Sicklinghall artists sell wares and fares from village store
A POPULAR community business in Sicklinghall is heading in a new direction with the help of local artists.
The Scotts Barn, a village store attached to the Scotts Arms in the village centre, is launching a new scheme to allow local people to sell their crafts.
Katrina Popely, who has worked at the pub for six months, has set up the initiative with business owners Ted and Julie Van Zeller.
She said: "We thought we could do it together and get some local crafts and arts people to display their work here.
"Otherwise they might never have had a chance to display their work or put it in a retail environment. This gives them that chance, which is important, especially in the current climate."
Among the artists set to benefit from the shop are Eileen Corn and Louise Birdsall, who will both be selling their jewellery there.
Eileen has been a regular visitor to the Scotts Arms on her frequent walks from her home in East Keswick. Her interest in art developed over many years and she began working with Teresa Blofeld at Tuffnell Glass in Driffield, who has been teaching her to make beads for the past decade.
Eileen's jewellery now features unique glass pieces and bead work, which she will be selling from the Scotts Barn.
Fellow artist Louise Birdsall has been making jewellery and cards for the past year as a hobby, giving them to family and friends as gifts.
She was approached by Katrina, who knew her because their children were at nursery together, and she will also be selling a wide range of her hand-made jewellery from the shop aimed at young girls to older ladies.
Katrina says she has had great support from business owners Ted and Julie for the intiative, who first ran the Scotts Arms as landlords for three years from 2000, before buying it nearly four years ago.
Ted said: "The shop was an idea I had in 2000 when we were putting the Post Office in, but the brewery said, 'We don't do shops'.
"We got the Post Office in, then shortly afterwards we left. When we came back, the Post Office was still there but it was a dark, dank, unused store room which people had to find their way through. We basically just resurrected our original plans."
Being attached to the pub means the Scotts Barn can be open from 10am to 11pm, with bar and waiting staff on hand to serve a meal and sell a gift throughout the day.
Although the shop will now offer crafts and art, people will still be able to order food, pick up a pint of milk and access Post Office services from the postmaster, who travels over from Follifoot once a week.
• The official launch of the new crafts will be held on Wednesday, March 24, from 8pm with Skipton-based company Girlie Gardeners.
Tickets are 5 each including a glass of bubbly and available from the bar or shop, or call 01937 582100 for more information.
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Weather for Harrogate
Thursday 24 May 2012
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