Craft as Therapy

Whew! We survived our 30^th birthday celebrations, and are now back crafting as if our lives depended on it. Actually, crafting is what we do best, and whilst we enjoyed our birthday, it’s great to get back to those knitting needles, crochet hooks, embroidery flosses, and the ever-growing stashes of fabric and yarn.

If you ask a crafter what they love about crafting, chances are most of them will mention at some point that it is “like a friend, who you can sit down and spend time with” and “like therapy, where the rest of the world and all its stresses and responsibilities disappear for a while”. Pretty much, we all feel happy when we are crafting.


And here are some of the results of that time spent in “therapy".

This time of year is a great time for crafting – it is cold outside, but the place we go to do our craft is usually nice and cosy. Every now and then, you can emerge from the craft cocoon for a nice cuppa, before heading back there.


We’ve produced any number of scarves, beanies, socks, mittens and bedsocks – not all of them are pink!

We have cardigans, jumpers, and gloves, for all ages.

We have an enormous sense of pride and satisfaction from creating these things that we hope other people will enjoy, almost as much as we enjoyed creating them.

But best of all, we are getting back our sanity, from spending quality time with our “friend” and “therapy”, craft.

Happy Birthday to Us!

It has finally arrived – our 30^th birthday. We’ve been working towards this for many months so it’s wonderful for it to have finally arrived.

During June our celebration includes demonstrations each weekend of various crafts (see our calendar for details of what’s on). We have had a small group of people who have attended these demonstrations, and have had a go themselves! Don’t these ladies look like they are enjoying trying out candlewicking?









We put up a memory board with some of our history on it, and surrounded it with items showing some crafts from years past – remember decorated straw hats, fabric-covered photo albums, and smocking?

And we decorated Rankin Cottage (with a bit of help from long-suffering partners of crafters, and a mystery yarn-bomber) – it scrubs up pretty well for a building that is over 170 years old, and certainly looked cheerful.


Our Big Day, though, was Sunday 14^th June, when we had an afternoon tea after the ceremonial cutting of the birthday cake. Mayor Gary Rush said a few words, and then introduced Rose Bolam, who did us the honour of actually cutting the cake. Rose cut the ribbon to open Rankin Cottage Crafts 30 years ago, and we were very pleased she could be there for our party.

Actually, we had a number of other dignitaries attend – Councillor Monica Morse, who often pops into Rankin Cottage; Betty Ives, a Bathurst Living Legend, and patron of Rankin Cottage Crafts; Jane and Robert Rawlings from the Daffodil Cottage building extension fundraising committee, to whom we made a donation; some past members of Rankin Cottage Crafts; and many of our current members, including Marcia Cubis and Pam Parsons, who were made Life Members on the day.

After the formalities, since the weather was so nice to us, we had our afternoon tea party in the back yard of Rankin Cottage. All in all, it was a lovely day.

Happy Birthday to us!!!

Is Winter Over Yet?

Is the worst of winter over yet? No way! Last year there was a snow fall in August that sent the kids (both young and old) out to play in it.

Here at Rankin Cottage, we know there is still plenty of time to get good use out of winter warmers, so our theme of the month is still all about winter.

If the children want to go out and play in the snow (or just in the bitter cold, if they can’t find any snow), they need to be rugged up. We have some jumpers for little girls and little boys.

 Or if the children are little enough that this is their first experience of winter, we have baby outfits that will increase their cuteness factor – who could resist?

And then when everyone is back inside in the warmth, how about a piece of home-made fruit cake, or home-made strawberry jam on pikelets. Yum!

How to Survive a Bathurst Winter

Winter might have been a bit late in arriving, and the jonquils might have been a bit confused about when they are supposed to bloom, but we certainly know it is winter now!

So do we embrace winter in all its glory? or just look to survive it.

Our fireplace display for July

With the colder weather here, the knitters and crocheters (is that a real word?) here at Rankin Cottage have been working hard to keep a good stock of lovely items to help us survive the season.

If you can, stay inside with a granny rug on your lap. There a quite a few to choose from in the Cottage. 

Have a warming cuppa, and keep that teapot warm with a handmade tea cosy.












If you do venture outside, you must be one of those who embrace winter. But you don't have to be cold - keep yourself warm with a woollen hat, beret, or scarf.

And what could be better than a hand-knitted jumper and vest.

Visit us here at Rankin Cottage, and let Winter know that it won't beat you! We have the heater on.

It's a Winter Wonderland!

 It’s June, so that means it must be Winter Wonderland at Rankin Cottage Crafts. Our special display over the fireplace has been updated to highlight the lovely items available to help us all survive the cold winter here in Bathurst.

There are hand-knitted and hand-crocheted jumpers, cardigans and vests, for adults and children.

If you need a beanie to keep your head warm when you are out and about, watching the kids or grandkids on the sporting fields, or taking a gentle walk around, we have a variety you can choose from.

 Try on some of the gloves and mittens – maybe they will be just the thing so you can still feel your fingers when it gets a bit chilly.

How about buying a small heat pack – warm it up in the microwave, then pop it into your pocket and take it with you out into the winter air.

And we have scarves galore – pretty ones, warm ones, furry ones – something to suit everyone.

 

Here we are!

Well, it's finally happened - Rankin Cottage Crafts is on the internet! Just about everyone has a blog these days, so although we are all strong supporters of keeping traditional skills alive (knitting, crochet, sewing, jam-making), we can still do this and have an internet presence at the same time.

Now we are deep into Autumn, our thoughts are turning to warmer clothes. Come and take a look at the lovely knitted jumpers. Nothing is quite like a handknitted woollen jumper to keep you cosy and warm.

Or if you don't want a jumper yourself, how about for your soft-boiled eggs?

Watch this space for updates on what is happening at Rankin Cottage!