"I used to come to the creamery here with my father when I was a child," Helen explains, standing in the middle of what is now a kind of
Aladdin's cave, an intriguing warren of rooms, full of lovely objects and items for sale.

But the Old Creamery, as everybody now calls it, is more than a gift
shop – it is also a collectors' shop, a furniture shop and a gallery.

And now, Helen has also made space for it to become a centre for
crafts and things handmade.

"Every weekend, on an ongoing basis, there are going to be people
here doing their crafts, showing people how they do what they do and at
the same time showcasing their own goods," Helen explains.

She believes it will add an extra twist to what is on offer in the shop,
attracting the curious and the interested.

But it is also a chance for artisans and craftspeople who work alone, often at home, to meet up.

Flower arrangers, knitters, quilters, crochet makers, fudge makers,
candle makers, artists: Helen has them all in her sights or already on
board.

Miriam Kirby, Newcastle West, was one such artisan explaining her
craft of decoupage to the public at a special reception held last week to launch Helen's new concept.

Decoupage, she explained, is an old technique that was used to decorate
all manner of things, mainly wood, which she has now adapted to decorate frames, stools, cupboards, chests, even toilet seats.

"It starts with cutting out patterns and shapes from paper," she added.

These are then glued to the surface, Miriam adds in some handpainted
background and foreground before finishing off with varnish. The result is that plain or often boring items are transformed into something funky, pretty or customised to fit with the rest of the décor of a room.

"Instead of throwing away things, I can give them a new life," she smiled, adding that customised toilet seats have been in demand.

Aine Ni Bheachain, originally from Loughill but now living in Clonlara,
is a one-woman powerhouse who can also be met at the Old Creamery.

A graduate of the Limerick College of Art and Design, she designs and
makes her own range of knitted goods for women – scarves, bags and hats that can match or mix-andmatch as well as jackets and jumpers.

"I do commissions as well," she told the Limerick Leader and these
have included wedding dresses as well as bridesmaids' dresses and outfits for mothers.

Sandra King from North Carolina, but now living in Clare, admitted she
goes nowhere without her crochet needles and bags of yarn. She uses
natural wools, alpaca mostly, and cotton for the christening robes and
children's clothes that she crochets.

Kathleen Griffin was tucked away in another part of the building, busily
making up another batch of her scrumptious fudge to her own recipe
– and debating with customers about the different types.

Addictive stuff, most of them said, but couldn't resist the temptation to fork out for a bar.

Then it was time for Kenneth, Helen Mackessy's son, to come into
his own with the launch of his debut four-track CD.

Craftmakers will be in place at the Old Creamery, Blackabbey Road,
every Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 6pm