BEANS

Coffee Shop Gallery

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2 Weeks Today

BEANS coffee shop gallery in Bolsover
Snow on the roof of BEANS coffee shop gallery shortly after opening in December 2010

Today we have been open for 2 weeks. What a two weeks it has been. We had the first open evening on the 9th of December. Cynthia Else came along and taught some stained glass basics and visitors had a chance to look around – see the artwork that had arrived to date, and sample some sweet potato pie and mulled apple juice. Then the first art class ran on Sunday with

Jessica Noonan – Make a Silver Ring (or two). There was much hammering and soldering and more hammering – and some laughter thrown in. Everyone walked away with 2 rings they had made themselves – some rings  worn and some ready to be wrapped as Christmas presents. Meanwhile, I have had the pleasure of meeting many local people who have popped in for a coffee or two, for snacks and/or for lunch. And, a few local artists have found their way into BEANS and I am looking forward to their return – with work in hand. The walls aren’t full yet, but we’re working on it.

Cynthia Else’s stained glass work is up on the walls and so is the work of Helen Hallow.  Both artists are offering Sunday courses in the new year – so if you’re considering a course, you may want to pop in and get a feel for the artist and their work – or purchase an original. Polly Warren,

a printer, has added her work to the collection. Boats, Flamborough Head and botanical subjects have all been captured by Polly. Viv Cooper has added a splash of colour with her watercolour paintings. And we also have a print by Pete McKee. Pete came into BEANS and shared his story – painting on pieces of wood while working at Tesco, and now selling work in galleries around England – including his own A Month of Sundays gallery in Sheffield.

So – a lot of highlights in 2 weeks.  But also, a bit of a whirlwind for this old American. And, I don’t seem to do whirlwinds too well anymore. So, I have decided that I am going to have 4 days off at Christmas and 3 days off at new year – and hopefully then, I will stop leaving my purse in the post office and actually be at the shop to meet the electricity board when I say I will. I can only hope.

Here’s to a happy, healthy and calmer 2011.

Karen

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Opening Times

To start off, BEANS will be open Monday to Friday, 8 – 5, and Saturday from 9 – 5.  Sunday is reserved for art classes, but we might open on non-art class Sundays after we get going.  It’s a bit of a wait and see. After we find out when people come and what works best, our opening and closing times may change.  But, we’ll let you know.

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Grand- ish opening

The swoop happened at the weekend.  Friends had been promising a swoop – and they delivered.  Paint brushes, old clothes, fan heaters, humidifiers, new kettles and homemade soups and bread arrived along with willing bodies.  And, it is starting to look like it could be a coffee shop.  Still more to do (and the snow had better start to behave itself) – but if nothing else, there will be coffee on Saturday.

So – a big thank you to all the helpers and an especially big thank you to WH Buck and Son, the builders who took the damp and sad old solicitor’s office and tranformed it into a special space (with loads of storage) where you can sit and drink a coffee, have a bite to eat, listen to some music, check out some art and crafts and make your own masterpieces.

It turns out that actualising a dream is a group effort – even when it’s not a group dream.  Lots of skills are required and I don’t have lots of skills – but I know people who do and, luckily for me, they are very nice, skill sharing people.  You will need people who listen and encourage and give out the occassional slap (metaphorically speaking) when you fall apart and wonder if dreaming is a good thing.

A word to all your dreamers – pick your friends, family, builders, electricians, architects, drawing creators, web designers, interview panelists, plasterers, artists, art tutors and tap posting people carefully.  You’ll need people who can listen and make sense of your senseless ramblings (cause your brain will cease to function), build extra cupboards under the stairs cause you said you need lots of storage space, get their artwork ready and wait patiently for your call – and accept new class dates without batting an eyelid, pop round just when you’re about to crawl under the covers and never come out, then make sure you have envelopes and a short-list, arrive ready to do whatever needs doing – supplying their own tools and food for the next 3 days, make a space that looks too small come to life with 3D drawings, put balloons on your web site to announce your opening, help you to come up with a name, knock on doors and fill in questionnaires, buy tapered tap attachments and hand over $30 to the post office, drive through the snow to put in track lighting cause you should’ve ordered it earlier and you didn’t, stand on the bannister to paint the unreachable bit of wall, email you words of wisdom, hand out tissues, spend their week off work decorating, let you put your bin in their drive, go without Christmas presents and just generally stand in your corner and listen to you and refuse to believe you when you tell them that you don’t think you can do it.  They’re all out there (If you need names and telephone numbers, I’ve got ’em.).

We’ll all be learning for the next few weeks and the menu will be developing while we grow into our skin.  But you’ll get the idea.

Karen

PS   Don’t forget the open evening on the 9th of December (5.30 – 8.30).  We’ll have stained glass and fabric decoration demonstrations – and you can try some sweet potato pie.

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What’s Happening?

Here we are, half way through October. How did that happen? No, I haven’t disappeared off the face of the earth – or given up on BEANS. Yes, things are still moving forward…. but with a slight twist (or at least a variation on Plan A). So – where are we now?

The builders have been working like mad – and the upstairs is nearly finished (though I need to decorate and decide how to approach the floor…). The downstairs floor has been sorted (part old and part new) and the new stair landing and lower steps and stair railing (the old one was climbable apparently) are underway. Once complete, that will just leave the kitchen work area and odds and ends (which is quite a long list actually). But, we are aiming for da da da da da da………. 1st December as the opening day (fingers crossed).

The Silver Rings Course with Jessica Noonan will be the first course – on 12 December. Places are filling up fast (we only have 10 spaces), so if you are interested, please complete a booking form. Our other courses will run, but not until the new year. Keep an eye out for new dates on this site. We are also hoping to have a pop-in-and-see demonstration evening in December so you can meet an artist or two and see what is on offer. Again, details will appear on the site.

And, I’m currently advertising for staff. I am looking for coffee shop assistants to help in the shop. The duties will include making espresso based coffee drinks and other hot drinks, preparing food, serving customers and taking payment, waiting tables, cleaning and washing dishes as well as any other duties that may crop up. Previous catering experience is an advantage as well as knowledge of food safety and hygiene (though not essential as training will be given). Closing date for CVs and covering letters (addressed to the shop) is 29th October. Hours (we will be open Monday – Saturday) and wages negotiable (minimum wage will be met).

Karen