LEOME Willis isn’t just a gifted craftmaker but loves what she does for a living, and makes all her products by hand, a tedious process, but she does it anyway.

Willis is the owner of the only craft shop in her village, and in her employ are two migrants who have exceptional craft skills.

She is from the Arawak/Warrau tribes and a native of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and for the past four years, she has been participating in the Arts and Craft Exhibition at Sophia Exhibition Site in the city during Amerindian Heritage Month.

Willis resides at the Mabaruma Compound, the township’s central point, and employs the two female Venezuelans whom she also accommodates, and she would ensure they have meals, and they do get a salary for their work as well.

Willis explained that the women are very skilled, and their method of craft is unique. “They brought fresh ideas and talent, and I had no problem taking them in to work, and they provide excellent customer service as well as craft,” she said.

Willis reported that she would sell the craft made by all the local people in the community at her Craft Shop.

She is seeking to expand to a city location for her own small business and is exploring the options of a grant/loan for that purpose.

Even though the craft is all hand-made, it takes a long time to produce the final product, but it is all in the day’s work for Willis and her team of two because they love what they do, so it is certainly not a burden.

Willis has in stock hand-woven baskets in all sizes, colours and shapes, hammocks, hand-held fans, colourful earrings made of beds, feathers and bamboo, hanging baskets, purses, backpacks, bracelets, headpieces, jewel boxes, rocking chairs and so much more.

These products are made from muckru, tibisiri, nibbi and mosurie rope, all of which she would have to buy locally from people in the village and farther afield.

Willis told the Pepperpot Magazine that craft is part of her family and it is their heritage, her grandparents were gifted, and so was her mother, whom she learned from.

She has been practicing for all long as she can remember, and she grew up watching her family hand down the tradition through generations and she is hopeful she can do the same in her family.

Willis revealed that her mother is 92 years old and lives with her and she would constantly lean on her for support morally because she is a wealth of knowledge and is very versed in arts and craft.

“The young people are not willing to take up the tradition of craft-making and they seem to be moving away from their culture, but she believes in time, some will step up to remain grounded in their heritage,” she said.

Willis believes that craft-making is set deep within her roots and it is her daily vision she creates fresh, new pieces and with her quick eyes and willingness to learn, she has what it takes to stay in the business.

She is also the caregiver of her elderly husband, who is 72 years old and visually impaired, and her aged mother.

Willis is the mother of five and her youngest child is 19 years old while her eldest is 34 years old and she is of the view that she will only participate in the arts and craft exhibitions for three more years.

She explained that the commute from Region One to the city is quite fatiguing and very costly by air, and she would have to pay by pound for her products.

“I love to see my vision manifest into arts and crafts products. I am still in this business because of the love for it, it has nothing to do with money. I truly promote my culture and it feels good inside of what I do and the fact is people can take a piece of my product with them,” she said.