As well as the 'Open Gardens', the first weekend of the Saltaire Festival has a craft fair in the Victoria Hall and lots of 'pop-ups' around the village, where local people can sell their craft items. There were some lovely things - hand knitted 'grannies' (dolls rather than life sized! 😂) were very cute and funny. I was tempted by the handmade scented soaps, though I already have quite a few so I didn't buy as they'd probably have lost their fragrance by the time I got round to using them. One stall had really stylish Scandi-inspired items 'to bring a sense of hygge to your life'. As autumn comes along that sounds very tempting, doesn't it?
I popped into this tiny yard with the most colourful array of ceramics and fabrics, 'celebrating the rich heritage and cultural tapestry of South Asia'. Talking to the seller, Arooba, she told me she has family and friends in Pakistan and has set up a small business to import and sell curated hand-crafted items in the UK. She had some beautiful quilts, called 'Ralli' - colourful, hand-stitched pieces in vibrant colours and geometric patterns.
It was the ceramics that attracted me. I love blue and white pottery, so I treated myself to a little decorative dish. I was impressed with the care Arooba took to wrap and present it, and her Instagram page is also very stylishly put together: HERE - @Gharonda.Shop. (I don't really 'do' Insta but I found it anyway!) It says: 'In Urdu, ‘Gharonda’ translates to a ‘nest’ or a ‘small house’ (small is subjective isn’t it?) - essentially evoking feelings of warmth, safety and comfort. It’s about creating a secure + inviting space that feels like home.'
So my little dish has come home with me... another small step in making my new flat feel like a home full of sweet memories and meaningful treasures.
Arooba was such an engaging and lovely lady - my best wishes for her new venture, that it goes well and grows to be successful.
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