Reflections of a Crafter

How has your shopping changed this year? Do you find you are doing more browsing on line?

Many businesses have been forced, due to Covid 19 lockdown restrictions, to sell in a different way. Irish Fibre Crafters is no exception, and set up an online shop this year. While online sales have been steady and much appreciated, we have been missing our walk in customers. Each time restrictions have allowed, our doors have been open. We will continue to offer customers online shopping, as well as in store shopping.

Featured

11 Sept 2020

Irish Wool Yarn

11 Sept 2020

3 Sept 2020

Felted Crafts

3 Sept 2020

6 Oct 2020

Clothing and Accessories

6 Oct 2020

28 Sept 2020

Hand Dyed Yarn

28 Sept 2020

8 Oct 2020

Gift Cards

8 Oct 2020

29 Sept 2020

Needled Felted Crafts

29 Sept 2020

6 Oct 2020

Hand Spun Yarn/Art Yarn

6 Oct 2020

11 Sept 2020

Irish Wool Yarn

11 Sept 2020

6 Oct 2020

Knit and Crochet Craft

6 Oct 2020

Handwoven Crafts

6 Oct 2020

I recently received the following personal note from a friend, fellow crafter, and customer. I wanted you, customers and readers, to share what Karen feels when she comes into the studio/shop. I hope that you feel the same when you can visit in person.

Online Shopping is fine but it has limitations: Reflections of a Crafter

As we all grapple with Covid, many businesses scramble to put their products on- line. This is necessary for survival, however there are some shops that the customers must, and need to experience physically. The Irish Fibre Crafters in Ardrahan, County Galway is one such shop.

For Crafters it is all about inspiration, colour, the excitement of the senses. A bit like a child in a sweet shop.

On- line shopping will give you the product you seek. BUT the inspiration for the crafter, must come from seeing the colours, feeling the textures, and imagining what you want to create. It also comes from meeting other crafters by chance or by appointment.

I recently visited Irish Fibre Crafters and realised how much I missed those shelves packed with batts of Irish wool and Alpaca in all the colours of a rainbow, beseeching me to pick a few and combine them and create something beautiful.

Irish Fibre Crafters will reopen to the Public from Wednesday December 2nd – Saturday each week.

I, for one can’t wait to visit again.

Karen O’Neill

And for those who cannot come in, I have also attached the link to a You Tube video, filmed by Susan of Wild Cottage Ireland. In it Susan visits the shop, shows the viewer around and treats them to all the colourful crafts inside. Outside, she shows you the surrounding areas and the lovely landscape. Susan has her own Wild Cottage Ireland You Tube channel where she creates all sorts of wonderful videos about herself and her surroundings.