Marblo Meinir – From raising spirits to raising money

Although the periods of lockdown and self-isolation created a myriad of problems for many, their effects were not entirely negative for everyone. Many people discovered talents and possibilities they had never previously imagined, by singing, entertaining and creating things to fill those blank and boring days and to raise the spirits of loved ones during what were unprecedented times. This is one such story. It is the story of Meinir, a girl from Llŷn, and her wonderful idea of creating her own earrings which led her to launch her own business to raise funds for the National Eisteddfod in Llŷn and Eifionydd in 2023.

Meinir had received a kit to create earrings from polymer clay from her aunt. The kit had sat on a shelf for some months until Meinir decided to start creating the earrings in order to pass the time when self-isolating. Her initial idea was to share the earrings she produced as gifts for family members. But, with the time passing and with Meinir gaining enjoyment from her work, more clay of different colours needed to be added to those from the original kit, in order to create more variety.

Things progressed further when Meinir attended a fundraising meeting for the Llŷn ac Eifionydd Eisteddfod 2023 (Apêl Llannor a Pentreuchaf). Meinir had the idea that, following the success of her earrings with members of her family, she might she might be able to produce more earrings and sell them in order to raise funds for the Eisteddfod.

Meinir proceeded to produce more earrings, but she would need a name for her business if she was to go on and sell properly, so she decided on the name ‘Marblo Meinir’ (‘Meinir’s Marbling’) for her new venture. Meinir says that she received a great deal of assistance and support when taking those first steps to starting her own business, with her family and the staff at Ysgol Pentreuchaf school being a great help to her.

Since Meinir started her venture the business has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the support she has received. And remember, if you’re wandering around the maes (the eisteddfod field) at next year’s Llŷn ac Eifionydd National Eisteddfod, that some of the money responsible for funding that Eisteddfod was raised as a result of Meinir’s hard work and skills and her wonderful idea during the lockdown period.

Meinir was here on Sunday August 7th and raised £117 for the Eisteddfod – brilliant work Meinir, and very best wishes with the business!