The Craft Cottage on the corner of High Pulteney Streets will become Taree Craft Centre’s sole outlet in Taree with the closing of their other two outlets, one at Taree North and the other in Centrepoint Arcade.
On April 20, 2018 all members were asked to vote on a resolution to consolidate the assets of Taree Craft Centre putting the focus on the Craft Cottage which is owned outright by the group. A majority vote saw the resolution become accepted and the changes are about to be put in place.
From October 1, members and their craft will all be housed under one roof with everyone working towards a common goal – to make the craft cottage complex the hub of arts and crafts in the Manning Valley and an exceptional tourist attraction for Taree.
Having one outlet will concentrate all energies into achieving the full potential of the Craft Cottage, instead of resources being split three ways.
Already new ideas and initiatives are being activated which include a members’ photography club to be launched in October, a new art class for beginners starting on Tuesday October 2, the possibility of ‘paint pouring’ workshops (which are all the rage), a beautiful new range of beads for sale, and extended opening hours to include Saturdays, beginning October 6.
The popular Craftathon, which is in its 20th year, will be staged at Club Taree on November 17 and 18.
The large classrooms at the Taree Craft Centre will continue to cater for several groups of quilters, bobbin lace makers, crochet/knitting/tatting classes, scrapbookers, and a large social craft day open to all members of the community every Friday except the third Friday of the month.
Members are always busy helping many good causes which include producing items to aid dementia patients, the Christmas Child project, and co-ordinating the Ray of Sunshine Quilt project for the Manning Hospital Palliative Care Ward.
Through the sale of plants, the group recently raised $3400 for Taree PCYC and will now continue that fundraiser to assist Australian farmers. This will culminate in January with an exhibition with the theme ‘all things rural’
In April 2019 the Craft Cottage will host the biennial Manning Valley Quilt Exhibition which will showcase the amazing talents of the quilters of the Manning Valley with a stunning display of handmade quilts.
The Craft Cottage also houses the Cottage Café which has become known for its tasty light meals and morning teas at very affordable prices. The café is staffed completely by volunteers and café co-ordinator Ellaine Arneil has introduced an exceptional high tea which is bringing groups back time after time to enjoy an extravaganza of sweet and savoury treats.
By having the café on site, the Cottage offers a special experience where visitors can sit down and enjoy an espresso coffee before or after browsing through the beautiful range of handmade gifts and décor.
In 2019 the Cottage will become a stop- over for a major NSW coach company.
Taree Craft Centre is always ready to welcome new members and is happy to talk to anyone interested in joining the group. Being ‘crafty;’ s not an essential requirement – some members join purely for the social aspect.
All inquiries should be directed to oresident Tracey Dyson on 6553 1352 or Pam Eyb on 6552 5552.
