An #ANDSustainableGiants-Green Tourism Network member
Christine Casey is a textile worker who lives close to the shores of Strangford Lough on the Ards Peninsula close to Portaferry. Christine runs a variety of workshops in her workshop, serving up tea, coffee and homemade made soda bread and cake to her workshop participants.
Christine runs workshops to both teach the older, traditional skills such as spinning, weaving, nalbinding, crochet and knitting, and to help to preserve these skills and knowledge for the future. And all done with a good dose of blether and craic!
What makes us sustainable...
The tools and equipment that Christine uses are 'unplugged' - no source of power or heat is required to operate them.
Much of the fibre used in the workshops is natural - wool, flax, alpaca. The sheep wool in particular is a product that provides no financial return to the farmers. It costs more to shear a fleece that the Wool Marketing Board will pay for it, and as a result many farmers burn or otherwise dispose of their fleeces. So it is good to find a use, and convert it to something practical.
Christine also runs a local craft club, where anyone can come along and take part. Membership is free, with an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to a local charity. Participants are encouraged to bring their own crafts to work on, or something they are stuck on, in the hope that one if the group can offer help. And occasionally the club brings in another crafter to run a workshop. This group is growing and some of the members have hosted the club at their houses. It is also helping people new to the area and opportunity to meet like minded people, develop a support network and make friends.
"Sustainability was part and parcel of our lives many years ago, and it feels good to bring those values back to modern day through the medium of crafting."
Find out more...
Kiri Cottage Crafts website | Kiri Cottage Crafts Facebook
