Broadmayne businesswoman gets arts and crafty (From Dorset Echo)

Broadmayne businesswoman gets arts and crafty

11:00am Wednesday 11th January 2012 in Business By Joanna Davis

A BUSINESSWOMAN is taking the joys of crafts to Dorset residents.

Fine Arts graduate Katie Rand is proving that arts and crafts are accessible to all with her fledgling business the Crafty Party Company.

She has staged craft workshops at hen parties and children’s parties and has taken her mobile business to adult care homes and schools.

Broadmayne resident Katie, 26, runs the business from home.

She said: “I would like to think people are looking for something a bit different and they want to learn new skills.

“Sometimes people are fearful of trying something new.

“The workshops enable people to take the plunge and gives them a bit of a challenge.”

Items produced at Katie’s workshops include cupcakes, commemorative plates, masks, mugs and napkin holders.

All the materials and supervision is provided by Katie and her helpers.

She holds workshops across Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire.

Katie said: “We tailor the session towards whatever people want to do.

“We’ve done dinosaur-themed crafts for boys and trinket box ceramics for girls.

“The feedback I’ve had from children’s parties is that it’s really good and takes the stress away because the parents don’t have to do anything.

“The kids have got really into it and it’s nice because they have something to take home.”

Katie, who has a first class honours degree from the Arts University College in Bournemouth, developed a taste for taking crafts to others when she coordinated arts projects in schools.

She worked as a visiting artist at the Sir John Colfox School in Bridport.

Katie still works as a practising artist and has exhibited her work in London.

She said: “I really enjoyed sharing my inspiration by going into schools.

“Quite often artists are isolated – I had my own studio and found it quite isolating.

“I really enjoy sharing what I like to do.”

It is rewarding to see people gaining pleasure from making things, Katie said.

“It’s been hard getting used to working with people with disabilities. A lot of them are unable to hold a paintbrush but it has made them smile so much.

“They found it relaxing and it’s nice to see them smiling. I always say the workshops are one to two hours but usually find myself staying on because they enjoy themselves so much,” she said.

Katie has also been hired locally at a children’s birthday party in Poundbury village hall and has attended events in Dorchester, Yetminster and Milborne St Andrew.

She plans to spread word-of-mouth about her business with a specially designed car and hopes to hire more employees in the future.

See thecraftypartycompany.co.uk for more information or email thecraftyparty@hotmail. co.uk or call 07824 396645.