Skipness sale was hog roast heaven
An early Christmas event saw present buyers out in force at Skipness village hall. Organiser and coffee van barista Sam McKee of Skippuccino, the hot drinks provider, arranged a mix of crafters and food producers so that there was little duplication at last Sunday’s event. Fyne Frames’ Mhairi MacDonald showed a large selection of clocks, some created by her 16-year-old son, Lochgilphead High School pupil Ben Selfridge. Ben’s West Coast Grain wood turning works with fresh and reclaimed wood including barrel staves from Springbank. The young wood worker hopes to become a cabinet maker having been inspired by a Lochgilphead teacher. He ran a solo stall for the first time ever at Oban distillery the day before, and was away with his dad Calum Selfridge at another fair on Sunday. Former Carradale primary headteacher, Marion Morris, displayed a range of die cut Christmas cards which she cuts with commercial dies before adding the final touch by hand colouring. Skipness youngsters, Donald Dunlop, 9, and Alexander Dunlop, 7 who attend Tayvallich primary during the week, sold tree hangings, some made from scavenged pine cones, which they estimated had taken two weeks to make, and gift tags. One half of the Skipness Smokehouse supremos, Fran James, was celebrating having just gained two stars in the Great Taste Awards for the firm’s whisky-infused cold smoked salmon. Her stall included a raffle for a hamper, as well as other products including Arran Sea Glass and works by former Skipness resident artist Liz Toole.