Last week, Sam, Tom and I enjoyed spending a few days at Xpo North – a fantastic celebration of Scotland’s creative industries, that’s held every year in the Highlands.
All kinds of creative endeavour are showcased at Xpo North — from music and screen, to fashion and craft — and I was honoured to have been invited to contribute to a few sessions in the publishing strand.
Emily Dewhurst and I spoke about the challenges of producing illustrated books as independent publishers.
Emily owns Kitchen Press – and produces a range of truly beautiful books with Scottish cooks and food writers like Ghillie Basan.
Jenny Brown and I enjoyed talking about the development of KDD and our different imprints and publishing models. (Jenny’s a literary agent who founded the Edinburgh International Book Festival and – though she probably doesn’t know it – one of my long-standing publishing heroines).
. . . and Jenny and I later joined Marion Sinclair of Publishing Scotland, Sheena Barclay from Harper Collins and Charlotte Dryburgh from Shetland Amenity Trust for a panel discussion focusing on our very different roles as women in the Scottish publishing industry.
I was really looking forward to other sessions at the festival, but I hadn’t quite expected everything to be so inspiring.
It was a real privilege to chat with Nicole Camphaug and April Pigalak, who were among a group of women who’d travelled to Inverness from Nunavut to talk about their important work with the circumpolar crafters network (I’ll say more about that work another time).
. . .and to hear from Ana Paula Fuentes and Netty Sopata about an inspirational collaboration between Scottish and Oaxacan textile makers.
Xpo North provides a great platform for starting conversations, and continuing dialogues. In one particularly thought-provoking session, bringing Lagos and South Uist together, Chibundo Onuzo and Beatrix Wood spoke (and sung) about the importance of place and identity in their work.
Outside the seminars and panels, there were lots of opportunities to take the conversations forward.
. . . with journalist Peter Urpeth (responsible for the publishing strand of xpo north)
Helen Lockhart of Ripples Crafts and Carol Sinclair from Applied Arts Scotland
Dwynwen Hopcroft from Loch Ness Knitting
And this talented crocheter, with whom I had a great discussion about disability, crafting, and design (if you are out there, please get in touch and tell me your name!).
There was even time to listen to some music
and generally have some fun.
Thanks, xpo north, for a brilliant few days. We’ll definitely be back next year!
The crocheter you are looking for is
katiejonesknit.co.uk
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The crocheter you are looking for is katejonesknit.co.uk
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thankyou!
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Loved reading about your adventures! Kate, you look terrific!!!
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Anyone interested in finding out more about the international making project discussed can find it here https://www.appliedartsscotland.org.uk/2019/06/weaving-an-adventure-of-sounds-in-mexico/.
Also check out the links to current opps available via AAS while you’re there!
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What a great event! Kate you look great and congratulations for all you’re doing is very inspiring. <3
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Kate, you are looking very healthy and full of creative energy! Thanks for such another interesting post. I will be sharing the http://circumpolarcraftersnetwork.com/ with the ladies in the village I live in during the school year. They may be very interested in their work and organization.
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Looks fascinating! I bought some beautiful lupin dyed yarn from Dwynen at Loch Ness Knits (and her beautiful cat) for (another) Fantoosh in June, and was really interested to hear about her local, sustainable dye sources, breathtaking part of the world!
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Love this post and esp cooments. Great to see Kate looking vibrant and gorgeous
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Now, I so want to go to this next year! Looks inspiring and fun. Plus, in a favorite part of the world for me!
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Kate, you inspire me to try harder! I have a twenty year fatigue syndrome that is very difficult! Glad to see you out and about may God bless you! Look forward to any new knitting designs you may show us in the future!
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How exciting that the crafters of Nunavut were at the Expo. In the last year, I have realistically gone through my stash (SABLE) and mailed the unrealistic portion up to a woman in Nunavut to help with her community. Many do not have an income to buy and ship yarn to themselves so it seemed like a good way to put the yarn to use. I only wish they too could find a way to sell items to help support programs in their communities. I look forward to you writing more about them.
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Your dress is gorgeous.
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Well, that was a treat! Not only do you look marvelous but all the different people you introduced us to! Thanks for that.
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It’s great to see you back and looking well Kate
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Fabulous, every bit of this!
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What a fabulous event! So many interesting and inspirational people (including YOU, by the way!). Thank you for sharing this with us.
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Lovely to see you looking so well and vibrant.
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I haven’t had time to read this thoroughly, but I cannot wait with this comment: the joy and vitality in your face Kate! Wow! You show us how to live life to the fullest. Going through a significant health challenge myself – I need that. Thank you!
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Your posts never fail to inform and inspire…thank you for taking the time to share. Impressive group of women from whom to learn.
And might I add, without benefit of knowing you personally, that you looked vibrant from your clothing choices to your infectious smile.
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Alles Gute !!!!!
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WOW!
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It was wonderful to see you, albeit briefly! It is a great event, and such a fun way of making contacts and meeting people.
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I was struck by how well you look, Kate. You obviously enjoyed yourself immensely.
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Looks so inspiring! I hope someday I’ll be able to travel again and participate in something like this :)
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Absolutely awed by all the wonderfully creative women out there. They are the glue that holds this world together and makes it more beautiful as well.
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Looks like a wonderful, engaging, and diverse event! Congratulations on being showcased in the publishing discussion. And may I say, you’re looking good.
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