A co-operative of 24 local artists and makers has transformed an empty Edward St building into a vibrant showcase of creativity.
Wakefield Village Creatives founder and building owner Suzanne McFarlane says she was tired of the space sitting unused, so she began thinking about how best to utilise it.
“I love crafts and going to the market days. I just put a little ad out to the local community and then we had a big meeting,” she says of the concept.
That meeting confirmed 12 local artists and makers who put their work on display for the opening of the store around four months ago.
The team have a roster sheet and each pick as many three hours shifts as they are capable of covering, to man the shop.
With the space having grown to 24 artists, Suzanne says they are pretty much “at capacity” for space.
The shelves, walls and floors are loaded with everything from crochet, clothes and creams, to balms, bags and baby clothes.
“We try and keep it as local as we can,” she says.
“We have artists from Wakefield, Brightwater and Aniseed Valley.”
She says the store has been well received by the community, which is evident upon visiting.
With doors barely open, a customer already arrives to collect an orchid order from a local grower.
Behind the counter on this particular day is Brightwater resident Dave Stephens, who sells his woodwork toys at the shop.
“I’ve always been keen on wood,” says the retired orchadist.
“I started making jigsaw boards and sold a few in Christchurch and Auckland through word of mouth.”
When he saw Suzanne’s ad, he contacted her asking if Brightwater was within the area and joined the group.
“It keeps me going. I always did a bit of that sort of thing on the orchard, but I didn’t get into it properly until a friend sold me some gear.”
That gear sparked a growing collection that has almost filled his shed.
“At an auction round the road a couple of weeks ago I picked up an electric belt sander. It’s just grown from nothing. The shed is filling up and my wife is into quilting and table mats and all sorts – she’s inside and I’m outside. It keeps us both busy and out of each other’s hair,” Dave says.
“I enjoy making anything that I’m asked to make really. I pick up bits of wood from all of my friends – they never throw anything out now, they bring it to me so that’s good. It’s just fun really.”
Wakefield Village Creatives is open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, and is brimming with Christmas gift ideas, including Suzanne’s locally made sweet treats.
