Katryoshka's Tarot readings - October 2011

Welcome to all our followers, new and old. Here is the latest installment in Katryoshka's monthly tarot readings, a little bit of insight into the month of October. Rememeber, if you focus on the postitive you can make things happen, easier said than done I know!! I am off to Germany tomorrow with The Muse and our sons so I will see you all after the weekend, Kat x

Albear update

The last thirty six hours have been a bit of a blur and prompted me to update you on my horsey journey with my Welsh Cob Albear. If you missed my previous posts about him you can catch up here and here. Things have been up and down since I begun my work with him, he has come on tremendously but several incidents have really given my confidence a real knock. The third one occurred yesterday as I was enjoying some time with him while the kids were at school/nursery. We had a lovely grooming session and then went for a walk around a stubble field. Everything was going well until a stupid pheasant flew out of nowhere and he legged it. In the process he knocked me flying face first and my arm became tangled in the lunge line which lead to me being dragged a short distance before I was released and he fled. It all happened so fast and I was in shock for the rest of the day, mostly reliving the event and wondering about what else could have happened. Dealing with a horse so young and green is a challenge I thrive on and enjoy but the risk of serious injury seems greater with Albear then any of the youngsters I've worked with before. Alpha Male feels that his spirit is a good thing but I feel I have so much more to loose if I get seriously injured. I have spent the whole time since the incident weighing up whether I should sell him for a safer, more appropriate horse but I have come to the decision than I can minimise the risks by slowing things down and giving myself and him more time to form a deeper and more trusting relationship. Only time will tell if I've made the right decision. On a lighter note I have a cracking black eye and facial graze for the school run. Alpha male is seriously worried about his reputation, Kat x

The train on platform two is..............

This morning I spent an interesting couple of hours at my local train station. My mission was to give out a few pens and business cards, spreading the word for the charity I volunteer for. I haven't caught a train during peak hours for years and the whole experience was very nostalgic, taking me back to my early twenties when I was attending various colleges. That dirty, industrial smell and the slightly grim, grey concrete exteriors brought it all back. I used to see those train journeys as symbolic, I was actually going somewhere both literally and metaphorically. Equally I found the trains speeding through the station without stopping quite thrilling, so loud and dramatic, the wind threatening to whisk you off the shaking the platforms. There were also the usual mish mash of characters, kids having a laugh and a joke, smart ladies walking with skill and conviction in towering heels and individuals stressed out even though their day has hardly begun. Regarding the mission, there was a real range of both hostile and warm encounters, many defensive that I may ask them for money or worse still, their time on a frantic Monday morning. The world sure is manic busy these days and I found my heart going out to some of the more desperate looking people, late for a deadline or meeting even though they have already completed a list full of chores. The station manager said they were about to have a complete refurbishment, I hope not too soon as there is something strangely comforting about those grubby, anonymous stairwells and endless corridors, well at least for me anyway, Kat x

The winner is.........Katryoshka's fourth give-away!!

The Muse and I pull another name from the tin, this months prize is a fabulous wool cardigan, catch up here. Congratulations to the winner LUCEWOMAN, much deserved, can I have your address so I can send you your prize, Kat@katryoshka.com!! Kat x

MUSIC VIDEO: Hunter

I have been examining my relationship with this blog and what it really means to me. It amazing to have an open platform to record what you want. A snap shot in time really, what has been important to me in 2011. Also we have our monthlyish give-aways that have certainly brought us new followers galore but is that important? I guess the truth is that although I don't openly seek people to come and validate what I do, I get a huge bonus when someone does. A few months ago I went through a time when several people commented regularly and others would make known to me that they were following the story of Katryoshka's ramblings, however recently I have missed the dialogue that can occur through finding people on your wavelength. Anyhow I have had a break from blogging and have returned determined to continue doing what I have always done, use this blog as a HQ for cataloguing my favourite thoughts and expressions. This is a new video I made this week - Hunter, Kat x

The Who present TOMMY!

It was a somewhat damp afternoon yesterday but while I was going about my chores I managed to lift my spirits with a dose of the rock musical 'Tommy' by The Who. Its a film I first saw as a child and have loved ever since. Written by The Who legend Pete Townsend it tells a loose story about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement via sometime as a pinball wizard. Directed by Ken Russell it's soooooooooo seventies complete with more flares than you'll ever see in any other film and it carries rather a dark undertone which blends well with the high camp antics of stars such as Jack Nicholson, Elton John, Eric Clapton and one of my fav's Oliver Reed. Catch it sometime if you can and enjoy a cult, British masterpiece with a fantastic soundtrack, long live rock and roll, Kat x



MUSIC VIDEO: Brainchild

I know I said I wouldn't be doing anymore videos but I just couldn't help myself. I wrote and recorded this track over the weekend and needed something funky to go with it. I have chosen a montage of photo's from Katryoshka's trip to the Mosley Folk Festival, catch up here, and put them together as a stop motion compilation. I am attempting some children's coats at the moment but find myself struggling with the mess that goes with dress making. I will aim to finish them and post some pictures before the week is through. I also desperate to see my sister who has been gallivanting  round America [Annika - if your reading this I miss you! xx] Kat x

A Jumper post

The weather has really begun to change this week. Its been wonderfully refreshing actually, everyday there is at least three different types of weather behaviour, rain, sun and wild winds. However it does mean that the jumpers are being dug out from the bottom of my wardrobe. First the essential White House check for moth invasions. This will be my second winter here and as yet, touch wood, I haven't encounted any moth action yet but the tales of mohair jumpers riddled with holes are legendary and according to some a definite yearly occurrence. So far so good, my favourite jumpers all seem unaffected so I thought I'd share my top three with you. The first is a silk and wool number from the 80's that I picked up a few years ago whilst visiting Germany. Alpha male HATES it and I have tried to compromise by removing the shoulder pads but he still can't stand it, whatever. The second is a wool cardigan that The Muse gave me for Christmas last year. No farmers wife should be without one and it looks fab with a nice belt around the waist. The last is sooooooo big its more like a woolly mammoth fancy dress costume and I need to be in a strong mood as it weights a ton, brilliant!! Kat x



MUSIC VIDEO: Cry for help

The last few days have been quite emotional. My mum has received her first two foster children and I have been reminded of what a cruel and careless place our so called civilized world can be. My heart breaks for these kids and I am honoured to lend a helping hand in the process of healing them. Neglecting a child can occur in many forms and sometimes we are all guilty of not putting their feelings first. But to think that people can simply 'forget' they have a child and leave them to fend for themselves in a complicated and messy existent is unforgivable. I have poured my emotions into this song and my kids who may never realise how lucky they are were only to willing to oblige in the making of the video. I think I am going to take a rest from making music for a while and make some clothes instead, Kat x



Katryoshka on tour - The ploughing match at Freeford

We felt like real farmers yesterday when all the residents of White house farm attended the local ploughing match. I'm not entirely sure what was happening there but they had a beer tent so we hung around outside and socialized. The Muse and I managed to mix it up with her cleavage and my harem pants aka saggy nappy pants, we certainly stood out among the hunter wellies and padded body warmers. Emma discovered her next dog, a Newfoundlander called Winston. I think the poodle clip complete with feather duster tail won her over but by the look on her son's face he wasn't impressed (see picture below). I am ashamed to say we were also the only party to start a dog fight when Winston tried to hump a couple of Labradors and Betsy, our jack russell cross border collie, saw this as an opportunity for a fight. Embarrassed we fled for White House farm but not before taking in a few super cool retro tractors, Kat x

MUSIC VIDEO: Tales of Alice

Camille and I were fooling around in The Croft this afternoon. It was a beautiful windy day, perfect for filming a video to accompany a gentle, chilled out Katryoshka track I wrote a few months ago. She had her hair dip dyed today and its a revelation, The Muse and I are very jealous! We both feel the only way forward may be extensions of some sort, I'll keep you posted about that!! Kat x 



The Russian Doll Caravan

This post was inspired by some rather excellent place mats The Muse painted this week. As with so much of her recent artwork they were made to adorn the Russian Doll Caravan. The van itself is a 1979 Safari, a legendary coach built mobile home made with great care and detail in Great Britain. It's the first van I bought four years ago and before I passed it over to Emma it spent a whole year or so in a field hosting 'Caravan Club' nights, a popular excuse for us girls to sneak away and engage in boozy hairbrush karaoke usually to cheesy 80's chart hits. Now rocking away in a caravan is no laughing matter and moving the Safari into Emma's Croft signalled a new era. Now a days she hosts more refined dinner parties there and her sister Pooty's imminent visit was such an occasion. Que the cool placements so I thought I'd put you all the picture of how the van looks today, Russian Doll's galore, mostly handmade by Emma.  Please note the Russian Doll kettle, bread bin and cushions. Now you know why she is The Muse, Kat x

 

Getto Hen is all alone :(

As if that poor hen hasn't been through enough already, several days ago her last chick passed away. We suspect 'foul' play with several White House Farm canine residents top of the list. Getto Hen is now alone again and trying to hang out with our Jeresy Giants, if missed her last post catch up here or if you want to start at the beginning click here. On my way back from feeding Albear this morning I discovered her being pinned to the ground and mercilessly pecked by one of our black hens, poor her! She has being trying hard to bond with them by activities such as sharing dust baths together but they refuse to accept her into their gang, what bullies! Perhaps they are jealous of her freedom and generally 'plucky' attitude to life, she's a survivor that's certain. We still love you Getto Hen, Kat x

MUSIC VIDEO: Sun upon your skin

So after this weeks Dilemma, back to school and hairstyle disagreements, I decided to express myself through a new track and accompanying music video. I was hoping for a trashy, disco vibe rather than the usual ambient style. I've borrowed Camille's keyboard which is much better than my own and I am experimenting with it during my free time. The video is a little bit saucy and making it has helped me to balance out my lack of day to day style this week. Off to attempt some housework, Kat x

Katryoshka's Fourth Give-away - a beautiful wool cardigan

Another month, another photo shoot, another fabulous give-away. This time the prize is a luxurious cardigan I made about a year ago. Its hung in the studio all this time and had features added bit by bit, now its complete I'm ready to say bye bye. Details - firstly its made from 100% pure wool, soft to the touch and perfect for the ever approaching winter season. Other details include the cobweb stitching around the sleeves and lapel, and the majestic eagle in flight across the back complete with real feathers. The cut is a simple thigh skimming style that fastens with a single vintage glass button. The cardigan has bell sleeves and is collarless, enough details?? Anyway, to have your name entered into the magic tin and have a chance of receiving this bespoke item all you have to do is follow the Katryoshka blog and 'like' the Katryoshka facebook page (just put Katryoshka and Facebook into google), simple!! Good luck, I'll draw the winner in about three weeks, Kat x

Dilemma

Today was first day back at school. My little girl was a nervous wreck and to be quite honest so was I. She put on her school uniform and I put on my uniform, normal boring jeans, jersey top and a paint spattered army coat. Gone was my Katryoshka alter ego, in her place was Kat Stubbs - mother and wife. On my way back from the school run I began thinking about a conversation I had the night before with Alpha Male. I had been testing the water about dying my hair dark with a silver streak at the front. To describe the look I was going for I used Daphne Guiness as an example (see previous post about her here), his response 'Why are you always trying to be someone else?'. His comment confirmed my suspicions, the new hair idea was not going to go down well and was best put on the shelf permanently but it has really bothered me and took me back to being an experimental teenager being told an idea was stupid. Add to the mix this mornings 'dressing down to blend in on the school run' and his comments ran through my mind again. I have always had mad hair in one way or another, it was royal blue and fabulous when we met and at other times completely unstyled with terrible dark roots. The way I see it is you don't have to be famous or a celebrity to wear and look how you want and if it makes you feel good then its worthwhile (unless of course you job dictates boundaries and luckily for me, mine doesn't). I've never seen it as attempt to be like someone else, I just get ideas and  inspiration from the people around me but I guess he feels that anyone who makes a bold statement is trying to show off and draw attention to themselves. I obviously must agree to some extent as proved by my need to dress down for the playground therefore avoiding unnecessary attention. I just hate and will always hate the idea that with age you should stop enjoying your clothes and hair. What a conflict - one person to him might be an old bat with orange hair and mad clothes trying to retain a sense of fun and the same person to me is an inspirational woman who refuses to be told what she can and can't wear. It seems to me that he'd much prefer the elegant, refined lady who is discreet and age appropriate in her style and dress sense where as I just see bland and dull. I guess the time has come for me to decide who I'm going to be, scary! Kat x

MUSIC VIDEO: Clouds

After spending most of the day with the kids, face down in a bucket of lego I decided I needed an artistic outlet. Que a quick costume change and down to the stubble field with a camera and Camille who incidently made a fantatsic creative director, [thanks hun!!]. For a couple of weeks I had been yearning to use the large open spaces around White House Farm for a film as the colours seemed so vivid and inspiring. I chose the first song I wrote for my Mood Swings album, Clouds to accompany the project as its a slow, ambient track. My vision was someone walking through the fields as if they would be walking there forever. Add to the mix a lot of pouting and posing and it all gets rather sexy but hey ho, its fun to look back on these things in years to come and remember glaming up to walk around a field one sunny evening, at least it gave the neighbours a moments amusment, 'who does she think she is?!' Kat x

Katryoshka on tour at The Mosley Folk Festival

Alpha male, his brother Toby, The Muse and I spent a pleasant evening yesterday at the Mosley Folk Festival. We were all enthralled by Villagers, especially the lead singer Conner. Later on in the evening we met his doppelganger, que a photo shoot and fake signature opportunity. We engaged in all the usual activities one does at such an event and later The Muse demonstrated an excellent solution to the scenario of when you spill cider inside your handbag. Later, she was also able to offer a answer for when there are queues galore and you've lost your glass. Very enjoyable but muchos worse for wear this morning. There is already a plan being developed to take the White House minors over to the festival for a daytime session, somebody please pass the co-codamol, Kat x

 Which is the real Conner??

Katryoshka's September Tarot reading

Today begins a new Katryoshka monthly feature after several people I have recently read cards for felt a short, to the point one card reading would be useful (could they be trying to say that I waffle too much?!)See for yourself as I draw a card at random, in the comfort of the now immobile but much loved Tarotvan and attempt to discuss its possibilities and meanings for the month ahead. Excuse the babbling and swearing, its all part of the process and essential to keep the reading 'in the moment' as they say, Kat x  http://thetarotvan.co.uk/