Hellygog Heads: a creative collaboration

Heads: from Hellygog Heads to Piping@Forres

As I wandered into Hellygog I found Jude, uncharacteristically, with nothing in her hands. She had just had to turn off her electric carving knife as it had ‘got a bit hot’. She told me, ‘We’d had ours for 18 years, it was a wedding present and I just broke it this morning carving this unicorn head. I had to send Steve out for another which has already overheated!’ And so you are plunged into the creative world of Jude and Steve Simms, a.k.a Mr & Mrs Hellygog.

Jude of Hellygog with a lit up antler for a Hellygog Head

Jude’s latest idea for a brand new head – a unicorn – was starting to take shape on the table in front of us. She lit up with excitement as she literally lit up first the unicorn’s horn, and then an antler. These were made as the product of an interesting and unusual creative collaboration with local sculptor Scott Gleed of Gleed3D using Crystal Clear, a resin-like product more usually used in aeroplane cockpits. The lights are provided by LEDs in the base. The finished product will be coming to the Hellygog Shop soon, watch this space, and if you pop in in the meantime you might, like me, see the creation in action!

Hellygog Heads Q&A with Jude

Jude is clearly continuously inspired to adapt and make new things. The Hellygog Shop is always a hive of activity and if you go in for a look around you will usually see Jude or Steve creating something, or running a workshop to help others create something of their own. I wanted to find out more about their signature product, the Hellygog Heads, and how they came about..

Q: How did you start off making heads?

A: Well. I started making toys we called Pyjama Pets [which – another string to the bow – became a children’s story, The Pyjama Farmer, written by Jude and illustrated by Steve] but when the regulations became too difficult to meet I started making heads. First off someone asked me to make a deer’s head out of a little boy’s pyjamas. People kept asking for them so I kept making them. It went from deer to highland cows, foxes to badgers, rams – and now unicorns! This one for example is for a local business with a firm association with coffee and so it’s made from their own coffee sacks. Commissions usually have a personal piece of fabric involved.

Q: Now you make a mixture of commissions and heads of your own choosing. Do these spring from things that inspire you at the time, perhaps based around a piece of fabric?

A: Yes, almost all the fabric we use is now recycled, mainly from bits that have been donated here at the shop. This large deer has been made from a mixture of fleece from Kirsty’s degree project (Kirsty of Fibre Alchemy who runs felt-making workshops at Hellygog – just one of the many creative courses on offer here), a fairisle cardigan and real antlers. It’s all about using upcycled stuff. Making something beautiful out of something discarded. People hand in so much now partly I think because they know it will get used and made into something here.

Q: This one is very tactile, and almost has his own personality. I love his eyelashes too. He feels very characterful. Do you give them names?

A: Yes – well I usually ask people to give them names. We’ve had Randolph, Logie and Alexander – the three biggest ones I’ve made. Randolph was my first.

Q: What sort of fabrics do you like people to hand in?

A: Anything really. We take inspiration from some amazing pieces we’re given, like last week we had some amazing tweed suits and jackets so I’m really looking forward to doing something with them. And jumpers – jumpers are always really useful, even if they have a hole in, or they’ve shrunk in the wash, we can use most of the material. Any interesting textures. Fabric is always welcome here!

Hellygog at Piping@Forres, 30th June

Event-regulars, Hellygog will once again be going on tour to the craft village at the last ever European Pipe Band Championships, Piping@Forres next weekend. While there are between 100 and 130 different local makers at any one time at the Hellygog Shop here at Logie Steading, it’s Jude and Steve’s own Hellygog products that you will find at this huge Forres event. This year they will be show-casing their ever-popular heads, as well as Steve’s new range of prints, cards and t-shirts.

New for piping this year will be these cute mini heads. You’ll be able to choose your whisky stave and choose your own heads so you can have, as Jude laid out here, mum, dad and the kids with a hook added for each. Your own personal coat racks made in front of you there and then (and they’ll be available in the Hellygog shop after piping@Forres).

mini Hellygog Heads on a whisky stave coat hooks

So there you have it, a tiny taster of Hellygog creative life, or at least that relating to Hellygog Heads. There’s so much more at the Hellygog Shop, with 100-130 local makers in store at any one time, as well as Jude and Steve’s own makes. Jude and Steve themselves are a force of energy, with five children and alternative careers in physiotherapy and nursing, as well as their creative side, they are an inspiration to many of us who feel ‘there aren’t enough hours in the day’.

And if you’re popping along to Piping@Forres next weekend, do stop by the craft tent and say Hello. A trip to the piping is well worth it, a fantastic day out attended by people from Cornwall to Caithness, Canada to Cumbria, even for those of us who know next to nothing about piping – it’s a spectacle and a fantastic family friendly day out.

Piping at Forres Logie Steading sponsor

 

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Hellygog Heads: a creative collaboration

Terms & Conditions for fishing on Logie Estate

  1. Fishing on the river is restricted to 2 rods per beat and is to be by fly only. All fishing is from the right bank. By arrangement with the neighbouring estate there is no left bank fishing on the Relugas Middle and Top beats.
  2. The fishing is split into two 2 rod beats, Logie and Relugas, with Relugas sub divided into Middle and Top.  Beats can be taken together or separately. Logie is fished Monday to Saturday, Relugas Middle on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Relugas Top on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Beats change at midnight.
  3. Fishermen must contact Logie Estate office on 01309 611300 a day or so before arrival to organise being shown onto the river. A map of pools, beats and access routes will be provided.
  4. Bio-security is important to the future of the river and anglers are asked to observe protection measures. The Findhorn District Fishery Board Conservation Code will be strictly observed. To summarise: All fish caught up to 14th May inclusive must be released. From 15th May, all salmon over 9 lbs / 4 kg / 28 inches / 72 cm are to be returned.  Below that measurement at least 70% of salmon and 50% of grilse caught should be released and a maximum of 1 salmon and / or 2 grilse per rod per week may be retained. In September all fish are to be returned. No gaffs or tailers are allowed.
  5. The Findhorn District Fishery Board Bio-security measures will be strictly observed and all fishermen in the party must sign the Bio-security Declaration. (Also available at http://www.fnlft.org.uk/downloads/)
  6. The Estate recommends that barbless hooks are used, fishermen are in possession of a disgorger and that knotless nets are used. All possible care should be taken when returning fish to the river, they should be handled as little, and gently, as possible and should not be removed from the water.
  7. The catch should be reported at the end of each day of fishing to Logie Estate Office on 01309 611300. If the office is closed, please leave a message on the answering machine with the date, weight and pool. Please also report a nil catch day.
  8. Dogs are allowed on the river but must be kept strictly under control at all times. The Estate reserves the right to ask tenants to remove dogs if they are considered to be out of control.
  9. Rod, line and fly size are dependent on prevailing weather and water conditions and personal choice. In general, maximum rod length needed is 13ft with a size 8 or 9 line, usually floating. Fly sizes range from 6 – 8 in the spring down to 12 or less in summer low water.
  10. Safety must be considered at all times. All beats have a variety of pools with some suitable for most heights of water. Little wading is necessary and river paths are good however the fishing is within the Findhorn gorge, access to some of the pools is quite steep and a degree of rock scrambling is often necessary when playing and landing fish. Please be aware that a reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required. A buoyancy aid for each rod is provided and should be collected from Logie Estate Office on arrival, and returned to the Estate Office (or to the outbuilding opposite if office is closed) on departure. Logie Estate strongly recommends that buoyancy aids are worn when fishing and not doing so is entirely at fishermen’s own risk. Please pay attention at all times, avoid slips and falls, wear appropriate footwear, look out for overhead electricity lines, watch the weather and pay attention to livestock. Take extra care if fishing alone.
  11. Anglers need to supply or hire their own equipment (except buoyancy aids, which are provided).
  12. Ghillieing/tuition is available by on a first come, first served basis. This must be booked in advance with the Estate Office and is subject to availability. A half day ghillieing/tuition is approx. 3 hours, full day approx. 6 hours. Please contact the estate office or check our website for current rates. Rates do not include discretionary tips.
  13. Rod, Reel & Line hire is available by on a first come, first served basis. This must be booked in advance with the Estate Office and is subject to availability. Please contact the estate office or check our website for current rates. A rod, reel and line set is for one person and is subject to a fully refundable damage deposit of £100.
  14. Aside from fishermen, others, including rafters and kayakers, enjoy this stretch of river and mutual respect and consideration is expected.
  15. Bookings are confirmed when initial payment is received. Subsequent changes in dates or number or rods are entirely subject to the Estate’s discretion and to availability. Change of dates, if accepted, incur an administration fee. In the event of a cancellation the tenant must advise Logie Estate immediately, whereupon Logie will endeavour to re-let. If a new tenant can be found the deposit will be returned less any expenses incurred for advertising, office costs, etc., and less any shortfalls in discounted list price. Until such time as a vacancy has been re-let the hirer is responsible for making any further payment by the due dates. Failure to do so may mean that the hirer forfeits any refund if the dates are re-let. If it is not possible to re-let, all payments are still payable by the due date(s). It is unlikely that a refund can be made for a late cancellation. Logie Estate recommends that fishermen take out relevant cancellation insurance.
  16. Subletting fishing is only allowed with Logie Estate’s permission.
  17. Logie Estate reserves the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone who breaks these or associated conditions, or flouts normal standards of behaviour or fishing etiquette.