Crafty milestone show a pearler

CRAFTS Council of Ballarat members are celebrating thirty years of operation at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens’ Adam Lindsay Gordon Cottage within their latest exhibition.

Pearls of Creation is now on show at the Mercure, and member Chris Grant said the group feels “a great sense of achievement” to not only have reached the milestone, but to be showcasing their arts and crafts at the hotel.

“We’ve got a diverse range of works which I think people will enjoy; painting, collage, fashion accessories like bags and jewellery, and felting,” she said.

“One of our newer and younger members has created four dolls which can be seen when you walk around the room.

“It’s a terrific open space at the Mercure, which is quite different to when we exhibit in the gardens’ conservatory amongst the plants.”

The Crafts Council existed for a few years before members moved their work into the cottage in 1992.

“A few hundred craftspeople and artists have exhibited and sold their good there over that period of time, from textiles to painting, woodwork, jewellery, and ceramics,” Grant said.

“We currently have 35 members. We’ve got three or four members like myself who have been there for almost the whole journey, and we’re always encouraging new people.

“We’re just so fortunate to have this outlet in the gardens. What we sell is unique. You won’t find it anywhere else, and it’s locally made.”

Pearls of Creation will be displayed until Sunday, 23 October, and works are for sale. The cottage is open Thursday to Sunday.