Ceredigion Craft Makers

When I first started turning wood I was caring for my partner’s mother who had dementia. This meant that my time was committed so, no craft fairs, craft groups or co-operatives who rent a shop where I would have to be able to donate my time on a regular basis. So all my work was sold through shops and galleries.

I am no longer caring for someone so I am now free to sell in whatever way I choose and a couple of months ago I joined Ceredigion Craft Makers. It is a mixed group promoting and selling various quality crafts in different venues within the county throughout the year. Anyone who wants to join has to go through a selection procedure to make sure that the standard of work and therefore the reputation of the whole group remains high.

We have an exhibition in Aberaeron this week. I was stewarding yesterday with Maggie who is as enthusiastic about working with textiles as I am about working with wood. The day flew by. I love feeling someone’s enthusiasm for what they do and Maggie has a wealth of experience. She cards and spins from the fleece and then makes wonderful, individual, knitted scarves, etc. She also sells starter packs for people wanting to learn spinning with a drop spindle which I have heard about but never seen in action before. She is also keen on felting and in fact anything to do with textiles. Her partner, Alan, is a blacksmith and makes a fantastic range of both useful and ornamental items. It was great to be discussing all things craft with someone with experience, passion, knowledge and it made me realise how valuable being part of a group like this will be for me.

Obviously as we lead up to Christmas there are so many different demands on the members so we were a small group. Anyway, who is exhibiting this week is:-

Roni Roberts Artistic Woodcraft.
Alan Perry – (Blacksmith)
Crefftau Coeden Gwyn, White Tree Crafts – (Jewellery)
Lampeter Woodturning – (woodturning)
Maggie Anne – (textiles)
Mary Rose Hayfield – (painter and author)
Nantyfelin Pottery – (ceramics)
Hooray4Clay – (ceramics)
Karen Cole – (jewellery)

More about the work of all the above are on the Ceredigion Craft Makers website www.ccmcrafts.co.uk