Corris Uchaf, Wales
Posts tagged quilt
Quilting in Llanidloes
Aug 9th
The Quilt Asscoiation
Minerva Arts Centre
LLANIDLOES – Mid Wales2006 Summer Quilt Exhibition
“Double Running”24th July – 23rd September 2006
£3 Admission – £2.50 Concession
This should be a feast of quilting to gorge your eyes on and be inspired.
Bumble Bee Quilting wishes it could have been there, but bring a catalogue to our shop at Corris Craft Centre for 10% off our fabrics.
Our Quilt shop in Corris
Aug 2nd
Seems a long time since we looked at our quilting workshop at Corris Craft Centre.
We have recently said some goodbyes, we have tried to send some designs to Canada (no luck as far as we know) and we’ve been at Carno.
Does that mean that we have deserted our quilt shop in Corris, or our Wednesday fabric stall at Machynlleth market?
No, not one bit. We still, somehow, find time to do our patchworks and quilts in our workshop. We continue to entertain our visitors (or more often than not the visitors to King Arthurs Labyrinth).
We have had some enteraining and interesting visitors who have an interest in quilting and fabrics. Too few, but those we have had have been a joy. Today’s highlights were a lady from Canada and one who is going to add rug ragging to her many textile skills. A pleasure to meet you both.
Sales also have been better than ever. Still not enough to pay our Landlord with takings from the shop, but an improvement from this time last year.
It suddenly hit us that on 12th July we had an anniversary. One year since we commenced trading and crafting within our little unit in Corris. Wow, so much has happened between the two 12ths of July. Cannot believe that we have been here one year (plus a bit now).
Where has all the time gone?
A full summer season, the dreary winter months when we saw virtually nobody from one week to the next, and now the visitors are here in droves again.
Must be getting old…. Are we enjoying it?
Part of us says yes, and part no. We enjoy the camadarie with the other crafters. We don’t like the politicing. We would love to know where the centre is going, we would love to work with our Landlord rather than be in the dark. We would love to see more people interested in crafting (and especially textiles), we would love to be able to say at the end of the week that we had made any money.
Financially, the enterprise is a nightmare and a real worry.
The constant juggle between our mortgage and the rent due on the shop. The hope that someday we may be able to have a holiday and unwind.
Its a very stressful life being a crafter in rural mid Wales.
But does anyone else care?
You don’t dear Reader, the council doesn’t even know we exist, the Welsh Assembly cares even less (it having no time at all for the lot of ordinary people in rural Wales).
But we care; we care for crafting, we care for traditions and we care for our local Welsh community and all those within it that struggle to make ends meet every day of the year in the face of official indifference.
We try to make a difference and we try to improve the lot of our fellow locals and our tourist guests.
Where have I been?
Jul 19th
Its been a long old time since an update on Bumble Bee Quilting. So what’s been going on?
Lazyness, exhaustion, world cup or what?
Well, our workshop at the craft centre is still going, we have had some interesting and interested visitors, we are still quilting and making our own patchworks; and, this being mid Wales, the sun still shines.
We have nearly completed our latest two quilts, and have finished our new Celtic wallhanging, emblazoned with celtic knotwork and dragons. Pretty cool wallhanging as well if we can say so ourselves.
We are looking after 2 rats at home called Gormless and Stupid (who on a good day live up to their names and on a bad day live down to them). They are dogs really but no-one’s ever told them that and they “think” of themselves as rats (not that either is capable of a thought) and will answer to rat.
Sadly Jemma’s 7 year old grey cat Dylan (Bobby or Mr D) secumbed to an unknown poisoning, and has been cremated. He was returned in a very smart wooden urn. The kids took it well, but his new kitten friend Sammy (Gizmo) is still finding memories and looks out for him.
We have also had some visitors at home, Sally and Alan stayed with us for 5 days and shared some of their photos of their epic visit to the Pitcairn and Galapagos Islands as well as a spot of unsuccessfull fishing on the Tal-Y-Llyn.
We also had great meal at the Railway Inn at Abergynolwyn and were greeted as usual by a sorrowful pair of hungry eyes belonging to Winston, the pub’s dog, who still thinks he is wasting away and has never eaten a chip in his life. Actually he is a bit on the heavy side of large so we think he is wallowing in some underserved self-pity here, but he does look so sorry for himself.
Ginny, Andy, Jessie, Maggie and Bob were making their annual visit to Aberdyfi and popped in to say howdey; as were Lesley and Tony with their two lads.
Great to see them all. Living in such a remote area really makes us appreciate old friends and family.
The Wednesday market at Machynlleth continues, generating interest and sales in our fabrics and quilts.
And loh and behold, we won a game of dominoes beating the team from the Bowling Club (don’t sing your usual song here JB). A close game, keenly fought in a friendly fashion. Great opponents who beat us handsomely last time on their turf. This was on the back of two away deafeats to the Forresters and the Glyndwr. Always fun to play you guys and girls. Diolch yn Fawr.
So we soldier on – and don’t forget your squares for the Teresa Anna Quilt.
Some issues resolved
Jun 24th
At the end of last week we were rather in a state of limbo.
Our Landlord’s marketing person had totally put a damper on our privately funded marketing efforts.
We now learn that this was all a fabrication. External funders have confirmed that they have absolutely no quibble with these efforts, hence our leaflets can be issued with impunity and our crafers website is back online (EDIT – Website removed fur to cost).
Yesterday saw the Grand Opening of the new units. Well, what an amateurish effort it was too, full of false platitudes and no interest shown in the crafters or their business at all. A total and complete letdown. Shame that the press release was just plain wrong also.
But, we have had some great visitors to our workshop in the craft centre and to our Wednesday market stall in Machynlleth.
A much needed boost – Thank you one and all – please come again.
We are also starting to receive back some squares for the Teresa Anna Quilt, some outstanding designs and work have gone into them too.
This is Wales, so the Sun shines
Jun 3rd
What a glorious week.
After the deluge of recent weeks Wales has recovered to be it’s usual sunny self. Everything has cheered up, the plants, the livestock, the birds and the bees, as well as the good folk at Corris Craft Centre.
A real air of optimism pervades the air all around our little idyll in Mid Wales.
We started a maket stall in Machynlleth on Wednesday selling mainly quilting fabrics. A great opportunity to meet new people and to see old friends as they amble through the streets and stalls of Mach on a very fine and pleasant day. We shall keep the market up as its an ecomonic way of selling and good advertising for us and for the Craft Centre. We have already had people, who saw our stall in the street, make their first ever visit to the Craft Centre. How sad that people living or holidaying for many years within 15 miles of Corris have never even heard that the Craft Centre existed. Yet what a joy for them when they make that first visit.
We have also had much interest from people getting involved in Teresa Anna’s Quilt. We look forward to seeing the designs and construction techniques of the different squares as they are returned over the next few weeks. Teresa Anna herself has put in some guest appearances as well, which is always a bonus.
If you would like to get involved in this personal worthy quest of ours, come and visit our quilting shop at Corris Craft Centre soon before all the material has gone as the quilt has a limit of 25 squares.
Teresa Anna’s Quilt
May 31st
This quilt is for all families & friends of loved ones who have undergone the treatment for Breast Cancer.
Some have fought the fight, only to fall at the final hurdle, some are still fighting.
Why the ‘Teresa Anna Quilt’, well my friend Teresa is one of the latter, still fighting! but what a fight it is.
Last August Teresa was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and since that time has undergone an operation, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy and has just started on another chemical barage to her weakened body… yet through all the pain and discomfit she can still laugh and see the funny side to most things in her life. (and still plays a mean game of Dominos)
With your help I can use this Quilt to help the research into cures and ways of helping people like Teresa.
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
I would like to complete the quilt by October so the sooner you can return the Square to me the better.
The return address is
Teresa Anna’s Quilt
Bumble Bee Quilting
Corris Craft Centre
Corris
Machynlleth
Powys
Wales
SY20 9RF
NB… Could you enclose the square in a plastic bag… being mindful of the weather.
If you have to fold it to post it can you be minimal.
Flat or Rolled would be best.
Thanks
Jane
Between now and October I will be finding out the best way to raise money for the Quilt – Auction / Raffle etc. Any Ideas?
This free pack of fabric is enough with some addition of your own stash to create two matching 12“ x 12†squares (plus seam allowance)
… one to be sent back to me to be included in ‘Teresa Anna’s Quilt’ the second to be completed as a cushion and given to the person, or family of, for whom you Undertake this challange.
Each square sent back to me must be complete ie. any design of your choice Foundation, Traditional or Applique. wadded with 2oz polyester wadding and quilted. 12¼“ x 12¼†finished size.
Please include on the back of the square the name of the person in your thoughts as you complete this square… feel free to add a fabric photo or an embroidered message on the back as well.
A week with our heads in the clouds
May 26th
The monsoons have arrived in Mid Wales.
We tell our visitors that there’s a thick sea mist and some spray – but actually its been incessent rain and heavy showers. So, we’ve lived with our heads in the clouds and our visitors have lived in their rain coats.
But everyone’s cheery, seems the whole of the UK is getting pretty much the same.
Roll on spring, you’ve been a long time comming.
Spring bank holiday just around the corner and all the bulbs and flowers at Corris Craft Centre have been washed away and drowned.
With no end in sight to the monsoon, there’s the World Cup to look forward to. As the Real World Champs (Wales) have had the grace to decline an invite to Germany “so that the others can have a chance”, we shall be supporting the World “B” team – BRAZIL. Come on the bouys in Yellow and Green.
Meanwhile, we look forward to greeting the throng in our own little arena at Corris Craft Centre and delighting them with our fabrics, patchwork and quilts. Plus, there’s one very special quilt we have lined up for a very special Lady (Teresa Anna) in our own little village of Corris Uchaf in aid of Breast Cancer Research. More Soonest ….
