shonky-tonk band

  Heart Like a Wheel by Julias' Daughters


We're barely competent, forget the words, fluff the chords and suffer from the stage frights but never-the-less, me and Emily are a band. We called ourselves Julias' Daughters as both our Ma's were named so.


We did a little demo recording round my house with the vital assistance of the resident musician. One mic was perched a-top the ironing board (which rather pleased me), Emily brought round lovely Falko (Konditormeister) bread for the rider, and I got told to "stand back" and "face the microphone, Ellen" many-a-time. 


This song, Heart Like A Wheel by Anna McGarrigle, first appeared on the self-titled debut album, Kate and Anna McGarrigle,  (1975). 

barry barras barrow buskers!

 












I did have fun down the Barras at Supermercado the other week. The bonnie brown and beige striped barrow I borrowed lived up to all my expectations. There's copious storage under the old gal y'know!


It was my first market of the festive season and I took the chance to get out the lovely vintage-style tablecloth I'd snaffled in the Scotstoun Emporium months ago. I lined my old suitcase with the tablecloth and plucked some wind-fallen branches from the cemetery to hang my brand-new decorations upon. I was glad I had the brain-wave to tie my bell-bows from last years at-home decor onto the branch tips which fairly added some pazzaz - if do say so myself! 


They're so simple to do - just thread a ribbon under the wee loop on the back of your standard jingle bell (cutting the ribbon at a jaunty angle helps) and tie a bow either on itself or around whatever needs jingling and you're done - possibly the quickest project ever! My wee battery powered berry lights were reluctant to perform on such a bitterly cold day, but I cajoled them eventually.


Raring to  but experiencing some chilly-weather technical difficulties nonetheless were Julias' Daughters (or Emily and me) as cold weather and metal strings don't mix with frozen fingers and my stinking cold made the high notes a little well, higher. But we had fun and even received a compliment on our cover of Teenager In Love - out first review woohoo! 


If you're shopping in Glasgow over the next couple of weekends be sure to go along for some Christmas cheer(s): mulled cider and HOT GIN COCKTAILS await! And I can't wait to get my gin-soaked paws on the recipe, soon to be appearing on The Made In the Shade blog. Maybe it will be divulged in time for their On-line Chirstmas party? 


(Thanks to the Shade and their lovely lady photographer for the borrowed photos below!)


P.S. Photographer identified as Gillian from Dapple Photography - thanks Kirtsy!

 

wagons west!

I know, I know it's all been a little too quiet on this blogging-front of late but I'm a-workin my lil' fingers to the bone to get my new things ready to take to my first SUPERMERCADO experience next weekend!


Supermercado is the latest indie shopping venture from Made In The Shade, as it's happening every week in the Barras Centre. 


I've heard a lot about the market, well more particularly about the (hopefully) available cakes (please be there, please be there), and the stovies and the HOT DOUGHNUTS! I may need those as I've heard it can be a little chilly in the courtyard which gives me an excuse to wear my sheepskin jacket (Delboy style) but to quote The Made In The Shade blog "the atmosphere is warm".


Fingers crossed I'll be parked up in one of these bonnie barrows (yeeeeee!) and even be singing a little song for you with Daughter Emily as Julias' Daughters are the Barras Buskers for the day!!! 


Can it get any better? Well maybe yes, if I can get around some technical hitches, I might just have some flash new Crimbo decorations to show off!! 

hop-hop this a-way, hop-hop that a-way...

It's been too long I know, but I've so much bottled-up (some quite literally) to share with you I'm planning an action-packed blogoramma this week! Hold onto your seatbelts!!


I had great fun at The MITS Summertime Hop Edinburgh (even briefly had my first ever queue!). had my cake and ate it from Aunty M's (sweet potato and pecan praline) which was well worth the wait (have since squeezed in another slice - more on that later...) and even got the chance to run around the other stalls to bag these two beauties.

I couldn't resist this birthday card which came from Leah Halliday's lovely stash of vintage finds. It's faux-cross-stitched and slightly squinty squares were right up my street and I've got the perfect little frame to pop it in and the perfect little place to hang it...


The brooch is by Laura Donald and I bought it as much for it's beauty as for  the story that came with it. No, not the Mills and Boon one on the very natty home-sewn paper bag but this one: so the story goes, the Isle of Wight plate was a rare charity shop find, carried home in a shopper by Laura's gallant man until it met it's fate upon the 'rocky' shores of their kitchen table. Oops! And so one crafters jetsam became another crafters treasure. The sharp edges are carefully sanded to make it what my Mother called a "limmey" (sp anyone?), a Caithnessian word for a washed-up shard of crockery. 


I love pictures and particularly songs about sailing ships. Here's one of my favourites: Sinking in the Lonesome Sea which Julias' Duaghters will be playing this Friday at Sun Bear on Lorne Street. 


I'll be "Citylink-ing: Smart-thinking" it through to Glasgow the next day for the last ever Made In The Shade SUMMERTIME HOP at The Lighthouse. The gals have much on the go with their newly made-over west end premisies and forthcoming new HQ at The Barras Centre. My-oh-my!