The Wet Web
Helen Gazeley talks to two roving traders about how they produce and store their wares.
NOT many people would describe boats as spacious, so when members of the Roving Canal Traders Association hang out their wares on the towpath, you may well wonder where and how so much gets produced in so little space.
Morgan and Sue, who trade under the name Made on Narrowboat Sunbeam, had a distinct head start. “We’re very lucky,” said Morgan. “We had the boat built, designed it ourselves. The cratch at the front has an integral roof – Sue works there – and the interior cabin is done to maximise storage.”
But their secret weapon was undoubtedly Sue. She’s been working as a green woodworker for 20 years and used to make large items of furniture. When it came to fitting out their boat, not only did they do it from scratch, but Sue designed and made a lot of the furniture.
“Everything has a dual purpose,” explained Morgan. “The sofa’s got three storage sections underneath, the body of the dinette contains storage, and the bed lifts on gas struts with accessible storage beneath.” It is also, of course, necessary to cut one’s stock according to one’s space. “Now everything has to be boat-sized,” he continued.
So, the pieces that Sue produces take little room to store and display well on the ‘flat-pack’ shelves she made to hang off the side of Sunbeam. When not in use, the shelves store tidily in the top box. Meanwhile Morgan, who spent 20 years teaching film production and photography, will be making photographic cards.
Continuous cruising is an ideal way to find new customers and canal traders often fit their continuous cruising itinerary to market schedules and waterways events. Before Covid, Sunbeam was making an appearance at 12 to 15 independent events a year. “And pop-ups,” said Morgan, referring to putting out wares where they’re moored. “With a RCTA licence we can trade from the towpath and you can have as many pop-ups as you want.”
Sunbeam will soon be resuming her appearances at events. Look out for the delightful carved swimmer pendants, made to celebrate Sue and Morgan’s shared enthusiasm for wild swimming. Everything is produced using sustainable materials. Currently moored on the Montgomery, the North Wales coast has brought a new addition. “We’ve been beachcombing and Sue’s making pendants using sea glass.”
In a nice touch that references the cycle of life, the pendants made in the shape of oak leaves and acorns are carved from the balance beams of retired oak lock gates found in a Birmingham boatyard.
You don’t have to wait to see Sunbeam at an event. Browse items for sale in their Etsy shop ( www. etsy. com/ uk/ shop/ HandmadeOnSunbeam) and via their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HandmadeOn NarrowboatSunbeam) and Instagram (www.instagram. com/ ha n dmad e _ o n _ narrowboat_sunbeam).
Firing ahead
By contrast, Sally Vaughan is a newbie to canal trading. Having taken up pottery two years ago, every item has been sculpted, glazed and fired either in her home studio or on nb Jenny. Items include hanging vases, plant pots with character, wine coolers, mobiles, mugs and some very cute snowman tree decorations.
Until now, Sally’s been firing items at home, but with continuous cruising now in the offing, the boat required a rethink and she and her husband have converted the back bedroom of the 70ft narrowboat into a workshop complete with kiln, a small table-top potter’s wheel, shelves for glazes and box containers for stock. Firing is likely to be reserved for when they can hook into the mains. “We think the kiln will probably give the batteries a battering,” says Sally.
Next year, nb Jenny will be heading for the Llangollen and the Four Counties. In the meantime, find Sally’s pieces on her website pottery- bysally-v. square. site, her Etsy site https:// www. etsy. com/ uk/shop/PotterybySallyV, and on Facebook https:// www. facebook.com/potterybysallyv.
To find other onboard craftspeople, visit the Traders’ Directory on the RCTA website (www.rcta.org.uk). Don’t miss the RCTA #buyitoffaboat FaceBook page where traders post pictures and news and keep an eye on the #madeonaboat hashtag.