Yarns, threads and olives

David Hedley, whose business Hedley's Bookshop is the driving force behind Yarns in Barns, sets the scene for this year's festival. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Yarns In Barns

Wairarapa's festival of reading which kicked off yesterday and runs for two weeks is offering an array of events around the district to celebrate the joy of reading and literacy.

The eighth biennial Yarns in Barns is brought to Wairarapa by Hedley's Bookshop.

This year the 14 events have attracted 30 participants, many of whom are authors or poets.

Today at 11am award-winning author Steve Braunias will talk about his book Scene of the Crime, which is about New Zealand's most high-profile crimes, at Greytown Town Centre.

Then at 2.30pm in Hedley's Bookshop Nicky Pellegrino, an Auckland freelance journalist, columnist and author, will give a talk called Escape to Italy about her Italian-based books.

The event is $10 and includes a glass of prosecco.

Tales from the Bush is taking place tomorrow at New Zealand Pacific Studios, 2km north of Pukaha Mt Bruce, at 3pm. Join Kay Flavell and Wairarapa Archive's Gareth Winter for an open microphone afternoon where you can tell your family settler stories. Tickets are $5.

Tickets can be purchased from Hedley's Bookshop in Queen St, Masterton, or online at www.hedleysbooks.co.nz Oversew Fashion

The 2016 Oversew Fashion Awards will be held tonight and tomorrow at the Carterton Events Centre.

The show promotes upcycled fashion by recognising talented, aspiring designers who recreate, revamp and redesign pre-loved clothing into sustainable fashion garments.

This year the theme is Fire and Ice and designers will be judged in four categories for outfits to chill-out in, hit the town, wear to work and woolly gear to wrap up warm in.

Saturday night's show (7.30pm-11pm) is sold out but there are tickets still available for the Sunday matinee, from 1pm-2.30pm.

Matinee tickets are $35/$49 and can be bought online at eventfinder.co.nz or by phoning 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).Wairarapa Green Dollar Market

Be at St John's Hall in Greytown today from 9.30am-12.30pm to catch some bargains.

The Wairarapa Green Dollar Market will have hot food, coffee, and baking as well as fresh vegetables and fruit to help stock the pantry.

There will also be crafts, jewellery, books, soaps, natural beauty products, knitwear and some pre-loved stalls.

Organisers say there will be something for everyone and to "bring your appetite" and recycled shopping bags to fill. Olive Harvest Festival Lunch

Olive oil lovers will want to be aboard this tour, happening tomorrow. Visit Leafyridge olive grove in Masterton, hand-harvest some olives and then enjoy a banquet lunch at Olives New Zealand judge Rachel Priestley's restaurant La Pancetta. The banquet will be followed by a trip around the corner to The Olive Press where you will walk through the plant and learn how olives are turned into oil. Finish the tour with a tasting in the shop of extra virgin and infused olive oils and a chance to purchase some to take home.

Meet at La Pancetta (Wakelin House in Greytown) where you will be greeted with olives and prosecco. The tour, for all ages, is from 10.30am-4pm, at $125 a person. Ring 0800 BUY TIX (289 849) for tickets.