Major showcase for Janice

Janice Gilmore is one of several local crafters to have their products selected.

Janice said: “I applied to join this scheme with some typical examples of my work. I got some great feedback from the National Trust who really loved my work, but felt that there were opportunities to tailor it for their audience. So we worked together over the next few weeks to come up with a new range. It was a great experience and a real challenge as it forced me to think outside of my normal work. It has certainly added to my skills and helped me to think about working in collaboration with partners.

“It’s a great chance to sell my products to a much bigger audience, and I can’t wait to see them on sale at places like Mount Stewart or the Giant’s Causeway.”

The “Spirit of Place” range will be sold in National Trust places across Northern Ireland, from Castle Coole in Fermanagh to Mount Stewart in County Down. It is hoped the new initiative will be a real boost to artisan businesses. The challenge for judges was selecting just 18 products to take forward to the final stage.