Lucy Craig / Netty Hill. Let me introduce you to Lucy Craig. I have known Lucy for 6 years now and have watched her grow, both as an adult and a crafter. Her Imagination and her love and desire to succeed is empowering and contagious. When she visits us here in Midtown Makers, she makes our day, it's like the sun has just come out. She has become a good friend to us all here and you could not, not love her for her smile and humour.
Don't Change, Stay the Same Always
Don't Change, Stay the Same Always
Lucy Craig, a local Textile Artist, Designer and Creative. and also work as an Art and H.E Technician in Slemish College which she loves as she works with young people, enhancing their education, along with pursuing my her passion.
She was greatly encouraged at my secondary school, Slemish College and excelled in ways she could never have imagined with particular encouragement from my art teacher. Once she had got into sixth form she was nominated for Deputy Head Girl which also greatly improved her confidence- it reassured her it didn’t matter what your background or story was, that you could go far and achieve what you put your mind to.
After leaving there in 2012, she continued my studies within Art and Design.
she joined Ballymena Business Centre in 2014, who were launching a shop dedicated to Local crafters at that time it was the Create 100 Programme and she had just finished her first year of University.
She loved making things and found it therapeutic and it became her comfort blanket during this time- escaping from the reality of university work.
This is when she decided to set up Netty Hill, called after my great grandmother, who had dedicated her life, working with cloth and other materials, during her working life. in Cloughmills. Her small craft business, was following her great Grandmother's footsteps and began creating personalised home furnishings and bespoke gifts.
When they were invited to come and view the shop by Melanie, who took them and showed them the empty shell of the old “Houston's” shop on Church Street. They saw the potential and knew they all wanted it to work.
In November of 2014 , another group of local crafters, who were either starting their business or some who were already running a small business. Through cluster mornings, networking events, workshops and seminars we began to form a strong arts and crafts community, which became The Church Street Craft Market. Some of the younger artists & crafters, then left after their funding had finished and we rebranded and became "Midtown Makers" in 2016
She was greatly encouraged at my secondary school, Slemish College and excelled in ways she could never have imagined with particular encouragement from my art teacher. Once she had got into sixth form she was nominated for Deputy Head Girl which also greatly improved her confidence- it reassured her it didn’t matter what your background or story was, that you could go far and achieve what you put your mind to.
After leaving there in 2012, she continued my studies within Art and Design.
she joined Ballymena Business Centre in 2014, who were launching a shop dedicated to Local crafters at that time it was the Create 100 Programme and she had just finished her first year of University.
She loved making things and found it therapeutic and it became her comfort blanket during this time- escaping from the reality of university work.
This is when she decided to set up Netty Hill, called after my great grandmother, who had dedicated her life, working with cloth and other materials, during her working life. in Cloughmills. Her small craft business, was following her great Grandmother's footsteps and began creating personalised home furnishings and bespoke gifts.
When they were invited to come and view the shop by Melanie, who took them and showed them the empty shell of the old “Houston's” shop on Church Street. They saw the potential and knew they all wanted it to work.
In November of 2014 , another group of local crafters, who were either starting their business or some who were already running a small business. Through cluster mornings, networking events, workshops and seminars we began to form a strong arts and crafts community, which became The Church Street Craft Market. Some of the younger artists & crafters, then left after their funding had finished and we rebranded and became "Midtown Makers" in 2016
During her final year she really established the style of work that she wanted to continue and totally embraced her finals. The work she began producing has significance to our heritage by delving into the tales of the past and preserving our roots onto fabric.
She found an unique way to showcase this by reflecting the lives of the generations before us using family ephemera, letters, photographs and artefacts to tell a story. The freelance work she does allows her to work within the community, which she is passionate about.
During last Year she has exhibited and has taken commissions. However within the current climate this is taking a back seat, till we can get back to some sort of normal
She found an unique way to showcase this by reflecting the lives of the generations before us using family ephemera, letters, photographs and artefacts to tell a story. The freelance work she does allows her to work within the community, which she is passionate about.
During last Year she has exhibited and has taken commissions. However within the current climate this is taking a back seat, till we can get back to some sort of normal
The Liam Neeson Chair was a project that Lucy worked on with the help from The Slemish Players members. She used document that they leant her from the time Liam was a member of The Slemish Players. She copied them and had them printed onto different materials, where she embroidered some of the text, giving it a 3D effect. The Chair can be viewed in Midtown Makers
After graduating in 2017 in Textiles in Art, Design and Fashion, the Business Centre were there again to guide her through the next stages of her development. After completing a business plan with them, they directed her to the Princes Trust where she completed their exploring enterprise course which helped in many ways including, receiving a start-up grant, mentoring and general skills to help her set up my business.
With the help of the grant, it meant she could complete her Liam Neeson Chair project, so she could showcase her work through the tourism sector.
She was NI Young Artist of the Year finalist for two years running for her textile work which has been a great privilege.
Within the past two years she joined Naturally North Coast and Glens Markets which will also helped her branch out into the tourism sector, establish new audiences and explore venues.
Many doors have been opened for her because of Midtown Makers for example, networking allowed her to be involved in the Processions, a major Arts project to celebrate 100 years of women having the vote.
As well as this, she was commissioned to make a community arts piece for The Carson Project and Inter Ethnic Forum to commemorate 100 years of the end of WW1- using memories and textiles. She was able to incorporate stories of my own family history and reflect on the lives of women at this time through the textiles used- this was important to her also.
With the help of the grant, it meant she could complete her Liam Neeson Chair project, so she could showcase her work through the tourism sector.
She was NI Young Artist of the Year finalist for two years running for her textile work which has been a great privilege.
Within the past two years she joined Naturally North Coast and Glens Markets which will also helped her branch out into the tourism sector, establish new audiences and explore venues.
Many doors have been opened for her because of Midtown Makers for example, networking allowed her to be involved in the Processions, a major Arts project to celebrate 100 years of women having the vote.
As well as this, she was commissioned to make a community arts piece for The Carson Project and Inter Ethnic Forum to commemorate 100 years of the end of WW1- using memories and textiles. She was able to incorporate stories of my own family history and reflect on the lives of women at this time through the textiles used- this was important to her also.
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The piece can be seen as a way of visually educating our younger generations and encouraging them to explore their roots and also preserve them.- this is something which she would love to take more part in.
The most recent example of how exploring opportunities has led her to unexpected places was at a recent event, Seven Ages of Women where she met Her Majesty’s Lord- Lieutenant of Co. Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie.
She remembered her from another occasion and invited her to an evening to celebrate achievements of young people in Northern Ireland in The Belfast Empire. Their special guests where the Cambridge’s, William and Kate. Kate poured her a pint and she's afraid she had to take the glass home including the napkin!!
The support of the arts and craft community has been fundamental in her professional practice and She is sure that she speaks for the rest of us creative beings, between sharing ideas, company and general support. It reminds us all that we are in this journey together at whatever part of our creative paths and will have highs and lows, but it is about recognising the lows and moving on from them in the most positive way and putting it down to experience.
The most recent example of how exploring opportunities has led her to unexpected places was at a recent event, Seven Ages of Women where she met Her Majesty’s Lord- Lieutenant of Co. Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie.
She remembered her from another occasion and invited her to an evening to celebrate achievements of young people in Northern Ireland in The Belfast Empire. Their special guests where the Cambridge’s, William and Kate. Kate poured her a pint and she's afraid she had to take the glass home including the napkin!!
The support of the arts and craft community has been fundamental in her professional practice and She is sure that she speaks for the rest of us creative beings, between sharing ideas, company and general support. It reminds us all that we are in this journey together at whatever part of our creative paths and will have highs and lows, but it is about recognising the lows and moving on from them in the most positive way and putting it down to experience.
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She wants to leave you now with a quote that is very important to her.
“I am the Master of my Thoughts, I am the Captain of my Soul”
“I am the Master of my Thoughts, I am the Captain of my Soul”
