Turned on my computer & it reminded me that it is time for another blog post - surely not methinks! - but yes another week has passed by, so had better get down to it, 'cos there is lots to tell you.
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So last Saturday was the next event in our Courtyard Programme - Yarn Shop Day - hosted by The Fabric Den - with guests Claire Nettleship Yarns & Handmade by Helen.

The weather forecast was promising rain & high winds, so Sarah at The Fabric Den quickly went for 'Plan B', and by the time we opened all was as well as it could be, now all we needed was the people of Bolsover to turn out, which some of them did. Enough for Sarah, Claire & Helen to declare it a reasonable sort of day considering.

The Knit & Natter went ahead in the afternoon, and people were asking for more, so watch this space.

Now, we move on to the next event, the - May Day Extravaganza - this Staurday 4th May from 10am to 3pm.

The feature of the day will be a - 'May Day Makers Market' organised by Ethos Upcycling & The Fabric Den.

Essentially they have gathered together a group of local craft traders, who will be filling the Courtyard. They have assembled an mix of stall holders, and there is no better way of introducing who they are than through their own words - first is Carl Mason, and he tells us about himself thus -

I am a retired 80 year old self employed builder and I like to have a hobby that involves making things from junk that I’ve accumulated over the years.It also gets me off the couch and into my man cave.

Now if that does get you wanting to know more then .......

And after the May Day event we quickly move into something completely different - a visit from the 'Wobbly Bodger'.

Fresh from his appearance at the Sandringham Craft & Wood Festival at the end of April rubbing shoulders with 'royalty' he comes to Bolsover to showcase his skills.

Looking at his website Gary Joynt - 'The Wobbly Bodger' - says -
We are passionate about keeping alive some of the traditional heritage crafts from around the world. As the world became mechanised, production increased and heritage crafts declined in popularity giving way to modern, faster manufacturing methods.
Our intention is to keep alive some of the traditional and not so traditional heritage crafts under threat in our fast and busy world. All our products are handmade from seasoned and green wood and each item is unique and individual

I know that Gary will be putting on a good day for us, and if you are really good he might let you have a 'bodge'.

Not one to be missed.

 Those of you who follow the blog week by week will know that I have kept you up to date on the Bolsover District Council bid to the Government Future High Streets Fund.

Well in the recent In Touch newspaper published by the District Council & delivered to every house in the BDC area there was an article about the bid, that I thought was worthy of putting in this weeks blog post - 

Let's hope that we get through the first stage & then the final bids, and if we are, then we must all get behind the work that will be involved in making the bid work for us all, whether we live in the town or have a business in the town.
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Another packed blog post bringing you right up to date on what is going on in Old Bolsover Yard. We look forward to seeing you at our Courtyard events each Saturday, and don't forget we are open every day Monday to Saturday 10am to 3pm - why not drop in and have a browse, meet the businesses in the Yard & have a look around our Gallery, which is packed with things that might just have that present you have been looking for, for someone special.

You are always welcome - rain or shine!

So until next week - 

Well here we are again, Easter has come & gone, we have all eaten our eggs, and life is returning to normal!

In this weeks blog we have a look back at our Easter Extravaganza, and forward to forthcoming Courtyard Programme events, including a new addition to the calendar.

And as always we bring you the latest news from Old Bolsover Yard as it happens.

So let's get on with it ......!
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So with the sun shining down from daybreak, we quickly set up the Courtyard ready to welcome people. For the week before, we had been promoting the day and our Easter Egg Hunt, Colouring Competition, and historical displays. 

But I think a lot of people had gone away for the day, as numbers were quite low, though the children who did come enjoyed trying to find all the chickens, sheep & coloured eggs and one or two managed to colour in a picture.

The number of visitors was also so small that Captain Glossop the adventurer had to cancel his story telling sessions, but from time to time stood proudly at the entrance to OBY trying to encourage people to step over the threshold

We did have some visitors, all traders managed to make sales, so they were happy, but overall it was disappointing.

Perhaps our other Courtyard Events will be better supported. We have worked very hard to put this programme together & hope that we have got it right, but if we have missed a trick, message us on our Facebook page - customer feedback is always good.

This coming Saturday is national 'Yarn Shop Day', and Sarah in The Fabric Den has recently responded to local demand by introducing a range of yarn into The Den.

Early signs have been encouraging, so what better to do than to get involved in this national promotion. 

Sarah has arranged for two other small businesses to come along and display their products - Claire Nettleship, does some fabulous hand dyed yarns & Handmade by Helen who made their debut in Old Bolsover Yard at the Christmas Festival & Lantern Parade last year with their fabulous hand crocheted hats, scarfs & lots more.

And if that wasn't enough Sarah  is hosting a 'Knit & Natter' Session from 1pm to 3pm. For more information message Sarah on the Old Bolsover Yard Facebook page.

So from 10am through to 3pm come along & see what The Fabric Den has to offer, and talk to Sarah about the sort of things that you would be looking for as she expands her range, and she can tell you all about how she can order yarn for you, if she hasn't got it in stock.

And it goes without saying that all our other traders will be open too!

Another Bank Holiday weekend!

So at OBY we will be 'open as usual' - 10am to 3pm but .......

The Fabric Den & Ethos Upcycling have joined together to set up a 'Makers Market' in the Courtyard. Plans are well advanced, so we will give you more information in next weeks blog post.
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Those of you who have followed the development of our Courtyard Programme, will know that we have tried to get a mix of events including offering local organisations the opportunity to take over the Yard for a Saturday to promote what they do etc.

Well in that spirit we have had an approach from the Bolsover Inner Wheel asking if they can have an opportunity and so we are welcoming them to OBY on Saturday 26th June 2019 to showcase what they do.

In their initial contact they say they would like to tell everybody what Bolsover Inner Wheel is about. And if that is not enough, they are hoping to sell jams, chutneys & cakes!!

They will also be showing the 'baby bundles & 'second hand clothes parcels' that they send to overseas communities.

So get the date in your diary & support another local organisation that is doing good work.

The photos below show some of the many projects that the Inner Wheel in Bolsover are involved in, including jams & chutneys, raising money for The Gambia School, charity bags for a children's orpahanage in Kerala, India & goods in preparation for packing baby bundles
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Well there we are, lots of things to read about, a good update on future events.

And next week information about the Wobbly Bodgers visit on 11th May, and hopefully final details about the Makers Market on the 4th.

In the meantime, don't forget that we are open every day from 10am to 3pm, and as well as visiting the craft traders you can get coffee & cake at the Beehive Cafe which is also part of Old Bolsover Yard.

In this weeks blog we have got lots to tell you about. As well as updating you on our Courtyard events, including a visit from an 1880's adventurer, we have the latest news on our Heritage Lottery Fund bid, and congratulations to one of our traders in being nominated for a local Award. So get yourself a drink, a hob-nob biscuit and settle down and read this weeks blog post!
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The second of our Courtyard Programme events takes  place over the Easter weekend, and so it is an Easter Extravaganza, but with something of a twist!

We will have the traditional Easter Egg Hunt - where you will have to find out how many chickens, sheep & rabbits have come to visit us & a colouring competition of two of the rabbit family. You can choose which you want to colour in, and then you can either just take it home or you can enter it into the Colouring Competition for 50p & the best picture will win a prize.

All our traders will be open and so there is plenty to look at.

And now to the twist - we have a 'visitor' from the 1880's! Writing on his Facebook page he says -

'Live in the courtyard there will be story telling and a display of 1800’s clothing, cavalry sword, pith helmets, pistols, leather cross belt and more!
Also... try your hand at pistol duelling, with my custom duelling pistols (nerf guns)
Get your finest clothing on and make your way to the old Bolsover Yard.
Story sessions 11am and 1pm

So - this is something not to be missed - stories and a display from Thomas Glossop 1800’s adventurer

So, no sooner have we packed away the Easter bunny & bade goodbye to Thomas Glossop than we move to our next Courtyard event - hosted by The Fabric Den.

Launched in 2014 by Let’s Knit magazine, along with its sister title LGC Knitting & Crochet, Yarn Shop Day is the biggest retailer event in the knitting and crochet industry. Its aim is to help bricks-and-mortar stores by encouraging yarn lovers all over the UK and the Republic of Ireland to visit their local store and discover the great things it can offer, while at the same time enjoying a day of treats, fun and meeting like-minded crafters!

And as we know The Fabric Den has just started to sell a small selection of yarns, and plans to expand the range as the months go on.

Sarah from The Fabric Den will be hosting an event on the day - encouraging all you knitters & crocheters to come along and meet.

In her Workshops at The Fabric Den Programme which we published in last weeks blog she writes -

Come & bring your latest project to sit & work on in a friendly environment. Tea/Coffee available
13.00 – 15.00 - £6

And supporting Sarah will be Claire Nettleship of Claire Nettleship Hand Dyed Yarns - who has just featured in the May edition of Knitting magazine & a return visit to Old Bolsover Yard from Handmade by Helen who was with us at last years Christmas Festival & Lantern Parade, with her range of crocheted goodies,

So whether you are a knitter, a crocheter or neither, pop in to the Yard and support Yarn Shop Day & more importantly The Fabric Den.

This is a 'new to market' event to co-incide with our May Day Extravaganza.

Hosted by Sarah from The Fabric Den & Damion from Ethos Upcycling - they are inviting local makers to take a space in the Yard, to display, demonstrate, and sell their wares.

All goods must be handmade, not bought in for resale, and if you want to know more then message Ethos Upcycling on their Facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/ethosupcycling/ or email: ethosupcycling@gmail.com

Saturday 11th May sees the arrival in Old Bolsover Yard of 'The Wobbly Bodger'.

The 'Wobbly Bodger' better known as Gary Joynt is part of a small family run business located in the heart of Sherwood Forest.

And what better way to tell you all about them than through The Wobbly Bodger himself - 

We are passionate about keeping alive some of the traditional heritage crafts from around the world. As the world became mechanised, production increased and heritage crafts declined in popularity giving way to modern, faster manufacturing methods.
Our intention is to keep alive some of the traditional and not so traditional heritage crafts under threat in our fast and busy world. All our products are handmade from seasoned and green wood and each item is unique and individual.

So what I hear you asking is a bodger? Back to Gary - 

In a tradition going back centuries, bodgers were originally itinerant wood-turners who worked in forest and woodlands. They cut timber and turned it into chair legs, on a very simple lathe that used the natural spring of a bent sapling to turn it. Their equipment was easy to set up and move around as they travelled from place to place.
Today the word ‘bodger’ is used more generally for craftspeople who work green wood outdoors, using traditional country methods.

Now, with a build up like that, can you really afford no to come along & see what it is all about, and you never know, you might be able to 'have a bodge' yourself!

I told you last week that we had re-submitted our HLF bid after our first attempt was unsuccessful.

Well this time we haven't even got off the starting blocks! Within days of resubmitting we had word back from HLF that said -

Having reviewed this enquiry, your previous application and enquiry, I don’t want to waste your time by suggesting you make an application for this project. 

And that we might like to consider making an application for -

"A small community archaeology project and interpretation of finds"

Now, lets get this right - our first bid was unsuccessful, but it was described as 'a good bid' and we were advised to make some changes (which we did) and resubmit (which we did) in line with their suggested changes and now it is not good enough at all!

We are getting mixed messages here! But undaunted, we are now going to resubmit our bid again under the new criteria, which is for less money.

Watch this space & lets see what they come back with this time.

All very disappointing, but as I say 'undaunted'.

Yes indeed!! ... Congratulations to Gail of Cup & Saucer for being nominated for an Award in this years Chesterfield Retail Awards 2019

For the second year running Gail has been nominated for an Award, and last year she actually won an Award!

So, we are all hoping for another success this year, but whatever the outcome, well done Gail for getting a nomination.

We have got the Champagne on ice, for when the results are announced.

Another week, another blog post, lots to look forward to. If we don't see you over the weekend, we wish you a Happy Easter & we'll be back next week with another set of news & updates from Bolsovers newest business & tourist attraction - Old Bolsover Yard.

In this weeks Derbyshire Times ......

This weeks Derbyshire Times - in our Birthday week too!!

Yes! today (10th April) is exactly one year since we exchanged contracts on 2 Castle Street, got the keys, and Old Bolsover Yard was born! And what a lot has happened in that time.

As many of you know, we inherited a lot of derelict buildings, with no or badly damaged roofs, or which were sealed up & in the following few months revealed all sorts of things as we gradually opened them up. And look where we are today - 

Over the last 12 months there have been highs & lows - times 'yes' - when we wanted to throw in the towel, but that true 'British grit' has seen us through. There is much still to be done, but at least we have the Workshops & Gallery open, and people are gradually finding us.

So - when you are have a drink today - raise the glass or tea/coffee cup and say - Happy Birthday Old Bolsover Yard!
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In the quiet of last Saturday morning, things were stirring in Old Bolsover Yard, as we were putting up our marquee, laying out our new tables & chairs, getting the balloons out, all ready for our first Courtyard Saturday - which we used to let you all come and see who & what we are, what each of our workshops is up to, and giving you a chance to visit the Gallery @ Old Bolsover Yard.

Our next Courtyard Saturday is under two weeks away & is over the Easter Weekend. So, we are going to have an 'Easter Extravaganza' - with an Easter Egg Hunt for the children & a colouring competition, whilst the 'big people' can either take part in the activities or get a drink from the Beehive cafe and hopefully sit outside at one of our new tables, and just soak up the atmosphere. It starts at 10am & goes on throughout  the day until 3pm. 

Plenty for everybody - get the date in your diary

All our workshops will be open as will The Gallery @ Old Bolsover Yard

Bolsover TV - the internet TV channel run by Bolsover District Council, will be filming with us today (10th April) and preparing a news feature for May. It is perhaps apt that they should be coming on our 1st birthday!

All our workshops will be open as will be the Beehive cafe, and we are looking forward to being able to get some coverage of what we are doing & what we have achieved in our first year.

The Courtyard will remain open throughout the day, but just be careful if you see lots of wires etc. straggling around. And you never - know - you might even get featured on telly!!

Work has been moving on apace at The Fabric Den - the most recent of our workshops to open, and now Sarah has published her programme of Workshops that she will be running in the next couple of months - 

Workshops @ The Fabric Den
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27th April – Knit (or Crochet) & Natter
Come & bring your latest project to sit & work on in a friendly environment. Tea/Coffee available
13.00 – 15.00 - £6
 
7th May 2019 – Introduction to Patchwork
Come along to this workshop to learn the basics of patchwork & have a go at making some blocks – suitable for beginners
10.00 – 12.00 - £25
 
19th May – Sew Social
Bring along your latest project to work on during this session. Sarah from Molly Felicity Designs will be on hand to give support & guidance should you need it
10.00 – 12.00 - £12.50
(Bring your own materials – sewing machines available to use – Booking required)
 
12th June – Reversible Shoulder Bag Workshop
Learn to sew a reversible shoulder bag from scratch
​featuring darts & top stitching
10.00 to 12.00 - £25.00
 
23rd June Sew Social
Bring along your latest project to work on during this session. Sarah from Molly Felicity Designs will be on hand to give support & guidance should you need it
10.00 – 12.00 - £12.50
(Bring your own materials – sewing machines available to use – Booking required)
 
If you can’t make the date but are interested in a particular session please let us know as additional workshops can be organised to meet demand
 
A £10 non-refundable deposit (or the cost of the session if less than £10) is required at the time of booking your workshop. The balance is due at the start of your workshop/session
 
www.mollyfelicitydesigns.com
All workshops held at The Fabric Den, Old Bolsover Yard  S44 6PP
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Those of you who visited the Courtyard on Saturday will have see the new plant stand with plants for sale. This is a 'co-operative' venture by the workshop tenants to respond to enquiries that they have had from visitors to the Yard.

Whilst there are other businesses selling plants, especially on market days, they have decided to 'give it a whirl' and see what happens. So - if you are looking for some plants as you start your gardening for this year, come in & see what they have got to offer.
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We told you recently that our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund had been unsuccessful. Well, following discussions with the team working on  the bid, we have made some amendments & revisions to the budget etc. and have now resubmitted our bid for a second time.

The success or not of the bid will drive our next phase of development in OBY, so we are keen to get a positive outcome if we can.
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That's about it for this week - plenty for you to think about & get involved in. If you have not been to see us yet, why not put it on your 'to do' list for next week.

Me? I'm off for a slice of birthday cake & perhaps a little tipple go with it!
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So, after months of planning the Courtyard Programme 2019 gets underway this Saturday with a 'Meet the Tenants' Day.

It is almost a year since we came to Old Bolsover Yard, and much has happened between then & now. We inherited a derelict site with outbuildings that had't been used for years, roofs collapsed on some of the buildings, no electricity, and it all looked very sorry for itself. Now look at it today - new roofs, electricity, new doors & windows, gallons of paint! - all our workshop units let, providing opportunities for small businesses to grow, a new tourist attraction for Bolsover, a new business contributing to the economic life of the town, and a new business that has sought to get involved with the town.

So, this Saturday we hope you will come and 'pop-in' to help us celebrate what we have achieved, of which we are rightly proud, and meet our tenants, see what they do, have a look around our Gallery which also features local crafts people.

And to get you in the  mood, I asked each of the tenants to provide me with a few words about their business and this is what they said ......

 In Unit 1 is The Fabric Den & this is what Sarah said - 
The Fabric Den is Molly Felicity Designs independent fabric shop based at Old Bolsover Yard. Building on the current revival of ‘make do and mend culture’ Sarah is influenced by all things vintage which is reflected in the fabrics in stock. The Fabric Den also offers sewing lessons and workshops. 

Then in Unit 3 is Creative Handmade Craft Studio with Maria & Antonino -
Maria said - Creative Handmade Craft Studio are passionate about making & inspiring handmade creations specialising in individual genuine gemstones & stocking a range of high quality materials rarely available either locally or on the high street. In-house designer Maria Carrara-Russo will help you create the perfect bespoke pieces. Maria also loves to share her knowledge and expertise & offers 1-2-1 sessions, group workshops & parties covering a range of jewellery & accessory making tutorials

And Antonino said - Handmade, unique, historically inspired. These are just a few ways to describe what I create. 
At Old Bolsover Yard, you will find Antonino Creations located within the Creative Handmade Craft Studio, where, along with an array of hand tools and a blowtorch I turn metals and leather into unique and special items, come along and see the pieces made before your very eyes.

Right next door in Unit 4 is Gail whose  business is - Cup & Saucer - and she said -
Cup & Saucer was launched in December 2017 by Gail Hannan, she was influenced by two of her greatest passions, tea - and the Peak District. By combining the two, Gail has created a unique range of teas and tisanes- offering flavours such as Pennine Picnic, Bakewell Heart and Kinder Green.
 Winning Chesterfields 'Local Producer of The Year' award in October 2018 was a major achievement which Gail is extremely proud of.

Next door to Cup & Saucer in Unit 5 is The Gallery @ Old Bolsover Yard -
which features the work of some of our tenants and also of local crafts people who just want to display & exhibit their goods for sale. A veritable pot pourri of all sorts for that special present or something new to adorn the home

Which brings us to Unit 6 - Ethos Upcycling the home of Damion, who said - 
Ethos Upcycling specialises in taking old, discarded or simply unloved items and bringing them back to life. By repurposing a variety of items Damion ensures a sustainable process helping to reduce what would otherwise be considered waste. One of the unique selling points of Ethos Upcycling is that items can be transformed with either a traditional or modern twist.  

And finally - I asked Michelle in the Beehive Cafe to contribute, but I haven't heard anything from her, so here goes - 'In My Words'
The Beehive Cafe stands proudly at the entrance to Old Bolsover Yard, and is part of the Old Bolsover Yard complex 
Serving a wide range of food & drinks, it is a place not to be missed.
And in the summer, if you want to, you can choose to sit outside & enjoy the sunshine & watch the world go by

Then in the Gallery we have two traders - 
Scentuals by Charlene - who wrote - 
My name is Charlene, a Mother of three. I started making candles ​in December 2018 after receiving a kit as a gift. I started creating food and drink inspired candles and wax melts and I had so much interest in them that I started making full time. I thoroughly enjoy what I do and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for Scentuals by Charlene.

And Shaun - M&E Woodcraft - who rounds off the introductions by saying -
I started out a couple of years ago making gifts out of wood after a kind gentleman gave me his tools, so I had to put them to good use, so a few youtube videos later and a bit of trial and error, I started getting requests. I generally use reclaimed timber, basically what ever I can get my hands on, whether it be pallets or old windowsills and door frames. I don't class myself as a joiner or a carpenter, I’d rather be called a maker​

So there you are - this is who they are in their own words - now it is up to you to come and see for yourselves

Sarah in The Fabric Den, has started to stock yarn following some market research of the local community, and getting a big & useful response.

It is initially only DK (double knitting for the uninitiated!!), in a wide range of colours, and in the first day of the stock being on the shelves, she sold over 10 balls of yarn & some knitting patterns.

So, ladies you asked for yarn, now you have it, and Sarah has an extensive catalogue of other yarns that she can order if you want something particular.

The yarn is also suitable for & available to men knitters/crocheters too!!

Pop-in and have a look - open 10am to 3pm Monday to Saturday.

And Sarah will be in The Fabric Den on Saturday as part of our Courtyard Programme, with news of her workshops etc. that she has got planned

Not long now until Easter and chocolate eggs etc., and much merriment - the first chance to let you hair down since Christmas!

On Saturday 20th April we will are having an Easter Extravaganza as part of the Courtyard Programme, with an Easter Egg Hunt, and lots of things for children to get involved in.

More news to follow in future blog posts. But, to get you in the mood here is a little problem solver for you!

Mr Bunny has been busy painting an egg in time for Easter & he is very proud of what he has done. But, he has missed a bit of painting & he has not seen it - can you spot what it is? Answer in next weeks blog post.

Next Wednesday, Bolsover TV which is the internet TV channel of Bolsover District Council, will be coming to pay us a visit & do some filming & interviewing everybody to put together a piece for their May News programme. So we are hoping for good weather & a calm windless day to help us along. The Courtyard will be open as usual from 10am to 3pm, so do come along as usual to see what we are up to, and you never know - you might be on telly!!

We have had a number of bookings in recent days for out Cakes Bonanza that we are organising as part of the Bolsover Food & Drinks Festival in July.

And this week we thought we would introduce you to our 'mascot' for the weekend - Please welcome Victoria.....!

Many of you will be familiar with Victoria who is part of the world renowned Sponge family and she will be featuring strongly from now until the 27th/28th July, when she will be making personal appearances throughout the weekend.

Remember that the Cake Bonanza is not just about cakes, but is devoted to everything cake related.

There will be more about this event in coming blog posts as we get nearer to July.
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that is more than enough for you this week. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday, and just whenever you feel like dropping in to see our latest developments. Until next time .......