Blairgowrie & Rattray Hub Magazine - Autumn 21

A Hokey Cokey Year
For the next few articles we will give more
details about what we do and introduce
our trustees. First up is Tracie Dick, Nest’s
Facilities Coordinator and Business Manager
who has experienced a business baptism of
fire over the last four years.
“I can’t believe it’s been that long, Nest’s been
my first major venture into being self employed
and running a business. It’s my chance to
explore and develop my ideas about my craft
and sustainable practice.
After a delayed move to new premises last
June and reopening in July, we were in, then
out, then in again and have moved around
most of the furniture at least twice! Now
located at Blairgowrie’s heart, more visible
to our community and visitors travelling
through and staying locally, we have started
looking for different ways of providing creative
opportunities. Our research into online
workshops led to a new service providing online
activities. I have found crafting with groups
online quite challenging, at home by yourself
rather than round a table with each other but
we’re doing our best to keep them socially
engaging. The pandemic opened people’s eyes to
the importance of being with others, especially
sharing conversations about why/how we make
beautiful and useful objects.
I continue to look at how we can keep growing,
working collaboratively with local groups
and businesses and sharing ideas for the
community. Going forward we’re looking at
promoting the reuse of materials creatively
during workshops, and making our own craft
kits and expanding the creative services we
offer. At the end of the day we are a business
and an income is essential to survive, but also
to fund the activities and services we provide
and the benefits this brings. I work hard keeping
in touch with other community organisations
and projects in Perthshire and providing
opportunities for them to use the many skills we
can access here at Nest.
Autumn will see us continue supporting It’s
Braw, BaRI food initiative, the Climate Café,
Perth and Kinross Council creative activities as
well as taking part in Perthshire Open Studios.
Away from Nest I am a carer, a crafter and
self confessed Crochet Geek. After crocheting
all sorts over the last 11 years I now focus on
Thistles made with Shetland wool, Highland
Coos and cactus, that I sell in the Nest shop. I
lost my crochet mojo over lockdown, making a
couple of things for myself that I rarely get time
for but it is on its way back.
I am excited to see what we can achieve at
Nest in our new premises, developing new
collaborative relationships with local businesses
and organisations and offering new services and
activities for all to enjoy.
My pipe dream? If finance was no object I
would buy a large building, and create a larger
creative space for makers, indoor market and
just an exciting and vibrant place to be .”
Visit our website for our upcoming activities
nestcreativespaces.co.uk
Page 22 BRDT Magazine - Autumn 2021