When the Bermuda Craft Market first opened its doors eight years ago this month, in the old Cooperage building, Dockyard was still "a wasteland''. At that time, the only other attractions were the Maritime Museum and the Arts Centre which had just opened.

Now, the Market's display of exclusively Bermudian fare is one of the biggest attractions in a complex that has become one of the Island's most popular tourist attractions.

A total of about 56 craftsmen, as well as many local products (such as Bermuda-made sherry peppers, jams, cakes etc.) are showcased on a daily basis in the market.

Directors of the Craft Market says they would like even more people involved and would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining the team.

Mrs. Judith Faram, one of the founding members of the Market, who serves of the committee of management, says: "There had been no landscaping done when we arrived here and those early days were quite difficult, trying to persuade people to come all the way to Somerset, to a place that wasn't very attractive at the time! We had to operate on a shoe-string, and everyone had different ideas as to what would `work', so there's been a lot of compromise. But we've persevered and now, for a country this size, we have a huge variety of local craft and products all under one roof for visitors to browse through and buy.

I think we've proved that Bermuda definitely needs an outlet of this kind.'' Managing director Mrs. Audrey Brackstone believes that the Craft Market is one of Bermuda's big success stories. She warns, however, that although they are now well established, "challenging'' years lie ahead.

"We received subsidies from the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce in the beginning, but we decided in 1991 that we could stand on our own feet.

Consequently, we incorporated as a non-profit company, which allowed us to use any surplus funds to upgrade the physical plant. We have managed to increase our revenue by 20 percent. The problem,'' she adds, "is that, in the past, the West End Development Company (WEDCO) supported the arts, but are now trying to place us on the same footing as all the other tenants. This means that we have to try and maintain at least a five percent growth in each of the next five years in order to survive.'' The concept of the Craft Market goes back to the winter of 1974, when a group of small manufacturers and artisans were featured in an exhibition sponsored by the Department of Tourism and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce as part of their promotion of the Island's winter `Rendezvous Season'.

"We certainly allowed people to sell their products; however, it was the demonstration of the art and skills of the craftsmen that interested and entertained our visitors,'' explains Mrs. Brackstone. It was for that reason, she says, that Tourism agreed to help the Chamber in providing this attraction on a year-round basis, moving the booths from Hamilton to a permanent home at Dockyard. To cover rent, the Craft Market pays a percentage of all sales proceeds to WEDCO. This percentage system, says Mrs. Faram, "helps us through the lean months when there are not too many visitors.'' She explains that work or products have to be submitted to a committee which judges quality and saleability.

"We try not to duplicate items to ensure that there is plenty of variety.

There is nothing in this market that doesn't sell. I think another reason for our success is that we have items at all prices, from one or two dollars, up to $100 or more. Tourists do like to take souvenirs home that are genuinely Bermudian, made by people who really love their craft, instead of that label `Made in Taiwan'. That's probably one of the reasons why we also get very loyal support from locals as well.'' Looking back over the past eight years, she reflects: "We've had some worrying moments, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I have lived in many different countries and I do know, from experience, that all tourists love this sort of thing. I think it helps Bermuda enormously, and helps our visitors see how we really live, how we spend our time, and to see what we create and produce.'' She is proud of the fact that the Craft Market was the pioneer retailer at Dockyard. "Now, everyone else is pouring in. This is obviously good in one sense, but I think it has rather destroyed what I understood to be the original concept of Dockyard -- that it would be a place to buy things that you couldn't find in the rest of Bermuda.'' There is certainly a wide variety of items on show, ranging from jewellery to gourmet foods; perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this local enterprise is the increasingly high quality of the products.

Cedar carving and sculpture is represented, for instance, by the well-known artist, Chesley Trott. There are stained glass mirrors, wall panels and ornaments by Christa Leduc and Charles Nicotra and hand-thrown pottery by Jonathan Northcott. Jewellery creations by Don and Francis Mason, fashioned in gold and silver wire and semi-precious stones have just won them a special commendation in the 1995 Australian Gem Competition.

There are exquisite quilts and pillowcases designed especially for children by Ann McAvay, and some striking decoupage pictures from Shirley Tuzo. Colourful candles with a Bermudian theme are made by Jane Downing who uses moulds made from real shells and corals, while Joan Hebberd makes a speciality of pressed local flowers framed as pictures for her `Bermuda Florart'.

Maria Smith displays sand dollars and sand Christmas tree balls, with her daughter, Heidi, getting in the act with hand-made jewellery, while Jack and Celia Arnell have a unique collection of cedar miniature furniture on sale.

From the beginning, the Bermuda Society for the Blind and `The Crafty Bunch' from St. Brendan's, have been encouraged to sell their work there.

Hugely popular are Ms. Kitten Ellison's distinctive range of hand-painted clothing, designed for children from six months to adults.

"None of my things have `Bermuda' written on them -- the flowers that I paint say `Bermuda'!'' insists Ms Ellison. She says she has been especially pleased by the amount of repeat business from tourists and locals who return regularly.