Corris Uchaf, Wales
Posts tagged craft centre
That’s Lucky
Apr 10th
I’m told there is an advert with a lucky dog.
Well, we are a Craft Centre with a Lucky Lamb, who is aptly named.
Lucky, having been rescued from the crows developed some kind of tummy bug.
My sister, brother-in-law and their 3 little angels are visiting us and have met Lucky, a poorly Lucky though. That was yesterday, and today I am happy to report that Lucky’s health is improving. The tummy bug is lessening and she is skipping about and is very much more cheerful. Just a blip then we hope.
So, my nieces can now meet a happy and well Lucky and they can appreciate one of natures gifts.
Just as we crafters try to work close to mother nature with the natural materials we all use in our various crafts.
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………….
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).
What am I doing?
Mar 17th
I have been quilting for some years now, on and off, mainly whilst I was housebound as a single mum + 4 kids + elderly and increasing infirm Mother all at home. Quilting was a way doing something creative.
The kids have all flown, and Mum has passed on.
So, at the middle of last year a rare opportunity arose to sign a 3 year lease on a small craft unit at Corris Craft Centre.
A big venture, but with the promise of 80,000 visitors a year we reckoned we could make a profit if only 1/8 were actually interested in patchwork and quilting.
Hard work though. We are obliged to carry in the shop mostly what we make, and have to be open 7 days a week Apr-Oct. Very long hours/days/weeks/months.
Contractual hours in excess of the EU regulations ‘cos we can’t afford to employ anyone to help ease the pressure.
We create the designs, source the materials, sew the things we design, price and then hopefully sell ‘em.
I am the creative one and the inspiration. He indoors has only recently got to recognise what a needle and thread looks like and has no colour co-ordination at all. So its an end to end process, all Made in Wales.
There has proved to be a dearth of Welsh fabrics, so we are designing our own Welsh themed fabrics and hopefully we are going to get them printed in Wales at the Laura Ashley fabric printing factory in Newton, Powys. Finances allowing, as no grants or help is available anywhere from anyone for a small setup like ours.
But. he indoors has given me a web site (I did it!) and he created an online shop for me. So maybe there’s some (not much) hope for him.
So this is my spot to recount how things go as we approach our first creative full season as part of the Corris Crafters.
