Jo Chipchase
A single mother of two young boys with a slightly quirky view of life. Your author’s interests range from dyeing clothes on the terrace (a relatively harmless pursuit) to digesting the latest gossip, dining on whatever is on offer, imbibing the odd vino blanco, frequenting car boot sales, partying when child minding is available and having the occasional 'man hating rant' (I love 'em really... ahem!). Oh, yes, and I enjoy a good book and a night spent watching 'Shameless' or ‘Skins’ on the sofa when there's nothing better to do ...
Jo Chipchase Articles
Playing Away
Jo Chipchase catches up with Juliet Page, children’s arts and crafts party organiser
Juliet Page, a resident of Torre del Mar, runs themed children’s parties in Benamargosa, a short drive north of Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga. Ideal for folks who occasionally like to escape La Alpujarra and take younger family members for a day they won’t forget, the parties feature props that would not look out of place in a respectable theatre.
Juliet has a long history in organising children’s arts and crafts events. She moved
to Spain from Northamptonshire in 2002 with her two children, Jack and Vita, aged
11 and six at the time. Before the move, Juliet was employed as a play scheme and
after school club manager at her children’s school. However, when Jack was due to
switch to secondary school, she felt that the time was right for a lifestyle change.
Juliet was offered a job at Sunland International School at Pizarr, inland Malaga Province, where she taught English and ran the arts and crafts club. She left after six months as she believed her children would be better schooled within the Spanish system if they were to become “cultured Spanish citizens”. Juliet and her children moved to Cadiar in La Alpujarra, where she bought a property to renovate. When that project was finished, she moved to Torre del Mar in 2003.
Juliet subsequently opened up a ceramic café that offered children’s art clubs and activity days as a sideline.
Says Juliet: “Although I was trained to work in the classroom, I soon discovered
that I was much more suited to the world of play, in particular the messy type. I
also took immense pleasure in creating themed birthday parties for my children. Now
that they’ve grown too old to appreciate these events fully, I do them for other
people’s children. The themes we all know are particularly popular with kids but
new ones always give me a welcome challenge.”
She adds: “It’s great when you have a regular crew of children attending events,
so you can listen to what they want and recognise what they enjoy doing most. Giving
the little people a ´voice´ is important. You make the day theirs and keep them busy
by offering a range of suitable activities -
Juliet no longer operates from a ceramic cafe, which came with “extreme overheads”. She currently runs kids’ events in La Vaqueria, an art cafe in Benamagosa owned by English expat, Su Derrick. Juliet has also staged play days on the beach, in her flat and in school premises but La Vaqueria, with its creative vibe, is ideal for inquisitive small hands and minds.
Juliet comments: “Su runs art classes for adults and I wondered if we could hold
a successful event for kids in the same space. We tested the water successfully with
a ‘Pirate Day’ in June, and we aim to offer a monthly activity day from September
2010, as well as providing themed party packages.”
Every summer, Juliet heads back to the UK to work within community arts, setting up art tents at festivals and organising activities for children. She also takes part in carnivals, helping school and community groups to make costumes and props. When in Spain, Juliet still teaches English to Spanish children at a local Spanish school.
She says: “Although I find working within arts and crafts the most rewarding, I wouldn’t describe myself as an artist. Coming from a family of talented painters and drawers, as a child I often thought I was no good at art. I later learned that we all possess a little creativity and can have fun learning and trying new mediums. The end product isn’t the most important thing: it’s the fun we have doing it!”
Juliet’s next themed children’s event is a ‘Mexican Day’ at La Vaquira, Calle Arroyo Limon, Benamargosa, Malaga Province, on Saturday 25 September, 2010, from 2pm to 6pm. The young guests will make volcanoes and clay Mexican houses with smoking chimneys, as well as enjoying a Mexican high tea and playing themed games. The events usually cater for children aged four to 12, although activities can be adapted for younger and older children.
For more information, email jupage@hotmail.com