Long Islanders find inventive ways to create straw souvenirs
The Freeport News, Bahamas
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER
Freeport News Reporter
As Grand Bahamians continue to rediscover the great interest that still exists in the nation’s straw craft industry, handicraft professionals on Long Island never forgot and have honed their craft, finding inventive ways to display their talents.
Through the overwhelming demand from local straw manufacturers to ensure that an adequate supply of plaits are available the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) decided to assist by hosting a Straw Handicraft Training Progra-mme.
The programme was designed to train interested persons in the production of Bahamian-made products, utilizing natural resources, namely straw.
Native Long Islander Cheryl Adderley, whose beautiful straw craft work won her the professional credit of being a 2008 Cacique Award Finalist, said that though she does not supply to straw vendors she knows for a fact that Long Island is among the leading suppliers of plaited straw to Grand Bahama and New Providence.
Adderley said that she learned to plait at the tender age of 12 under the tutelage of her mother who is also in the straw business.
After an on again-off-again craft career she decided to open her own business, Cheryl’s Creations, where she designs and creates straw baskets, portfolios, place mats, briefcases, evening bags, passport and book folders among other items.
Adderley said she finds great pleasure in her work making it very easy for her to complete projects.
Her methods include dying the straw to create different colours and patterns.
“Sometimes I plait with straw I dyed. I change it up with the clothes dye where you put it in hot, boiling water with salt and let it soak for about a couple of days and take it out to dry then you would leave it,” she explained.
Noting that she has received rave reviews from customers, Adderley said her work is sold not just in Long Island, but all over the Bahamas and even the world.
“Some would go to the United States and as far down as the Philippines. They would order like four or five. But I have clients in Nassau who would sometime order like seven or eight or I’ll send two big bins could be about 15 to 20 bags sometime,” she said.
Always seeking ways to expand her clientele, Adderley said her work is now available on the Internet and orders can also be placed by phone.
“My work doesn’t go to the straw market at all,” she said.
“I would like to go just a little bit bigger. Normally it’s about everyday work here for me. So it’s a business that I see is growing faster and faster every day.”
She also receives inquiries and sales from many locals, she added proudly.
When asked, Adderley said that the difference between what she does and what other straw artists in other islands do is the time and effort she puts into her work.
“Plus, when I sell you something I know its guaranteed to last forever or a long time.”
Adamant that Long Island has the best straw artists in the country, Adderley said the reputation of the island is well-known.
“With us over here, we have the best plait because everybody who goes to Nassau people ask them where they get their plaits from. Long Island people do good plaiting and with that, it carries our work a long way,” she said.
Adderley said she intends to carry on the tradition and hopes that the indigenous craft is always maintained and treasured by Bahamians. “It was handed down from my mother. She did it all her life and she is still doing it at this time so its something I would say migrated from her. So it’s something I love to do and will continue doing.”
INDIGENOUS CRAFT – Straw craft artist Cheryl Adderley said she enjoys maintaining the native artform of plaiting straw and creating original pieces with it.
E-mail this story to a friend | Printer-friendly version