Catch-up post

Hello everyone, I hope your all keeping well. I have been keeping a low blogging profile this week so I thought I'd do a catch up blog to fill you in on what's been happening and changing in my life. Projects wise I have completed my winter coat of many colours. It's super warm and rather snug so will hopefully help slow down the inevitable increase in food during December. It's made out of a brightly coloured piece of Mohair fabric I bought years ago and when I finally dragged it out of storage I was relieved to discover the mice and moths hadn't got to it first. This weekend was spent in the company of the delightful Lucinda, cousin of The Muse. We had a memorable Caravan club on Saturday night with all the usual activities and enjoyed a girly shopping trip on Saturday including a trip to Urban Village at The Custard Factory. That is where I bought the sheepskin 1960's hat you see below. It sooooooooo warm and huge, perfect statement head gear for this year! I also wanted to share with you a fabulous dress I bought from  Decades, Lichfield's newest vintage emporium. Alpha Male was not impressed with my find and enquired 'why are you wearing curtains?'. Luckily I am rising to challenge to convince him of the merits of a maxi during the colder months. I continue to work two days a week in Alpha Males shop. Going back to regular, structured work has been very refreshing, especially working in a Christmas shop where everyone seems to get a festive spring in their step when their browsing around. Other news includes the rapid degeneration of my hair extensions. Its known within White House Farm as The Mat, a phenomenon which began a couple of weeks ago and has developed into a mass of knotted hair based at the nape of my neck that has a life of its own, every hairdressers worst nightmare but hey, I'm attempting to work the look. I have made two more dresses for the Katryoshka fashion show but have made absolutely no attempts to advertise or spread the word. I shall attempt to address this and various other demands this week!! Kat x



A weekend in Southport

Just had a lovely weekend with Alpha Male and the kids, visiting my Dad in my hometown of Southport, Merseyside. The weather was really lovely and we were able to do all our favourite activities including trawling through junk shops, visiting animal shelters and eating fish and chips. The main junk shop experience involved some rather ram shackled and cavernous buildings known collectively as The Maze. They opened several years ago when people were just beginning to seek out all things old and unique but over the years, as the buildings have fallen apart, the stock has gone down hill too. All bit pricey for what it is and just can't match the car booty experience. That said its still fun to wander through and see the a wide range of junk, I would recommend a visit if you happened to be in area. Other highlights of the weekend included heading up to nearby Liverpool to see the Alice in Wonderland exhibition at The Tate. My daughter Anya was in a teenage inspired sulk (she's six!) but soon got into the subject on show as there were many interesting interactive experiences. Her and Quin sat still as mice with headphones on while they watched a Dali and Disney collaboration called Destino. It was interesting but equally I was poised to rip off the head phones at the first sign of none child friendly material, I am pleased to report there was none except a strange lady who's head became a football and rolled away at one point in the short, serile film. Anyway I got lots of material for my current project, an Alice in Wonderland inspired short film. I'm being very impatient as its taking ages to prepare with costumes to make and music to write but I hope to start filming on the weekend, weather permitting. Kat x

One of my favourite Alice paintings by the artist

Dorothea Tanning



The Christmas Tree project

Every year Tamworth church holds a Christmas Tree festival. Its an event where local businesses and charities can promote and publicise their service to local residents and judges pick a winner who gets lots of extra publicty. This year I decided to enter the charity I volunteer for so I had spend the last couple of weeks spray painting random objects and liberally sprinkling glitter everywhere. The big day arrived and Quin and I set off for the church with bags rammed full of glittery paraphernalia. On entering the building I was struck immediately by how many people were buzzing around, you could cut the air with a knife. Soon after that my eyes fell upon the 'Tamworth Ladies Lace Society' tree which was decorated beautifully with a tiny vintage Christmas scene, so sweet!! I took a sharp intake of breath as they showed me the tree they were supplying me with, rather scrawny it was in the middle of pews and not one of the best position for attracting visitors. Anyhow, Quin and I set to work hanging and tying on our efforts. While doing this I kept hearing whispers from the 'Tawmorth Rotary Club' tree about judging preferences and the importance of LED fairy lights which I of course had none of. At one point I thought a scrap might break out when the Tamworth Library people turned up to find that the Round table has taken their tree. Luckily a woman well versed in handling such prickly situations calmed everything down and took them to a very favourable tree along one of the walk ways. I am already planning big things for next year and as I tied my spray painted and glittered house phone to the top of my tree I quietly reminded myself that originality consists in trying to be like everybody else --and failing!! Sounds good to me, Kat x

New items from The Muse arrive at the Katryoshka Etsy shop

The Muse has been very busy recently. Driven by various objectives she has been running a small cottage industry from her kitchen in between holding down a challenging full-time job and bringing up three children. How she does it, i just don't know but she does and here are three fabulous examples of some of the pieces she has completed in the last couple of weeks. The chalk boards are perhaps a new idea that sheds some light on how she manages all her commitments, lists, lists and more lists!! See more at our Etsy shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/katryoshka

The Fashion show project ~ 'Moulin Rouge on acid'

If there's one thing I have never been very good at its self promotion. Give me a charity to represent and I'll chase round anywhere for publicity, throwing statistics round at anyone who'll listen but when its to help my own projects I just shy away. I think it stems from the whole idea of selling yourself which I find awkward and uncomfortable but sadly an effort needs to be made to share the activities at WHF or else whats the point? The studio has been ticking over for the past few months and its main purpose seems to have been housing everything that Emma and I make so we can wander amongst it at our leisure. However this approach does not pay any bills so I have decided to use the studio as a venue for creative activity, inviting anyone who would like to join in to come over for the day and enjoy food and projects in a relaxed and hopefully inspiring atmosphere. To launch this new venture I am planning a fashion show for the beginning of February. The collection, 'Moulin Rouge on Acid', is inspired by the 1952 film production, Moulin Rouge. While I did enjoy the 2001 Baz Lurman production I find the darker and at times desperate tones of this old film gritty and therefore more inspiration. It tells the story of Henri de Toulouse Lautrec who frequently visits the Moulin Rouge, where he drinks cognac and draws sketches of the dancers and singers. There is bling, frills and fru fru galore and my interpretation shall be to recreate similar dresses using every colour of the rainbow. I have completed my first piece which I photographed Camille in and hopefully I shall be making many more which I'll keep posting here so you can see the collection develop. I have also posted the film below if you fancy being entertained Parisian style. It really is a masterpiece!! If any blog followers fancy joining in the action here at White House just drop me an e-mail and I guarantee V.I.P. treatment, Kat x 

MUSIC VIDEO: Song for everyone by Katryoshka

I had a fun morning today as Camille, the kids and I went out into the Croft, Emma's garden area in front of Whitehouse. While the kids played in the warm November sunshine, Camille filmed as I prancing around in the dewy grass. I wanted to make a video to go with a song I wrote, a Song for Everyone. She did a brilliant job and I am very happy with the results especially the dress I put together this week. Its the first dress for a fashion show I'm planning entitled 'Moulin Rouge on acid, more about that soon....Kat x

Katryoshka's Fifth give-away - a reworked coffee pot and cups set

Hello everyone, how are you all? I am busy flapping about engaging in the usual random projects while trying to fit in house management and shop work. Its all very hectic but I've found the time to post our new Give-away! The prize is a fabulous coffee set which is a Katryoshka collaboration (I bought it and Emma aka The Muse reworked it). The cups and saucers are originally from the 1970's J & G Meakin collection and feature the topic design, if you like all things retro you'll probably recognize it. It's been pimped with vines and flowers in true Katryoshka style and we are dying to send it you, wherever in the world you might be. All we ask in return is that you leave a comment telling us in 16 words - I NEED THIS QUIRKY, FUN COFFEE SET BECAUSE................??!! (24 words in total). We will still be entering all the names that comment into a pot and pulling a winner at random. Good Luck to everyone !! Kat x

Katryoshka's Monthly Tarot reading - November 2011

I still hate the sound of my voice so I was pleased when I discovered that by not watching my video I didn't have to hear myself waffling on. One small issue occurred though- you don't realise if your recording was especially loud, luckily my son test drove the video. After my speakers where nearly blown I was able to turn the sound volume down and now it's all very respectable. Hope you find this month's message relevant and useful in some small way, Happy November!! Kat x