'My knights in shining armour came to the rescue' – Thurso artist praises local Masons after disaster struck
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A Caithness creative group was ready to host its first craft fair and show at Scrabster village hall when a major problem occurred at the venue in the shape of a burst pipe.
The group of Caithness creatives called Artisans North was getting prepared for the event, on the first Saturday of February, when told that the hall had suffered damage after the plumbing issue.
Artist Elaine Rapson-Grant, organiser of the event, said: “We were all ready for our Valentine’s Special Craft Fair and Show with 20 stallholders taking part, so it was something of a nightmare for us. However, I was determined that the show must go on and I also I did not want to cancel any stallholders.”
Elaine got in touch with the group's regular venue at the Masonic Hall in Thurso and said that her "knights in shining armour came to" the rescue. She says that by dividing the stallholders into two groups she did not have to disappoint anyone who had booked to take part in the Valentine’s Special which she believes is a first for Caithness.
She continued: “You know what they say, every cloud has a silver lining. So now, instead of one Valentine’s Special, we have two – the first on Saturday February 3 and the second on the following Saturday (February 10).
"All the stallholders were wonderfully accommodating in agreeing, where possible, to change their date so that this could come to fruition and I am so very grateful to them for this. They are a great bunch of people."
Elaine said there are many new faces including appearing at her fair including Cara Young of Puffin Croft. "Cara is something of a local celebrity since she appeared on television in the programme Ben Fogle: Making A New Life In The Country on 25th February, 2020. So Artisans North are so very looking forward to welcoming her for the first time."
Other new faces include, The Highland Ark who make vegan chocolates and cupcakes; Cotyki Crafts; Caithness Hamper Company; Isauld Imaginings; Nana’s Kitchen; Created in Caithness; and Made with Love in Lybster.
Familiar faces include, FudgePops; Rapson Art; Natures Paths Natural Ways; Shirley’s Kabin Krafts; North Coast Art and Crafts; KnitsNBits; Wings and Things; R.T. Highland Crafts; Chaos Collections; Yvonne Turfus Crafts; Jayne Thomas author and Made by Emily.
Artisans North says it looks forward to welcoming everyone to their Valentine’s Specials in the "warm and cosy Harmony Room" at the Masonic Hall, Thurso between 11 to 3pm.
