Krafty Ideas was originally set up fourteen years ago by a small group of women who had been bitten by the crafting bug and who wanted to get together to share ideas.

We now meet every Monday evening in the Carnarvon Room in St Paul’s church(from 7 until 9pm) and on average 23 people attended each week. Its members bring a range of skills and talents to the group which we are able to tap into. Over the years we have covered projects including decoupage, greetings cards, wire, bead and polymer clay work, mosaics and a range of textiles.

Initially the group all worked on the same technique for about six weeks before moving on to something else. But as the group evolved we started mixing it up a bit: different members would bring and share their own craft ‘passion’ so now, at any one time, the group will be working on a range of projects. We found that working in this way allowed everyone to be catered for. It’s fair to say that none of us are experts but we love learning and developing new skills. We are a very supportive group and there is always help and advice on hand when your work doesn’t go to plan!

Peggy Davies leads the group and she works extremely hard behind the scenes in preparation. She has that ability to meet the needs of each individual and is always encouraging when we are trying something new! She also has patience in abundance!

The items we make go on sale at our annual craft fair which is held on the last Saturday in November. We also sell cards throughout the year at St Pauls and at A and A Craft, Front Street in Arnold. Any profit we make is used to buy items for the church and we occasionally make donations to charity.

In the last fourteen years Krafty Ideas has become a place where people can come, make friends and learn new crafting skills. But most importantly we have a good laugh. Every so often we abandon the church and descend upon a local pub for a meal. Some of the group travel to the NEC a couple of times a year to the craft and textiles events there, returning with new ideas, techniques and resources.

Although the group meets in a church, it is by no means a ‘church group’, with members coming from all over Nottingham, some church members, some not.