is more of a plus. 'This is kind of like a hidden gem,' said Aaron Many Guns, owner of Raven Willow Creations. 'It's a lot calmer, and people can come and rest and recharge. 'And then, off into the chaos.' bnicholls@ Guide to the Calgary Stampede: What you need to know Calgary Stampede Rodeo 101: The ultimate guide whether it's your 1st or 101st rodeo Chuckwagon racing 101: What you need to know before heading to the races at Calgary Stampede Still the One: Shania Twain arrives in Calgary while in the midst of a career reinvention Is the Calgary Stampede the greatest music festival in the West? Cowgirl grit: More women than ever at the Calgary Stampede rodeo A grand vision: How the Calgary Stampede came to be the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth How have Calgary Stampede posters changed? Here's a look back at 100-plus years of them You want fireworks? We've got fireworks! A look at a few of our favourite pix of Stampede pyrotechnics from the past few years
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mitre by mitre: N. Macedonian nuns craft priceless holy headwear
In total silence, Sister Elisaveta stitched the sacred headwear for which her monastery in North Macedonia is renowned throughout the Orthodox world. In her careful hands, the mitre glimmered as if spun from gold. The bulbous silk crown, now repaired, was again fit for a bishop. Nestled between mountains and overlooking a placid lake about 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of Skopje, Saint George the Victorious monastery produces unique headdresses worn by patriarchs around the world. "We are the only one in the world that works with this type of mitre," Sister Efimija told AFP, referring to her workshop of 10 nuns. - Sewing secrets - The sisters work as a team, helped by two novices, each nun perfecting a particular part of the technique. "Each of the sisters has her own assignment in the process," Efimija said, as she watched a colleague make the final touches to her repair work. Some elements of the handmade production are so secret they are known to only a small number of nuns, the 44-year-old said. Originally a home to monks, the monastery was shut by the communist government after World War II and turned into stables. But since it reopened as a convent in 2001, its Christian Orthodox nuns have fashioned 1,700 incredibly detailed mitres, Efimija said. Although mitres are worn by the Catholic pope, and by bishops and some abbots from several Christian denominations, those made at Saint George are reserved for higher-ranking priests in the Christian Orthodox Church. Exceptionally, the nuns crafted a special headdress for the late pope Francis, which took five months to finish. It was gifted to Francis by a North Macedonia state delegation to the Vatican in 2016. He was "pleasantly surprised", Efimija said with pride. - 'Priceless' - Decorated with vibrant colours, gold embroidery and jewels, every mitre weighs between one and two kilograms (2.2 and 4.4 pounds). They take at least four weeks to produce. Some need six months to complete. According to Sister Efimija, the Saint George mitres follow the lavish style of the late Byzantine Empire. But her workshop, with its secret techniques, adds a unique flair. Despite its opulence, the mitre symbolises the crown of thorns that Christians believe was placed on Christ's head during the crucifixion and Sister Efimija said she hoped each would bring humility to its wearer. "If the bishop wears such a priceless object on his head and does not feel the burden of torments borne by contemporary man, then he wears the mitre in vain", she said. dd/al/gil
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Mitre by mitre: N. Macedonian nuns craft priceless holy headwear
In total silence, Sister Elisaveta stitched the sacred headwear for which her monastery in North Macedonia is renowned throughout the Orthodox world. In her careful hands, the mitre glimmered as if spun from gold. The bulbous silk crown, now repaired, was again fit for a bishop. Nestled between mountains and overlooking a placid lake about 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of Skopje, Saint George the Victorious monastery produces unique headdresses worn by patriarchs around the world. "We are the only one in the world that works with this type of mitre," Sister Efimija told AFP, referring to her workshop of 10 nuns. - Sewing secrets - The sisters work as a team, helped by two novices, each nun perfecting a particular part of the technique. "Each of the sisters has her own assignment in the process," Efimija said, as she watched a colleague make the final touches to her repair work. Some elements of the handmade production are so secret they are known to only a small number of nuns, the 44-year-old said. Originally a home to monks, the monastery was shut by the communist government after World War II and turned into stables. But since it reopened as a convent in 2001, its Christian Orthodox nuns have fashioned 1,700 incredibly detailed mitres, Efimija said. Although mitres are worn by the Catholic pope, and by bishops and some abbots from several Christian denominations, those made at Saint George are reserved for higher-ranking priests in the Christian Orthodox Church. Exceptionally, the nuns crafted a special headdress for the late pope Francis, which took five months to finish. It was gifted to Francis by a North Macedonia state delegation to the Vatican in 2016. He was "pleasantly surprised", Efimija said with pride. - 'Priceless' - Decorated with vibrant colours, gold embroidery and jewels, every mitre weighs between one and two kilograms (2.2 and 4.4 pounds). They take at least four weeks to produce. Some need six months to complete. According to Sister Efimija, the Saint George mitres follow the lavish style of the late Byzantine Empire. But her workshop, with its secret techniques, adds a unique flair. Despite its opulence, the mitre symbolises the crown of thorns that Christians believe was placed on Christ's head during the crucifixion and Sister Efimija said she hoped each would bring humility to its wearer. "If the bishop wears such a priceless object on his head and does not feel the burden of torments borne by contemporary man, then he wears the mitre in vain", she said. dd/al/gil
