Something Corny

15/09/2026

I am starting to prepare for our Long Weekend of Workshops up in Aberdeenshire. Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9/10/11 October. Our theme is 'Old is Gold'. Looking at the corn dolly designs and thinking about how we can bring them up to date to have a more contemporary feel. This workshop is for all abilities and so far I have a mixture of complete beginners right through to more experienced straw workers. I still have a couple of spaces if anyone is interested and details are on my website https://www.somethingcorny.co.uk/workshops
It would be lovely to have you join us for a friendly and fun straw working weekend.

14/09/2026

Definitely autumnal.

14/09/2026

Come and say hello!

ONE WEEK TO GO!!!! Saturday 19th September is the heart of the festival - a full day from morning to midnight. Here is everything that is on. 🎉

🍲 Miso Masterclass with Slow Sauce - learn the ancient art of miso-making with Scotland's first miso and shoyu brewery. Leave with your own jar fermenting at home. 9am-10.30am, £55pp, last few spaces.

🌿 Watery Wonders Pond Dipping - explore the Viewfield wetlands with the Aberdeenshire Council Marr Ranger. 10.45am-12.15pm, free, booking required via Eventbrite.

🛒 Local Produce Market - 10am-1pm, MacRobert Hall, free. Featuring Wark Farm Pies, Glenkindie Pantry, Bee Chocolate, Deeside Willow, Angus Alchemy, The Spice Route, Home Energy Scotland, Slow Sauce, Maryna's Bread, Tarland Development Group, Cup-a-ti, Pure Decadence by Loch Aurora, Anke Addy Photography and Cromar Parish Church

☕ Caroldsons Coffee - artisan coffee and homemade cakes, MacRobert Hall foyer, from 10am.

🧱 Tarland Lego Club Minifigure Trail - hunt hidden minifigures around the village and hand in your sheet for a prize. All day, free.

📖 Pauline Cordiner, A Scottish Storytellerr - traditional tales from the fishing and farming traditions of the North East. Session 1: MacRobert Hall Upper Hall, 11.15am-12pm, free. Session 2: Community Garden, 12.30pm-1pm, free.

🌱 Open Tarland Community Garden - soup and a scone (£5pp). 11am-2pm.

🌾 Something Corny with Elaine Lindsay - traditional straw-plaiting, make your own Hairst Knot or bookmark. Community Garden, 11am-2pm, £2.

🔥 Smoke and Soul BBQ - low and slow BBQ and hearty comfort food, Tarland Square, 12pm-3pm.

🎺 Towie Pipe Band - Tarland Square, 12pm, free.

🎺 Granite City Brass and - 12.30pm and 1.30pm, Tarland Square, free.

💃 Banchory Morris Men Dancing - 1pm and 2pm, Tarland Square, free.

🚲 Cycling Without Age Scotland - Aberdeen City - a CWAS ambassador from Aberdeen brings a Trishaw to the festival on Saturday afternoon. Come and meet the pilots and find out about this wonderful charity. We are considering opening a chapter right here in Tarland. Free.

🍵 Chef's Afternoon Tea at Douneside House and Health Club, Royal Deeside - refined afternoon tea with live music from Coynach and a welcome drink. From 1pm, £50pp. Book via www.dounesidehouse.co.uk

🌾 Farming for the Future - free panel discussion on mental wellbeing in Scottish agriculture. MacRobert Hall Upper Hall, 1pm-2.30pm, free, no booking required.

🦆 Tarland Toddlers Duck Race - £2 a duck, cash prizes. The Bridge near Mill Place, 2pm.

🥃 Meet the Maker - Angus Alchemy - tastings and talk from this Carnoustie craft distillery. MacRobert Hall Upper Hall, 3pm-4pm, £20pp, over 18s, booking required.

🥃 Whisky Tasting at Tarland Golf Club - six quality whiskies, six food pairings. Book directly with the golf club, limited spaces.

🎵 Aberdeen Arms Tarland Music Session - 5pm-7pm, free.

🔥 The Laurettes with support from - high-energy indie Celtic rock from one of Scotland's most exciting all-female bands. Support from Glasgow three-piece Raivelt. 📍 MacRobert Hall, Tarland 🗓️ Doors 7.30pm, starts 8pm 🎟️ Adults £22 / Under 16s £17 Licensed bar.

🎟️ Tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events/tarland 🌐 Full programme: www.tarlandfestival.com

12/09/2026

Just finished two lovely workshops for Scottish Women's Institutes at The Gathering in Dundee. Busy workshops so didn’t get a photo. Now to start preparing for the Tarland Food & Music Festival next Saturday. Come and see me if you are in the area, I will be in the Community Garden.

10/09/2026

Lovely to be going back to the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.

09/09/2026

Packing boxes yet again! Off to Dundee to teach for Scottish Women's Institutes Members Gathering on Friday and Saturday. I’m looking forward to these classes. The SWRI has been a great supporter of my straw work over the years and I enjoy being involved with the organisation.

07/09/2026

Some more online classes uploaded onto the website tonight. Some of you have seen them already and the bookings have started to come in, thank you so much. I have missed the classes over the summer so will pack as much as I can in before the end of the year. We also have our secret, fun class with myself and Linda Beiler both teaching, coming up! Don't miss out! I'd love to see you in class!

06/09/2026

New online class on the website. Especially for beginners or if you haven’t done straw work for a while. Great refresher session. Book now on www.somethingcorny.co.uk

05/09/2026

What a lovely day I had at the Great Feil Maree in Dingwall. So many folk trying straw work, finding out about corn dollies and asking about classes. Thanks to Fèis Rois for inviting me and taking a couple of photos, I didn’t have a chance to take any photos it was so busy.

03/09/2026

I’m on the move again. This time up in the Highlands, at Dingwall. I will be there as part of Dingwall 800. I will be on Dingwall High Street from 10am - 4pm this Saturday, 5th September- drop by throughout the day and find out more about straw work and learn how to make a Hairst (harvest) Knot! Hopefully see some of you there.