Coffee Shop Gallery
The first bread making course ran on Sunday. Maybe not what you’d consider a traditional art – but definitely an art. The bread was beautiful and there seemed to be no limits as to what could be created with a little imagination. For those of you who missed it, we are planning another beginners bread making course early next year, followed by an advanced bread course later in the year.
There’s just something about homemade bread.
The Stained Glass Course with Cynthia Else actually became two courses. There was a lot of interest and so we offered the event twice! The first group came together on the 27th March and some fantastic work was produced. We had everything from abstract shapes made up of squares to a flower and even an eye! Where was my camera????? I was more prepared for the second class on the 3rd. Again, the group came up with some beautiful designs – one based on a piece by Eduardo Poalozzi which can apparently be found in a subway station in Barcelona (don’t ask). And lunch – vegetable lasagne, salad, warm bread and CAKE!
A lot needs to happen for a damp, old solicitors office to become a coffee shop and a workshop space. The emphasis so far has been on the inside – which is just about there (Except for a few decorating touch-ups required after everywhere gets a chance to dry out!). The final work will soon be starting on the outside. Chimneys need to be capped and rendering needs to be repaired. So…. WH Buck and Son will be returning to finish off the last of the project. We will remain open through the work – but maybe best not to look up when you enter the shop.
As well as Andrew Buck and his team, we have some other unsung heroes. All those electrical sockets, new lights, alarms and fire exit lights didn’t just magically appear – though it felt like they did. If you’re looking for an electrician who can listen, make suggestions, get on with the job, solve problems and work in synch with your builder, I’d recommend KTN Electrical (Kip Trueman on 01159 300938). You can even have a socket under the stairs if you want one.
New Opening Times – For the winter, our new opening times are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 to 5. It turns out that paperwork takes longer than I thought (or I’m slower than I thought – or both) and I’m too old to stay up late and get up early in the morning. Eventually, the plan is for the new staff to run the shop between them a few days a week while I work from home – but while things are still settling down and we’re all finding our feet… a break is required.
Open Evening Thursday 13th January (5.30 – 8.30) – In December we had an Open Evening with Cynthia Else. Cynthia showed some stained glass techniques and the evening gave people a chance to look around and enjoy some hot mulled apple juice and sweet potato pie. Our second Open Evening will be with Steph Harvey and there will be a chance to see Steph do some Batik work and perhaps have a quick go yourself. I believe there is still some mulled apple juice left and we’re still deciding on the nibbles – but there will be something!
Today we have been open for 2 weeks. What a two weeks it has been. We had the first open evening on the 9th of December. Cynthia Else came along and taught some stained glass basics and visitors had a chance to look around – see the artwork that had arrived to date, and sample some sweet potato pie and mulled apple juice. Then the first art class ran on Sunday with
Jessica Noonan – Make a Silver Ring (or two). There was much hammering and soldering and more hammering – and some laughter thrown in. Everyone walked away with 2 rings they had made themselves – some rings worn and some ready to be wrapped as Christmas presents. Meanwhile, I have had the pleasure of meeting many local people who have popped in for a coffee or two, for snacks and/or for lunch. And, a few local artists have found their way into BEANS and I am looking forward to their return – with work in hand. The walls aren’t full yet, but we’re working on it.
Cynthia Else’s stained glass work is up on the walls and so is the work of Helen Hallow. Both artists are offering Sunday courses in the new year – so if you’re considering a course, you may want to pop in and get a feel for the artist and their work – or purchase an original. Polly Warren,
a printer, has added her work to the collection. Boats, Flamborough Head and botanical subjects have all been captured by Polly. Viv Cooper has added a splash of colour with her watercolour paintings. And we also have a print by Pete McKee. Pete came into BEANS and shared his story – painting on pieces of wood while working at Tesco, and now selling work in galleries around England – including his own A Month of Sundays gallery in Sheffield.
So – a lot of highlights in 2 weeks. But also, a bit of a whirlwind for this old American. And, I don’t seem to do whirlwinds too well anymore. So, I have decided that I am going to have 4 days off at Christmas and 3 days off at new year – and hopefully then, I will stop leaving my purse in the post office and actually be at the shop to meet the electricity board when I say I will. I can only hope.
Here’s to a happy, healthy and calmer 2011.
Karen