Julie’s shop for Krafty Kidz is a knitter’s dream
THIS WEEK: Kustom Kidz Kraft Kreatorz
ARKLOW businesswoman Julie New goes to work with a smile on her face every day. Since relocating her intriguing craft supplies and furniture business to 87 Lower Main Street, she has opened up a world of possibilities for her venture.
Having relaunched the store as Kustom Kidz Kraft Kreatorz, Julie has responded to the growth of the craft element of her business which was based initially on hand crafted children’s and nursery furniture.
‘We closed the old shop on Bridge Street back on Christmas Eve and I got everyone of my friends and family on board at the new shop so we were open on January 2. We fitted out the new shop and can now accommodate our monthly weekend craft fair and ever expanding craft classes,’ she explains.
Julie is brimming with enthusiasm and it is clear that her passion for her work fuels her success. Not only has she started a large scale craft fair on the first Friday and Saturday of every month, she plays host to an array of weekly craft classes both for adults and children including knitting, origami, tatting which is an old form of lace making, and crochet, which she teaches her- self. ‘I am happy to provide the venue because I want bums on seats and in turn the ladies buy their supplies here.
‘ There is a great atmosphere when they all come in and sit around learning together. They share their experience with one another. There is a huge culture of crafting in the community and I would love to see local people supporting that,’ she says.
This craft culture is something that Julie has been embracing since the age of nine when she learned to crochet from Helena, wife of Wesley Burrows, the man behind many an old Irish soap opera.
‘ There was a period of about ten years when I gave it up but then I took it up again when I had children and never looked back. It is such a stress reliever and very calming. A recent judge told two women up for fighting in public to go and take up knitting to sort themselves out!’
Kustom Kids Kraft Kreatorz is a knitter’s dream. A rainbow of colourful balls of yarn are more than pleasing to the eye and would inspire the most reluctant crafter to pick up a set of needles.
The extensive Craft Fair room at the back of the shop are where the magic happens each month which has now become a vital part of the business.
‘I just wanted to get in and do it. I was fed up of people finding reasons not to do something so I pay the rent, rates and insurance and offer a place for people to sell their wonderful crafts. We need to be brave enough to take risks if our town is to survive.
‘For example, I think we will regret reversing the one way system in the future.
‘Of course times have been tough but we must do everything in our power to get people on to the street again.’
‘I love coming into work every day and I’m going full steam ahead with the shop. I’m determined to make this work.’