The last few weeks have been rather busy here at Turns & Burns—and not all of it has involved standing at the lathe!

I recently celebrated my 60th birthday, surrounded by my children, grandchildren and family. It was a genuinely lovely milestone and a welcome pause before the final rush of preparations for our Arts & Craft Fair at Wolverton Village Hall.

The fair is now only two weeks away, on Saturday 17 October, and there is still plenty to do. I have been sorting stock, planning my display, preparing signs and price labels, and deciding which pieces deserve a place on my tables. There will be bowls, tea-light holders, pens, bottle-stopper lamps, Christmas trees and plenty of smaller handmade gifts.

A troublesome shoulder has slowed me down over the last few days, so I’m taking things gently and avoiding the heavier workshop jobs for now. Fortunately, there are always quieter tasks waiting—planning, organising photographs, updating the website and preparing for the fair.

I have also received a new commission for a handmade bowl. Commissions are always interesting because they begin with somebody else’s idea and gradually become something personal in the workshop. I’m currently considering the most suitable wood and planning how best to bring the design to life.

Alongside the making, I have continued building my Wood Story postcard collection. These cards share a little more about the different woods I use and the journey from a rough piece of timber to a finished object. The newest addition is Eucalyptus, and the full collection is not only growing into a record of the woods I have used but also the unique stories behind them and how they have become a part Turns & Burns.

Running a small handmade business is rarely just about making things. It is photographs, websites, packaging, displays, paperwork and promotion—all fitted around everyday life. But seeing everything gradually come together makes it worthwhile.

If you are nearby, I would love to see you at Wolverton Village Hall Arts & Craft Fair on Saturday 17 October, from 10am until 1pm. As well as Turns & Burns, there will be a lovely selection of other local makers and small businesses to discover.

If you cannot make the fair, you can still browse my work and Wood Story collection at turnsandburns.co.uk.

Thank you for following along—and for supporting the person, the workshop and the slightly chaotic reality behind every finished piece.

Contact

karen@turnsandburns.co.uk

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