Creative Showcase: Maryann Morris

Meet Maryann. She’s the creative mind behind the new independent shop Handmade High Street, a space selling handmade wares and hosting crafty workshops on Sir Isaacs Walk. We popped round to ask a few questions behind her new venture.

When and why did you start Handmade High Street?
Handmade High St is a brand new venture of mine, I had a craft studio at Barleylands in Billericay, but in October 2011 we decided to move to Colchester, thinking that the drive to work every day wouldn’t be too bad, especially as my car runs on LPG. I didn’t expect the drive in itself to be so tiring and the 45 minutes I anticipated it would take turned into more like 2 hours each way. So we started looking for premises in Colchester. Which is when I realised I wouldn’t have the same restrictions I had at Barleylands and could sell anything I liked! There the idea so Handmade High St is born!

What’s happened since it started? Tell us a bit about your journey.
Well to start with I had to decide and stick to it that I would leave Barleylands. I absolutely loved it there. Then we have had problems with the roof leaking 2 days before opening. But its no fun if it all goes to plan right? We have only been open here a week now and I have already met so many wonderful people from the area. I didn’t realise how much creative talent there is here!

How can people get involved? Do you still have space for creatives to sell their wares?
By popping in for a chat, taking a look at the “about us” page on the website, emailing  or just giving me a call 1206764771 we have a little space still available for the right crafters.

Do you have any tips for people starting their own creative business?
Yes - Don’t expect it to be easy! There are so many people fighting to get the same sales. Convincing people why they should buy from you can be hard. But incredibly rewarding. I didn’t expect the sheer volume of paperwork, or the long hours that I need to put it. But it is all worth it in the end!

What do you think buildings like 15 Queen Street can offer creative people in towns like Colchester?
Colchester seems full of creative people, and its nice that they have somewhere to collectively meet, discuss their work or use the facilities. Sometimes creatives work can be dismissed as a “play job” or just not worthwhile by people that just don’t get it. So its nice to have a place where people do!

Thank you Maryann. We feel your shop provides a similar service, a great place to showcase the wonderful talent in the town. Keep up the great work!

Call for stall holders @ Colchester Community Sports Festival

Our resident Lyndall Rosewarne, events organiser, just dropped by to let us know that there spaces available for stall holders at the CBC Colchester Community Sports Festival.

The event is on Thursday 7 June, 12 - 5pm at Castle Park. The event will be celebrating the Halfords Tour Series taking place in the town and will be a fun event for families to enjoy during the half term.

Lyndall is looking for interesting & creative stalls. You don’t need to be sports related, it could a craft, vintage, or art pitch. Stalls are free, but you are just provided with a square of grass so you are required to bring everything you need with you.

If you have an idea for a stall or want to know more just get in touch with Lyndal via email or call: 07847498865. Time is of the essence Colchester. The deadline was yesterday so this is a last minute shout out.

Colchester 24: The Great Colchester Photo Shoot 2011 @slack_space

9 - 26 May
Slack Space,Victoria Place, Eld Lane, Colchester
Open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am - 6pm

Between noon 21 October to noon 22 October 2011, 181 people of Colchester took photos of their lives and the lives of others within the Borough. This exhibition offers a chance to see one photo by every photographer who took part, from school children to old age pensioners, amateur to professional, jovial to serious.

Chapeau! A change to Creative in Colchester

Thursday 7 June
7.30pm til late
@ Chapeau (location TBC)
Members & Guests Free, Non-Members £10 donation
RSVP

We’re shaking things up a bit and for one month we’re taking our monthly Creative in Colchester Meetup out on Tour.  

The next meet up will be moved to Thursday 7th June and will be hosted at the opening of an exciting new community space called Chapeau!. A collaboration between Mike Polom, bike mechanic Richard Evans and local charity Re~cycle, Bikes to Africa.

The event will also coincide with The Halfords Tour Series, a national cycle race that transforms the town centre into a race track for one evening.

Chapeau! will be a bike shop come coffee house, selling vintage bicycles, parts and fair-trade coffee, offering exclusive memberships, and hosting bicycle repairs, maintenance classes, evening social events and organising local rides.

Here at 15 Queen Street we are all about supporting local creative businesses and individuals and celebrating new talent in the town.

Expect the usual format with drinks, live music and DJ, chat and inspirational Bike themed talks from speakers from across the country. Whether you are a bike lover, creative or both, come join our evening meetup with others like you, and become part of our burgeoning community.

Documenting Memories…

Cuckoo Farm Studios are celebrating 20 years in a special exhibition Documenting Memories…

Housing over 30 artists’ studios in converted farm buildings, Cuckoo Farm formed in 1992. Since then it has grown to become a valuable resource within the wider community, through collaborative links with Colchester School of Art, firstsite, and University of Essex. Studio holders support artists through a Graduate Award Scheme, and other professional development programmes. 

Curated by Kazima Khan, Documenting Memories… features archive materials from the past two decades, and a specially commissioned twentieth anniversary video.

There is a Private View on Wednesday 16 May from 5pm. There will be a screening of a specially commissioned twentieth anniversary video by Luke Nash at 6pm. This is then followed by a talk from Keith Albarn at 7pm. All are invited, hope to see you there to enjoy a great new exhibition at the studios.

Colchester Digital @ 15 Queen Street

Thursday 10th May
7.30pm
15 Queen Street, CO1 2PH
Read more & RSVP
(Bring your own drink)

Colchester Digital is a Meetup group for individuals and businesses in and around the area from the digital sector. Their members are developers, designers, digital image and video specialists, photographers, marketers, PR, social media and SEO experts, and everything between.

Colchester Digital Meetups include speakers, trainers, show & tell events and workshops on various aspects of the internet and associated industries. This Thursday they are hosting their Speaker event. Marc De’ath from Creative Coop will be taking the floor to talk about one of his latest projects; Community Knowledge Transfer in Lyme Regis.

He will explain how they worked with Lyme Regis Development Trust in partnership with Locality. Collaborated with friends Guifi.net, The Buckland Club and The Natural History Museum to install the UK’s largest open network. Helping 15,000 visitors to explore UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast during this years Fossil Festival.

News from Nowhere @firstsite