Small beginnings

Wee County Crafters is a small group of, mostly, wood obsessed-people in central Scotland. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds and there is a spread of ages - possibly a middle-age spread... and both genders are represented.

The Crafters began as a response to a need for arts activities in Clackmannanshire. That explains the term "Wee County" in the name, by the way. Clackmannanshire is the smallest County in the UK and the one with the longest name. ('Wee' means 'small' in Scots dialect).

I hope that clears that up.

We first met in the Alloa arts house 'Resonate'. The good people there gave us our start in life but we soon outgrew the space. Amalgamation with another group and a move to their rented premises in farm buildings at Aberdona gave us more space and the collaboration of a different sort of craftsman to help extend our skill base.

Space we had and that was wonderful but we also had unexpected side effects: holes in the roof, a small stream running through the workshop, a complete lack of sanitary facilities. Well, there were facilities of a sort but they involved sharing with the bulls. Not only was that inconvenient for the lady members, it was also demoralizing for us chaps, (the matter of comparisons being odious. And odorous).

November 2011 saw us moving to our own building in Alva. There were streetlights within 200 yards of the door! And toilets. It was cold, though. However, the Action Squad set to and cleared the old contents and moved the machinery in.

To cut the history lesson short, there are now over 60 members working regularly on their own project and newcomers coming in steadily. We have had assistance from local business man Mike Mulraney, from the Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface and Alva Masonic Lodge. Clackmannanshire Arts Forum gave grant aid, as did the Co-operative Society.

The Crafters are moving out into the wider community, with displays at environmental events and a presence at a cancer charity picnic. On the charity front, the Crafters have gained charity status themselves. This validates their position as a serious entity and brings many benefits.

I hope this blog will go on to chronicle the doings of The Wee County Crafters over many years. That's the optimism of youth for you...

                             This is the Tuesday group on the last day of April, 2013.