All the makers in The Made In Stroud Shop live and work within the Stroud district. For a small town we have an amazing richness of artists and makers. The shop doesn't currently offer online sales but take a look at the variety of goodies and maybe you'll be tempted to visit the shop in person. My silk-painted cards, wallhanging cards and the oatmeal star, blue lustre, cream lustre and brown lustre pottery designs are always available in the shop.
Like the Made In Stroud Shop, Made In Gloucestershire stocks work
by local artists and makers only, this time those living and working in the whole of Gloucestershire. I have silk-painted cards, wallhanging cards,
blue slip, blue lustre, cream lustre and brown lustre pottery designs permanently in stock here.
White Doll Arts in Fowey is a small shop with big ideas. They specialise in pottery but stock an amazing variety of crafts there. My blue spotty, chickens, green spotty and fish pottery designs are there.
Online sales will soon be available so even if you aren't going to be in the area, it's worth looking at what's available as you will be able to buy
from the comfort of your armchair in future.
Nature In Art is a museum and art gallery dedicated to, well, nature in art! It is a lovely place for a day out with ever-changing exhibitions,
permanent displays, shop, childrens activities inside and out, workshops and a programme of artists in residence throughout the year. There is also a cafe with the best
baguettes and coffee I've tasted for a long time.
The Lion Gallery is a lovely little gallery in Leominster which specialises in contemporary craft work and fine art. From time to time
my textiles work is shown there.
POTTERY
Just a select few of my favourites.
Ridge Pottery in Somerset is run by Douglas and Jennie Phillips. There are many craft summer schools available but I can
thoroughly recommend this one. I spent many very happy weeks over many summers at Ridge Pottery, learning my craft. Having started out
as a novice and worked my way up, I can recommend a course at Ridge Pottery
as suitable for complete beginners, those with some skill and professionals needing expertise in a specific area. There is a wonderfully
restful but productive atmosphere on the courses and the lunches are delicious!
If you are within reasonable distance of Radstock in Somerset, Bath Potters Supplies is a really good place to collect things
in person. They do also deliver.
SHOPPING
This is a great book site specialising in scarce and collectible books and in particular twentieth-century first editions. If you don't find anything to tempt you there you can
take advantage of Kim's book-finding service.
Quiltaway is a site where I love to browse. It's packed full of wonderful designs on mainly 100% cotton fabric. You can order whatever quantity you want,
so it doesn't have to be for quilting. Whatever can be got into a large packet (I find usually fabric for two garments will fit
into one packet) ships to the UK for a very reasonable price. Just make sure to say when ordering that you only want the amount you've
asked for as they will send less if the stocks are low because the store is designed for quilters.
Not strictly shopping, but Freecycle is an excellent scheme. The link takes you to the main page, from where you can link to your local Freecycle site. The idea is
to keep things out of landfill, so people who have stuff to get rid of post an offer and people who want things get to collect them. No money exchanged. We've had
some excellent things through Freecycle and sent quite a bit to new homes.