Cut out and make packs of Penrith landmarks are proving popular as Christmas gifts for town ex-pats.
Pop Up Penrith creator Rose Atherton has taken inspiration from the dream houses she made as a child to make an entertaining family activity pack which revolves around 10 town landmarks.
“Penrith is the quintessential town. It has got it all and its architecture lends itself to being a dream town. If you can’t be in Penrith, it is the next best thing,” said Rose.
She started the Pop Up Penrith project in April with an initial plan of getting it on sale in time for the school summer holidays.
At school, pupils learn how to make a three-dimensional shape out of flat two-dimensional nets. Putting the miniature buildings together is also good for fine motor skills and spacial awareness, said Rose.
“I used to make what I called dream houses as a child, after learning about nets at school,” she said.
Landmarks included in the miniature Penrith building series include the Musgrave Monument, the Beacon, the bandstand featuring Penrith Town Band, Cowpers Chemist, the museum, Alhambra cinema, J&J Graham, the Herald office and Cranstons, Adlib and Sassy Nix, all in one.
“It is sturdy paper and you cut the shapes out, fold them, and stick them together to make the buildings,” explained 26-year-old Rose, who works at Penrith-based McKanes Printers. “It is a good family activity, especially for grandparents wanting to do things with their grandchildren.
“People are also buying them to use as festive decorations. They are just tying ribbon to them and putting them on the Christmas tree,” said Rose. “I would say a good number of them have been bought to be sent abroad to people originally from Penrith.
“It is the perfect stocking filler. You can get the packs at the Herald, at the museum, Cowper’s Chemist and online,” said Rose.
While at Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School, before going to Oxford University to study history, then 16-year-old Rose started her own print business, selling lino prints and wood cuts.
“I like bringing my ideas to life. It’s a bit of fun, something different, and a bit of a side hustle,” she said.
After leaving university, Rose worked as an art and technology technician at Kirkbie Kendal School, Kendal, for two years. In future, she also plans to be popping up other places. Next stop will be Keswick, and then Patterdale, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and Alston.
“I can do commissions as well or if you want your shop (in Penrith) popping up and adding to the expansion pack, I can do that,” said Rose.
Next year, there is also a plan for the mini-high street to become an Advent calander. Rose is also behind the newly-opened shop in the Herald office, selling tea towels, mugs, calanders and post cards with images from the newspaper’s archive.
While there is still time to buy a Pop Up Penrith set as a Christmas present, anybody wanting an online order posted out needs to be quick. They can also be ordered via Facebook and Instagram.
