Advent Day 24 – Vicky Gawith

One sleep until the big day also means the last day of our MerseyMade advent! We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know the MerseyMade family a little more over the past 24 days.

To mark the last day, we spoke to the MerseyMade founder, Vicky Gawith about family traditions, baking mince pies and enjoying the festive season.

What’s your favourite thing about the festive season?

Catching up with friends and family whilst having a mulled wine and homemade mince pie.

On Christmas eve we always make time as a family to make fresh mince pies for Father Christmas and penguins or snowmen to go on our Christmas Cake, whilst listening to some Frank and Bing, and Christmas carols.

Throughout the generations it has always been such a special time, leaving me with a feeling of togetherness and warmth.

Name one thing you’d encourage others to do over the festive season.

Perhaps to ask people to just stop and reflect for a moment.

It has been such a tough couple of years for many, and sometimes it is important to take that moment out and remember all the little things we have to be grateful for.

What’s the best present you’ve ever given and why?

I find this really hard to answer, as I will always try and give a gift with thought and meaning.

But if I have to narrow it down to one, I think I would say our table tennis table, that Father Christmas delivered to us all one year.

I have a large family, and with active children, it has been such a source of fun for us all playing with each other or friends, either as a round-robin or full-on tournament.

Fortunately, none of us takes it too seriously, and it’s just been a great way to connect and have a ‘giggle’ for us all!

How do you express your creative side?

I really love cooking when I have the time to do it, along with sewing and embroidery.

I love nothing more than a Sunday afternoon watching an old Doris Day film and making something for my family.

But I have to admit in the last few years, my creative side has really been all consumed with MerseyMade and bringing it to where it is today.

There have been many late nights and early mornings along the way, but having this space a reality and making a difference to many, is heart-warming for me, and make it all feel worthwhile.

What does MerseyMade mean to you?

It is my dream brought to life!

There have been many steps taken along the journey to bring it to where it is today.

I will always be so grateful to so many of the amazing makers from this region who have come on board with the vision, for our staff who work tirelessly to bring it to life, to the people of Liverpool and beyond who have been in and supported MM, and kept us on ‘the hight street,’ in these strange times and my friends and family who have both been a listening ear and amazing support every step of the way.

It is so lovely to see that people have embraced MerseyMade’s vision to be ‘an oasis of creativity in the heart of our community.’

As we move forward into the new year, we want to continue to champion the wonderful creatives in our region, be a safe inclusive space where people can come and have fun, relax, find inspiration and guidance to become creative themselves, and so importantly be a space to help others fulfil their dreams!