By Scott Richards
Cindy Banks is a crafter. There is no other way to describe her. Once you meet the proprietor of Cindy’s Corner at 101 N. Main Street in Bowling Green, you come to understand her love for this bit of Americana.
A very creative person with a certain twinkle in her eye, Banks commented that she had always been a crafter, making a lot of kid stuff and doing her own interior decorating. When her children grew up, she realized she needed to do something that was craft-related, so Cindy’s Corner was born.
A New Englander by birth, Banks has been in the area much longer than some of the more established “come-latelys” to Caroline. Originally from Ashland, Mass., which is about 26 miles from Boston, she soon became disenchanted with the area when her quaint little hometown became a Boston suburb, so she came to Virginia to join family who had already made the pilgrimage to the land we call Caroline.
Banks stated she has grown up around retail and business, as her family has always owned a business of some sort, but the idea of actually starting a business herself was a bit of a challenge.
Banks stated she has relied on the smarts of the members of her family, in particularly her children, who have been more than helpful in getting things started.
Cindy’s Corner could be called a craft mall, with space rented to some who want it and a consignment arrangement to those who do not feel so entrepreneurial. There are some vendors in “The Corner” who do their crafts as a regular business and use this venue as an outlet.
Banks describes her vendors as “Upper End Crafters.” The idea of crafts here is somewhat of a stretch, as not only are crafts such as Kelly Clow’s jewelry making and Kathy Holihan’s dried floral arrangements shown, there is also art displayed, including what is found at the area used by Eileen Micer, where she displays her quilting.
Quilting—not just place mats or potholders, but the large quilting used as bed covers—is displayed in addition to her crocheting.
In one corner, Jackie Lagee, a stained glass artist, displays work completed and in process. In another area, there is leatherwork by Robin McCarter, which includes a display of leather faces—a display that must be seen. Michael Maiatico works in wood and shows a number of different items in this medium.
A lot of imagination and hands-on talent is displayed at Cindy’s Corner, too numerous to mention here. When visiting, be sure to look at the Victorian crafts done by Natalie Lunsford. The list goes on and on. Local talent one has to see to believe. As with Cindy Banks, they are crafters.
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