Claire Mcgurk in her own words………
In February 2011, Caerphilly Indoor Market, opened their doors again after 10 years of being closed, a friend of mine asked me to do my occupational therapy in the shop so people could see jewellery being made by me on the permesis rather than me doing it at home.
While I was doing occupational therapy in the shop, my friend was knitting ruffle scarves, I really wanted to have a go, but having cerebral palsy, I have limited movement in my right arm. I asked her to teach me how to do them, her answer was “You will never be able to knit with 2 knitting needles.” Well if someone tells me I cannot do something I got to prove them wrong, so I asked her to teach me to knit. Anyway, she taught me and I started knitting squares, holding one knitting needle between my legs. Once I got the hang of knitting I started making ruffle scarves.
In June the shop was closing and I really loved my 14 hours in the shop as it was getting me out of the house, so a friend stepped in and said she would take on the lease, then came along Linda the owner of Sweet Treats in the market. Who pushed me to start making garments. I made ponchos and hats, jumpers for myself and my son’s girlfriend, but knitting was really playing up my back injury and making my arm hurt. So a customer came in the shop seeing how I was struggling and mentioned crochet. Off she went and came back with dvd’s and books for me on crochet.
I went to a craft fair in December 2012 when a lovely gentleman tried teaching me to crochet, but I couldn’t grasp it. Orders were coming in for crochet blankets and we were having to pay customers to make them for us. So in February 2013, I received an order for a small crochet baby blanket. I was determined to have a go. So I found some video’s on YouTube and finally cracked the crochet technique and made my first small blanket, then I decided to have a go at an owl hat from YouTube and put it on display in the shop and in 3 weeks had orders for 15! Then one of the stall workers asked me to do a baby set, bonnet and ballerina slippers, so I found a video tutorial and did it from that. Had 2 orders of those since and at the moment I am crocheting a blanket for the butcher whose nephew is due a baby any day now. I have achieved all this because a friend didn’t have faith in me and told me I couldn’t do it. She’s still knitting ruffle scarves and I’m knitting and crocheting garments!
Thank You, Claire for allowing me to feature your beautiful crochet art work. I’m very impressed with your grasp of the art in such a short time. You are a true talent!
Links:
Email: charmingtrinkets@gmail.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CharmingTrinketsUK
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CnKHaberdashery
Coming tomorrow in our fifth installment is our fourth artist, Jennie Peterson Butler.
