Christmas Craft Fairs

8 and 9 November at Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort
Saturday 10.30am - 5.00 pm
Sunday 11.30 am - 6.30 pm

15 and 16 November at Perth Concert Hall
Saturday 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
Sunday Noon - 5.00pm

Courier Copy

At the recent A.G.M. of Angus Crafts Association held in Letham Village Hall. A large number of members turned out to support the Association and took advantage of the opportunity to network with other crafters. Steve Davidson was elected Chairperson and commented,” The aim of the association is to promote and foster contemporary and traditional crafts within Angus and this year we would like to be more involved with the wider community, especially the younger people who may like to know more about traditional crafts.We hope to have regular demonstrations in the Craft of Angus Showcase & Shop at the House of Dun where some of our members are retailing their crafts.”

Steve runs his one man business, Western Isles Decorative Glass, designing and installing traditionally crafted stained glass for doors, windows, walls and ceilings. He also creates and designs stained glass mirrors, driftwood mirrors and driftwood clocks. The driftwood he collects and carries from the remotest parts of the Western Isles, most times in a rucksack as the only way to get there and back is on foot.

With a passion for ‘keeping it local’, Steve was instrumental in getting the Crafts of Angus Showcase and Shop off the ground. Members of the Angus Crafts Association took up the challenge to open the shop in the prestigious setting at the House of Dun. The old stable block has been transformed into a showcase and shop for some of the beautiful local crafts. Visitors are able to choose from contemporary and designer jewellery, ceramics, fine embroidery & needlework, cards, chair cane seating, felt hats & Bags, wooden items of all shapes and sizes, wrought iron work, painted glass, hand painted suncatchers, stained glass and decorative mirrors, photographic prints, and an extensive range of fanciful gifts.

“I can often be found behind the counter in the craft shop, taking my turn on the rota”, says Steve,” “Customers like to talk to the people who make the crafts and I enjoy talking about my work.”

The Crafts of Angus Showcase and Shop can be found in the old stables at the House of Dun, along side Cafe Dun. For more information about joining the Angus Crafts Association contact the membership secretary on Tel: 01307 466297

Well done!

Well done to whoever orchestrated our little press rlease. Nice picture of Steve and nice write-up too. Keep up the good work.
I was spreading the word to the Forfar Ladies Luncheon Club today. Hopefully, a few of them will be trekking up to our shop at House of Dun to buy lots of Christmas gifts!

Hello - well I think I've done it!!

I hope this is a reply to the blog we'll see if it appears, not sure if I'll remember how to get back in though.

Thought there would have been more comment here by now.

I still have to master the Wikki thingy! will work on that next.
Tessa

Ha, Ha, Ha!!!

Now I can write posts in this blog, too!!!!

Hello All, this is Maura, the ACA secretary and the only other member of the ACA committee who already has a Blogger account apparently. Oh wait a minute - where are you, Rhi?

Team Blog

I've found out how to turn this Blog into a 'team blog' and have just invited the members of the committee to become joint authors (sorry Linda and Janet P I don't have your e-mail addresses). Hopefully we can extend it to all members in the future? I've also changed the title to include our logo.......food for thought there eh?

If you're a crafter from outwith Angus, Scotland and you've Googled here, stumbled, whatever here, please get in touch to share ideas and globally gossip. We'd enjoy hearing from you.

At the shop

'In less than 3 years a small group of dedicated Angus Crafts Association members have taken a dusty, cobwebby, forgotten storeroom and created a unique and vibrant enterprise. By renovating the old Stable Block at the House of Dun we have not only created a modern retail environment but also pulled together as a team and become a strong and dynamic independent crafting cooperative. Each person continues to volunteer their specialist skills for a mutually beneficial purpose.

The result of our team effort is the Crafts of Angus Showcase and Shop – a gallery of locally-produced, handmade items entirely staffed and run by the makers of the products available on the shelves. Where each of us would fail individually, together we have succeeded in creating a profitable and unique enterprise of which we are all justifiably proud.'

This is part of our submission to Angus Council for their 'Angus Ambassadors Scheme'. It also summarises what the shop is.......and that's where I was today. We take turns of manning the till and being shopkeepers for a few days a month. House of Dun is a National Trust for Scotland property and attracts a fair number of visitors from all over the World. Today, they must have found somewhere else to go.

But I'm not complaining, the carrot, corriander and ginger soup, followed by a cake from the Table of Temptation of Cafe Dun made my day. Janet McF and I also had a grand chat about future press releases, what was on offer at the Table of Temptation, and we also had time to sort out the World's financial crisis. So, what a day we had!

Soon, I hope to turn this blog into a'team blog' but I'll need to find out how to do it.