Corris Uchaf, Wales
Quilting at Corris
Patchwork and Quilting work shop at Corris Craft Centre, Mid Wales
Our first week back
Apr 7th
Cannot believe it, a week into our new season already.
The sun has shone and yet the visitors arrived,. Not in droves, but enough to act as an encouraging sign for the season ahead. Financially as well the week has been quite reasonable. We have hopes for a modest profit this year (possibly even into 3 figures).
We have to pay for 12 month’s rent, but the season is actually only half that so we need to work and sell at double quick time to make up for the wintertime when the craft centre is generally devoid of any visitors.
Its been exhausting … but its great to see all our fellow crafters. Debbie, in the candle studio, has rescued a lamb, named Lucky, who is now 4 days old. Lucky was being mobbed by the crows and too week to even open her eyes. Now, after 3 days of Debbie’s gentle ministrations, she is gamboling about and as bright as a button.
Come to Corris Craft Centre and possibly meet one of the Luckiest creatures born this fine spring in the shadows of our majestic Welsh mountains.
we all gathered together
Mar 31st
So, we had a group hug, one or two nibbles and shared a glass of rose sparkling wine.
Cheerio Ann, there is no doubt as to your worth to the current success of King Arthur’s Labyrinth.
You will continue as the part time book-keeper – but you have done so much more for Ian. Glad he appreciates it in the form of either a keyring or a broach (we were not too sure which it was). Anyway, hope you enjoyed the afternoon…..
All the staff of the Labyrinth (even Hugh awoke from his slumbers, so you must have been delighted as well as surprised) and the tenants of Corris Craft Centre were there to wish you well.
The new Season becons and Jackie now controls the shop, Chris Coffi the canteen and Hugh the underground men (the “moles”). Will Steve ever get any redder than tonight, will Garden Jackie ever control Mark’s urge to utter, will Ryan ever be sober, will Sammy ever grow taller than the spindliest cat, and will Hugh ever see the summer or will he sleep through it … Life is never so interesting as that experienced in rural Wales.
So, a ship you have never seen so stable, flounders on.
Us crafters, how do we think? Is this an opportunity or an irrelevance to our businesses?
Only time will tell………….
The ends of March
Mar 30th
That fateful time rapidly approaches.
The ends of March. Caesar had it luck as he only saw the ides, and therefore missed the ends.
From now we shall be back in the shop hard at work designing and making our fabric wares, and hopefully making some sales, from 10:00 – about 17:00 7 days a week.
Not looking forward to the season. Its a very long hard slog, without a break. Roll n the end of October when some sanity returns to our lives (as does the cold, bleak midwinter).
:drink:
Sale
Mar 27th
We had a sale this weekend!
Spring must be in the air as local patchworkers and quilters are out in force. Good to see them – even better when we have something for them to buy. Helps keep the wolf from the door.
It has to be said though that this was one lucky sale. We were not in, but we had left a note on the door to say that we would come down should anyone who read the note want us to. Yep, there was a contact number. So that is what happened. The lady rang, we turned up and sale completed.
Anne, the Labyrinth Manager, retires on Friday. So, our whole year’s takings thus far went into her kitty for a present. As the saying goes – Hard to Get but Easy to Loose. Still, its in a good cause.
We are having a surprise leaving do for her on Friday. be there or be Square
Cold and Blustery Weekend
Mar 19th
It was a cold and blustery weekend, high winds and bitter air temperatures that just went straight through you.
We could not sew in our shop with its mass of single glazed windows and lack of insulation. In fact it proved to be colder inside the shop than outside.
We put in an appearance on Saturday, but no more than that.
Time to catch up with the Commonwealth Games, and cheer on Michaela Breeze and the rest of Team Wales. Loved that cheeky grin as she nailed her record breaking snatch, and was moved to see this strong, powerful girl almost reduced to tears as our Anthem played for her. Good for you Michaela, great lifting.
We are really enjoying these games, and watching the sports that we don’t usually get to see like squash, badmintion, netball and table tennis. The swimming and cycling have been up to their usual high standard and very enjoyable, with even the Isle of Man entering into the spirit of things which is great.
A Week Passes
Mar 17th
Well, another 5 days has passed.
No-one at home in Bumble Bee Quilting, we are preserving our strength for next month’s relentless onslaught.
The weather outlook is OK for this weekend. We shall be at work beavering away at our patchworks and quilts.
Lets see if the fairweather public comes out to play…….
A Frozen Weekend
Mar 17th
Us crafters nust be a hardy lot.
A freezing, snowy weekend in workshops with no insulation and inadequate heating, we were beavering away all weekend.
Frozen fingers and joints make for slow and painful sewing, but we were not put off.
As for the cheering flock of spectators, well, rather than venture out into the wonderful Welsh air, they seemed to have stoked their fires and remained firmly behind closed doors.
We are not crafters for ourselves, you know.
We need the audience, the cheering and the heckling (+ the odd large sale goes down well too, especially with the bank manager).
So, you lot, get off your chairs and rally round at Corris Craft Centre.
Exciting and thrilling entertainment for all the family of all ages and genders.
Free as well.
Contributions are voluntary but, like Santa, all contributions are reciprocated by a piece of craft you might be thrilled to have, even if its only a cuppa tea and and a piece of homemade Bara Brith for the hungry.
So, come on down to Corris Craft Centre, and discover the joys of crafting (and grafting).
