OLD WOMAN'S CRAFT HOME

Rough Trade Margate: open Sunday

2012-01-28T17:42:00.000Z

For details of what's on in Rough Trade Margate go to Facebook 'Rough Trade Margate'

Wow what a day!!!!

2012-01-28T17:37:00.000Z

Well today has been super fun in the Old Woman's Craft Home in Rough Trade. Margate.

Lots of wonderful people have come in and said hi, and it has been great fun. I will be there tomorrow too.

Oooo Loook Ol Woman's Home in Rough Trade

2012-01-25T07:43:00.000Z

Old Woman's Craft Home in Rough Trade, Margate

2012-01-25T06:49:00.000Z

Rough Trade is open at 5-7 Fort Road, Margate and Your favourite Old Woman, has taken her Sewing and Knitting room there. Come past and see for yourself, Grand opening on Saturday 28th (drinkies from 2pm) open from 11am. Open all weekend too...

Christmas in 2011

2011-12-08T15:35:00.000Z

Ok, this year has given me a brand new view on Christmas. Illness has shone a bright light on what this is all about.

I have the most wonderful daughter, she stepped up to the plate without a moan or grown and has made this year the most important. How easily it could have all gone. The value of friends and family is everything, I have other friends experiencing sickness at this time too.

So we are all under pressure financially,... take the time to appreciate your friends and family, if they are 'true' they will not mind you not flashing your cash.

What's on for this week

2011-08-13T10:56:00.000+01:00

I have lots of super items for sale this coming week and thought I will give you all a quick preview on here

This 1970's sewing cabinet (no Sewing machine) is for sale at £20, it has storage for thread and other equipment and could be used as a small desk for a laptop, seen closed Collection from Margate.

The Best Reason to come to Margate

2011-06-24T20:54:00.000+01:00

You now have the best reason to come to Margate: Tea with the Old Woman perhaps?

Old Woman is having a Garden sale on Saturday, at 87 Trinity Square from 10am and is offering the usual advice and information, order a card, a new frock, sewing lessons or purchase a oddity from her stall and if you are very, very luck, you can chat and have a cuppa, with the one the only Old Woman of Margate.

One not to be missed......

Sunday 19th June: Fathers day: Don't Forget

2011-05-30T13:52:00.000+01:00

Just a quick reminder, to plan for Fathers Day on the 19th June, have a look at www.ellenkayedesigns.co.uk for inspiration for a great Dad's Day Word Book Card. this will be an original and one off design just for you.

Ace Cafe: Margate Meltdown

2011-05-30T13:21:00.004+01:00

Today Margate dons her best clothes to welcome the Bike Riders of the Ace Cafe, the Sun is out and we are all happy to have a great Bank Holiday Monday.

Welcome to all of you, don't forget to come again and stay for a while, do a whole weekend, join the Margate Bazaar on a Sunday, Have a great Breakfast at Angela's and then a few great Coffee's in some of our wonderful eateries.

Roll on Margate

Margate Museum

2011-02-20T19:48:00.001Z

Just to say that there will be a meeting in the Mayors Parlour on Monday evening from 7.30pm to set up a 'Friends of Margate Museum'. All Welcome

New Year New Challenges

2011-01-09T13:11:00.003Z

So, its all over and the decorations are down, even the Mayor's rearranged Christmas event has been and gone.

What is in store for us all in 2011, we If I knew that I would have the winning lottery ticket and be sitting on a warm beach somewhere. But coming back to reality there is a lot to do. The Turner Centre Opens in April (16th), I am about to do some training to become a History Walker www.historywalkers.co.uk and to try and be more creative in my crafting.

The Sun is out today and everything looks better when its sunny, so more please.

Christmas is coming: Ebay says 32 Days

2010-11-23T13:03:00.004Z

I was just thinking I had got my self in order for Chirstmas when I saw the EBay icon for 32 days to go. Oh no....

Just for the prepared among you; I still have time to make you a Christmas Wordbook Card, some examples to inspire you.

Today at Jofi on Margate Harbour Arm

2010-07-01T07:50:00.002+01:00

Today from 1pm you will find me sitting the great little shop 'Jofi' for a friend. Do come and say hello, and see all the great gifts for Girls (of all ages), Next door to the Lighthouse Bar.

Mothers Day & Cupcakes

2010-02-25T18:09:00.000Z

Just to keep you in the good books of your Mums, how about a Mothers Day Card with a cupcake, some examples to follow: want one of your very own, with or without Cupcake, email me at ellenkayepartnership@tesco.net

Valentine's Day

2010-02-02T14:08:00.000Z

Well the year is drawing in and so is Valentine's and to add to my other post I have loaded a couple of my Valentine's cards for your delectation.

If you want to go and have a look youself at the real thing they are in the OLD TOWN GALLERY, in Margate Old Town, 1-3 Broad Street, just behind The Piazza, near the Harbour, Margate

Valentine's Day

2010-01-30T16:12:00.000Z

Well, the new year had started and Valentine's Day is nearly on us. I have been making some very special secret cards for friends and I was musing on how the have changed over the years. I still have one from my father to my mum, which has what looks like part of an embroidered hankie as a pocket where the message is written on the little card inside, and one of my Granddad's to my Nan during the War. Always they were flowery and sweet.

Today Black and Red is favoured and often funny rather than 'Lovey Dovey' as my mum used to call it. If fact some are down right suggestive! How things have changed.

Happy New Year

2009-12-26T06:49:00.000Z

We here at Old Woman HQ hope that you have had a great Christmas Day and are looking forward to the New Year, just in case you made a boob and forgot someone special, remember New Year is a special time too and you are not to late to order a very special one-off New Year Word Book. Go to www.ellenkayedesigns.co.uk for some inspiration. You can have Happy New Year (a bit long and will be expensive) or 2010(much more cost effective), colours are your choice and pictures inside can be tailored to the person you are giving it to.

Just email through the Ellen Kaye Designs web and I will see what I can do.

Happy New Year

Urgent reminder

2009-12-17T13:28:00.000Z

Just in case you need it the closing date for the TDC major consultation documents is the 18th December, the core document and other supplementary including on on developments see http://consult.thanet.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/local.plans/consultationHome

PLease try to get some kind of response in, advice is dont try to do on line, log in get the forms them copy and past into you wordprocessing (word etc) then send by email (local.plans@thanet.gov.uk)or deliver by hand. Don't let things happen withour you consent.

Days of Christmas Past

2009-12-15T13:04:00.000Z

Found this short film on on of my twitter links, just the most fabby rembering of Christmas'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8406446.stm

Calling All Tree Lovers

2009-12-05T21:28:00.000Z

Just got this blog from Katie Did blog and thought you should see it, Link here if you want to read direct
www.katherinelvjackson.blogspot.com

5 December
I HATE TDC
Why I hear you ask would I say such a strong worded thing? Because I believe them incapable of managing the procurement of toilet rolls let alone looking after this district.

What has bought about this feeling? Bar the ineptitude I have witnessed over the years.

Well today after planting hundreds of trees at the Dane valley woods, I have come home to an e-mail from a local resident informing me and the rest of the members of the Margate Conservation Area Advisory Group that a tree has been (the polite term would be removed, I am not going to be polite tonight) butchered, hacked and pillaged down to a stump in Hawley Square - one of the town’s most historic squares.

I am so angry the words will not come out of me fast enough to describe the hate I feel towards our local council. Their enforcement SUCKS, it seems that the people in the position to actually make the correct choices for the town get sidelined and those whom seem to make decisions only make choices based on how far up their back their arm is!!!

All this on top of a perfectly pleasant conversation I had with a newish employee of the council who said to me that she unlike some (no names mentioned) actually believes in making changes to the town, for the local people and in making the town more prosperous in the future.

But after hearing this news, to be fair I could quite easily solve some of KCC's and TDC's financial issues by actually doing away with TDC altogether. At this moment in time, not having a district council seems and bloody good idea.

I find it hard to think of any thing that this council as done well. TRUELY I can not think of anything. The things it does try to attempt are half baked and actually an embarrassment.

So back to the tree, in the world according to Kate, I would insist that a tree of equal standing is used to replace the ILLEGALLY felled tree and that TDC are held to account for it.

2009-12-04T08:39:00.000Z

Victorian Christmas Fayre

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5TH
11.00AM – 3.30PM

Come and join in the Christmas festivities

To be Opened by the Mayor of Margate

Carol singing tombola raffle lucky dip

Victorian games, mince pies, mulled wine, hot food

punch & judy, father christmas and sleigh, snow,

various stalls, entertainment, face painting, and more,

fancy dress competition, dickens characters
no entrance fee

Thanet day opportunity services day centre
Tivoli brooks (next to jewsons)
Margate
Kent ct9 5se

Do all come along and say Hi, as I will be supporting this great event.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Oh So Soon

2009-12-01T17:01:00.000Z

Well, the 1st of December is upon us and now only 25 days to go. I was just musing on the development of Christmas over the last 30 years and feel somewhat cheated; it used to be so much more exciting and our expectations were less. I take full responsibility in this; as it was/is my generation who have made this world so aquisition hungry: so much so, that my friends in local shops have all said that the level of shoplifting has gone through the roof in the last weeks.

What can we do? I wish I knew, I would do it. My fabulous daughter would never steal/shoplift even if she was hungry and poor (and believe me we have been there recently). So what did I/we do that made her that way... if I could figure it out perhaps we could make a vaccination.

Some new Images to See

2009-11-13T11:07:00.001Z

I have just finished the following commissions, have a look and tell me what you think. I could do one just for you!

Lovely new Designs for Christmas

2009-11-09T07:36:00.001Z

Today is going to be full on Crafting as three new commissions, two fabby Christmas WordBooks and a super Advent Calendar for BeBeached on the Harbour Arm Margate. Just to whet your appetite!!!! )Photoshoot Thanks to BeBeached)

New Creative Card Craft For Christmas

2009-10-30T08:19:00.000Z

Just had to let you have a look early, These are my new Christmas Word Book Cards. None of your downloaded and redy designed CD versions for me , every one is original and no two will ever be the same.

Beautuful Things at the Lady Luck Bar Canterbury

2009-10-27T07:07:00.000Z

Ok today, tidying to start to scan, load, make, embelish all sorts of lovelyness for you all just wait and see. and to keep you wanting more; see my new pictures. The Lady Luck Bar Canterbury 'Bar Bazaar' the last Sunday of every month Next 29th November from 1pm See you there

Some musings on Power and its problems

2009-10-15T19:08:00.000+01:00

I found this quote from Tony Benn many years ago, and I have held it to be true of any one holding a position of Power or authority.

"Five questions Benn insists should be asked of any powerful person: "What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you use it? To whom are you accountable? How do we get rid of you?"

This just came to me this evening at a meeting....... still so true

New for Christmas- Christmas Soldier Lovey Doveys

2009-10-05T13:05:00.000+01:00

New today just for this Christmas, a wonderful 'Marching Soldier' (Lovey Dovey-Comfort Blanket, fully washable and just for the Christmas visting babies. £6.50 plus postage and packing, Email to order, No two are the same.

Knitting Machine whoo, hoo

2009-09-29T11:33:00.000+01:00

Just got me a Knitting Machine great: it won the 1st round, I won the second, then it won the 1st Wool War. I could not make it do the same the second time. Have a look at this. I am going to beat this thing and make wonderful things for you.

And you think I am a nutty nitter!

More New Lovey Dovey Comfort Blankets

2009-09-23T11:45:00.000+01:00

New from today a fleece version of the Lovey Dovey Comfort Blanket, these are great for night time and are in a pale blue fleece fabric (100% Polyester) which washes well on a cool setting along with the baby clothes. These are the small size to fit in the Buggy or Pram or to use when travelling in the car. They squash well in to your nappy bag.

I also have Lovey Dovey Comfort Blankets made in Vintage fabrics, these are very different,and for you if you want that 'something individual'Original Lovey Dovey Comfort Blankets are made in 100% Cotton or Poly/Cotton mix which washes well (great for those babies who want to take it every where) the ribbons/tags are polyester satin or cotton.

Prices start from £6.00 Bigger sizes are available you choose, and can be made up to cot size or quilted.

Lovey Dovey Comfort Blankets

2009-09-21T16:36:00.000+01:00

New from today a range of fab Lovey Dovey Comfort blankets for the 'Little Ones' the picture is of the Pram/Buggy version, may diffrent colour combinations are possible and all are made to order. They are all machine washable, some are cotton, cotton/polyester or fleece fabric. They come in a range of sizes and can be made as cot blankets and quited. Prices start at £6.00

New for Margate Stitch & Bitch Group

2009-09-16T08:01:00.001+01:00

Well it has gone and happened. I have agreed to start a Stitching & Knitting group for Margate. Venue:Harbour Cafe Bar, Old Town, Margate. No start date set yet, but comment me if you are interested in joining. A full range of stitching, knitting and crochet on offer as well as fine coffee to boot (Tea if you are that way inclinded). I am sure Lesley could find a great glass of wine if that is your tipple, and you will not be charge with being drunk in charge of knitting needles 'I promise'.

Old Woman Bares Gifts

2009-09-14T15:13:00.000+01:00

I have been taking all my enforced rest badly, It could be said that us 50 somthings where designed as work addicts (I was). So I have been using my vacant time productively... I hope, and gettting back to my roots.

Knitting... Have not done this for a long time and realise how slow I got without regular practice, but things are hotting up now and have been pondering on whether to set up a 'Knit and Bitch' group here in sunny Margate. If you want to join me send me a quick message and I will search out a suitable venue.

Sewing & Crafting.... I was thinking whether to add this to to the Knitting with all sorts of sewing& crafting classes, but that would need a bigger venue any ideas...?

I have made sure that 'The Devil' did not make work for my idle hands and have started to make some fab Retro Christmas Gift Pillow Boxes, some for us 'Girls' and some for the 'Dad Socks or Tie' gifts, pictures above and below:-

These can be purchased from me via my email and they range in price from £5.00 to £10.00 and no two will ever be the same.

What to know more just message me and I will get back to you.

Sorry for mentioning Christmas already, but us Traditionalists will have to make the stuff you know!

Things 'aint what they used to be

2009-08-23T07:11:00.000+01:00

.
A day up in London to support (my surrogate son) 'Star at the O2' has lead me to ponder the changes that I found since leaving 'me old birthplace'. I noticed that no one gives you eye contact any more; unless to accuse you of banging into them, and, to make matters worse, what on earth has happened to my beloved Black Taxi drivers! I caught two taxis over the weekend and both chose to keep the change from the fare without asking or even saying thank you, in fact they were both so intimidating that I did not even argue with them. All eye contact had gone, no chat, no thank you or anything God how do you all put up with it. I will of course complain, but get the impression that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Is it just that all us nice friendly 'Londoners' have moved out to sunnier climes.

Some things are better, the tube is clean, but still too hot, can't they use some form of heat exchange system to draw the heat off and use the free heat to heat water for some hospital or something... surely it is not beyond the wit of some 'cleaver Trevor' to come up with something that will be good for the environment and the travelling passengers.

I know now why so few people come 'Down to Margit'. Have you brought a ticket from London to Margate recently? I needed a single to get home and was horrified that I was quoted over £25.00, yes 25 Quid for a single, ok a return would have only been £3.00 more, but where are the 'cheap seaside tickets' during the summer months, it was not even during the week I wanted to travel (Saturday). How dare the Train Companies and the Government say they are committed to saving the Seaside when it costs that much. (yes, yes I know about family rail cards, etc but not every one has them, so unless you give them away, make the fares better). At present this very 'Old Woman' is between jobs, having been truly chewed in the credit crunch and I can tell you that over £25 from unemploymnet benefit of £64.30 leaves a hole and when you add the behaviour of the Taxi drivers, I was more than glad to get back.
I did have a great time out, there was lots to do and see, but I was more than suprised by the changes I saw, I have not been away that long, don't blame it on the Credit Crunch as some places I saw aroung the O2 seem to have not crunched at all.
So if you have a 'soul' (all you left in the great Metropolis) make sure your biggest asset- London does not drift into more of what I saw, .....otherwise those of you left with some wit should come 'down to Margit' but in your cars or coaches for now............ or even stay here

Margate History

2009-07-20T12:29:00.000+01:00

As you all know I am a woman of many talents and I am currently supporting Margate Historical Society to also be launched in to cyberspace, just like me. It may be 'the blind leading the blind', but I/we have a lot of help from the 'young people' of our acquaintance who are much more knowledgeable about these sort of thinngs but of course have less time. So for those of you with the interest go and look at the blog www.margatehistory.blogspot.com soon to be followed by the growing archive of Margate in pictures and a 'Web' prescence. We are getting very posh now.

Remember that Margate History does not stop with us 'old fogies' but is growing day by day with all of you, so send in your memories and pictures and I will make every effort that you and yours are included. What were you doing on this day in the past? let me know, but keep it clean, remember I am an Old Woman.

If you are also technically minded like my 'young' friends there is also a twitter account at http://twitter.com/MargateHistory

2009-06-17T19:21:00.000+01:00

Coming soon, Margate Big Sky Jazz Festival 24th, 25th & 26th July.

24th Nigel Kennedy at the Winter Gardens Margate with his tribute to Miles Davis: Tickets from the Winter Gardens 01843 296 111

25th & 26th FREE Jazz on the Piazza for more info contact:

http://www.margatetownpartnership.org.uk/

Music Live and Rocking

2009-06-04T16:34:00.000+01:00

I was just thinking that live new music seems to be the preserve of the young. What about 'Old Women' and perhaps Old Men. Some great music is planned for this weekend, (at WestCoast in Margate a Rolling Stones Tribute Band (Rollin Stoned) and the best of some new mucial talent at BME 'Rockfest'. I plan to go and see for myself, I was there at the beginning and so will be there til the (or my) end.

Will I loose my credibility if I don't wear a vest.......... perhaps a little satin or leather number..... nah, these days I am into comfort and not..........

Come and decide for yourself. Margate at its best.

For more info check out http://www.katiedid.co.uk/

http://www.westcoastlive.co.uk/

http://www.margteharbourarm.co.uk/

http://www.bebeached.co.uk/

Gathering the thoughts of The Old Woman

2009-06-03T18:32:00.000+01:00

I just thought I should warn you that I am cogitating for my very first blog. Watch out some may say, and truth be told probably with some justifcation, so make sure you do not offend the 'Old Woman'. You have been warned. A Rash of Horses Heads my be apprearing, in the near future.

Old Woman takes first steps into Cyberspace

2009-05-23T10:10:00.000+01:00

Old Woman of Margate has at last with a great deal of assistance taken her first steps into cyber-space. She said ' it is very cold out here so 'don't forget your vest'.

All advice and information here is provided free, but with a disclaimer that the loss of little grey cells is happening at such a pace, she cannot guarantee that she will even know who she is tomorrow.

Call back and read the musings of the poor old girl and take pity.