week 19 - Time well spent for a good cause

I thought it was time that I write a bit about the 'other' thing I do on my Wednesdays - earlier this year I was elected as the Treasurer of my local arts charity which is called Kirkgate Studios & Workshops. Also known as KS&W. (I often call it the pottery studio - which I shouldn't really as there is a lot more going on there besides ceramics. Woodworking, textiles and all kinds of crafts...)

It is an amazing place, been around for 28 years and does a great job of servicing the local community. It is a bit like an artsy community centre. Sometimes people drop in for a coffee and a chat - someone else might come in for a bit of help with some knitting or sewing and meanwhile there will be a few people making fabulous things out of clay or wood or attending a painting class.

My role as Treasurer has led me to be very in tune with the financial challenges facing the organisation, and in response to this I have taken it upon myself to start up a Fundraising Team - to try and get the organisation and its group of DEDICATED volunteers thinking a bit more commercially.

What we have decided to do is to make objects for sale at a local market and also at a local Crafts Fair in the approach to Christmas. It seems like a simple idea to harnessing all the talents in the group, use our facilities and also get a bit of visibility for KS&W in the wider area. We are meeting once a month on a Saturday or Sunday to make various items to sell. The proceeds we make later in the year (in the weeks before Christmas) will go back into the coffers of KS&W.

Our first 'Making Day' was on Sunday - and we had a textile day. It was well attended and I really enjoyed it! Below are some samples of what we made. Or next 'Making Day' is on 5th June and it is a ceramics day.

Bags for Bags (for storing plastic bags). The polka dotted fabric is handmade by me. It was a bit of an experiment!


Rag wreaths -- fiddly and time consuming to make and a bit old-fashioned looking so we wont continue with those.


Bird Ornaments or scented pouches. Aren't they cute?
These still need to have some eyes sewn on, but they were definitely a success.