June 2021

This June has to be one of the dreariest Junes for a while. There just seams to be no sunshine at all! The country is opening up a bit after Covid lockdown and we are being encouraged to staycation. On the craft front, Brexit is beginning to bit hard with many of my UK suppliers no longer shipping to Ireland and UK sales on the website are now pretty much a thing of the past. Luckily I have done a couple of markets which has helped greatly with cash flow. Wood supplies are dangerously low and there seems to be none to be bought. If some becomes available them the costs have soared and 9 times out of 10 when you contact the supplier it is already sold or of inferior quality. I only use the best of wood for my cheese boards!

It is time to think outside the box as I need to be economical with my wood. Hence the idea of my small seascape wood slice pictures. There are parts of the lengths of wood I buy that are not suitable for the boards but rather than use them for kindling for the wood stove (though they do make excellent kindling!!) I have made a selection of framed art as not everyone wants a cheese board! These I trialed at my local craft market and they were a great hit…..phew I will continue to make these as they are quirky and different and expands the range.

Other news this month is that a new Tourist Office has opened up in Shannonbridge, Co Offaly and they also stock crafts from artisan producers from Co Offaly. So look out for them if you are passing through.