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Summer fun and games at the Craft Centre  - torrential rain, staff caught in floods, visitors washed away by thundery showers  - well perhaps not quite, but it really isn’t good weather for walking around  - whilst indoors, willow weavers, handbag makers and potters ply their merry trade …….

Being open brings its own varied challenges  - questions we don’t know the answer to, technical hitches various, firing the new kiln and learning its little ways.  Visitors seem to be invariably impressed by the changes to the building (which is very heartening).  The brightly coloured doors and the new floor have made a world of difference to the ambience.

Paint your own pottery is getting underway later this week – I’m learning to love the new kiln – and the children’s craft club started today.  Maybe it’s a good thing it’s not summery weather, we’re too busy to enjoy it anyway.  The building has a TARDIS like quality  - once you step inside, you enter a different reality.

Maybe I should start knitting myself a long multi-coloured scarf  ……..

By the time I arrived at Ysgol Griffith Jones on Thursday morning, the mosaic artists were already there preparing for their work on the outdoor classroom, Techniquest had the Starlab installed in the gym and all the activities were well underway.

I introduced Harriett and rushed back to the Centre, where opening week meetings were the order of the day.

Later on, I went back again to meet the photographer (photos of children up to their ears in glue, planning mosaics) and then to make sure that Judith the potter was comfortably installed (as comfortable as you can be whilst making clay rockets with around 100 children, I suppose!.)

Now looking forward to the autumn, when the mosaic will be installed and the outdoor classroom will be complete.

Councillor Hughes cut the ribbon (corporate wine colour  - funny colour really for a very "dry" county!) with scissors with handles of St. Clears Blue (no detail too small!) and we were Open!

It was a blustery, showery day (well, really it was pretty dreadful, speed restrictions and monsoon like downpours on the M4 and all around) and I was terrified that some of my craftspeople wouldn't make it to the Centre.  Then I was worried that the schoolchildren walking from the local school would get washed away. In fact, there was no need to be worried, everyone turned up on time and well prepared for the day ahead.

Note to self  - if I ever do anythng like this again, maybe organise all the events on one floor, running up and down all those stairs was wonderful exercise, but the overall effect was less than glamorous.

Harriett arrived first, with boxes of collage materials and a very heavy sewing machine. The collage workshop, which ran al l day for four local schools was a great success ("Awesome,miss," said one little boy, and "100% satisfaction" was the verdict of a little girl from another school.) Can't wait to see their efforts mounted and displayed now.

The Judith the potter appeared, a bit damp and laden down with pottery equipment and materials.  The wheel is well and truly christened!

Last but not least, Anne the jeweller arrived, all ready to do her demonstration in the corner between the cafe and the shop.  She produced some wonderful pieces throughout the day and generated a lot of interest.

Once all the craftspeople were set up, the guests began to arrive and a very hectic couple of hours ensued.  The general verdict was favourable, although one canny local sage remarked, The jury's out  - fence sitters 'r us I thought quietly to myself but smiled and said nothing.

The last child was gone by three o'clock (although we're back at Ysgol Griffith Jones on Thursday for Techniquest and mosaics among other things) and by five o'clock, we were pleased to shut the doors on Opening Day.

Yesterday was a bit of an anti-climax as we cleared up and realised how much work there still is to do  - time to roll up the sleeves again and get on with it!