The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

FORMER INSURANCE executive Maude Lockhart is happy to be able to devote her full energy towards something she truly loves, art and craft.

When she was a business executive, Ms Lockhart had to find spare time to create her custom-designed burlap handbags. Now, at the age of 60, she develops her craft on a daily basis.

Having retired from the insurance field in 2008, Ms Lockhart, who is also known as a singer and former fashion designer, created her very own fashion line, Lilmau.

“I started out using ordinary burlap, crocus sack, which was considered the poor man’s fabric, but nowadays it is much more refined and comes in a wide variety of colours that make amazing gift items. I also designed my own line of hand stamps so I have added a variety of household items to the line such as cushions, place-mats and curtains,” said Ms Lockhart.

“When I got into making stamps, I started out making them with mouse pads. I would draw the design, make a template and then it was so fascinating to me that I would just look for things to create. I thought about just making things like the dilly, soursop, sugar apple and stuff like that, and I began printing them on things. I have boxes of stamps that I do by hand. It is interesting because this is something that I see myself doing always because I enjoy it so much,” said Ms Lockhart.

While she has a lot of private clients, Ms Lockhart said it is difficult to put her work in stores because the production requirements are very labour intensive. From start to finish, she said everything is done by hand. From cutting out the fabric and stamping it, to putting it all together for an end result.

“It tends to be a bit pricey but I do good work and I am very careful with my work because people are going to look at it and say that it may be too costly, but then the quality speaks for itself,” said Ms Lockhart.

Ms Lockhart was the brainchild for the summer craft fair, “Inwhichin Tings Bahamian”, recently held at Doongalik Studios.

The event featured a wide rage of artisans selling their unique gift items, crafts, household items, jewellery and straw work.

Ms Lockhart said the fair was a long-time dream. She is excited to have brought the idea to life.

“At the fair I was presenting my work and we also did it as a part of the 40th anniversary of independence celebrations. I picked out everything that I was doing with my craft and presented it at the fair. I went into all aspects of the designs that I do,” said Ms Lockhart.

“I am now getting into hooking up with another entrepreneurs and we are going to do stuff on a quarterly basis, where we can have people come and see what is being done not only locally but internationally as well, to expose them to our work,” said Ms Lockhart.

For as long as she can, Ms Lockhart says she will always be dedicated to her craft. “It is almost to the point where I need a separate building to be in because I have stuff all over my house,” she said.

She said working for herself gives her an advantage because she can get up at any time she wants and she can work for as long as she wants. “I don’t have to answer to anyone and there are no restrictions because when you are doing what you love, it is not a job. It is something that you love to do and because you love to do it, you take more time with it and you don’t feel like it is work,” said Ms Lockhart.