As featured in the local newspaper, our new Emporium style ‘pop up’ shop has just opened in Ilminster and we are one of five crafty designer-makers who’ve set it up.
We are offering something a bit different with a collective approach and an array of handmade art and craft items.
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It is hoped that this handcrafted collection will encourage the shoppers of South Somerset to visit and buy directly from us, the designer-makers, with custom orders and craft workshops also available.
Our shop is selling a variety of natural hand dyed wool, embroidery art, hand felted wearable art, jewellery, hand knitted garments from hand spun Yak and Alpaca wool, haberdashery and of course our high quality handmade sustainable wooden furniture, mirrors, picture frames.
By offering a different shopping experience, sharing the financial risk and dividing up time commitments, Alison Haggas, Caroline Cliffe, Joan Aslett, Nicola Kalocsai and ourselves are able to stand against the pressures currently felt by many independent retailers along our small town high streets.
It’s really important for the local economy that we buy from our smaller shops whenever we can, sadly many empty shop spaces can be seen throughout South Somerset and more than 2,870 shops have closed across the UK so far in 2019 (research by PwC and the Local Data Company)
The new shop ‘Art & Craft’ at 18 Silver Street is opening as an experimental ‘pop up’ until the end of December, gifting Ilminster 8 weeks of crafty pieces to buy for yourself or family & friends, this time frame may be extended if demand allows.
Sharing the running of ‘Art & Craft’ means that at least one of our creative group will be available each day to help you find that perfect handmade gift, advise on haberdashery or sign you up to a hands-on natural dye workshop.
Rachel Wood is running ‘Art & Craft on behalf of Marc Wood Joinery;
“ On our first Saturday of opening the reaction from visitors was really encouraging, we heard some great comments about nice it is to have something different and of course getting to actually meet the makers of our handcrafted items is a real bonus for our customers “
Shoppers can expect ever changing window displays and various workshops, plus local honey from Ilminster hives, supplied by Annie Kilty which is already a proven hit at the town square market on Thursdays.
* Art & Craft apologise for any inconvenience as only cash payments can be taken at present.
Art & Craft is at no. 18 Sliver Street, Ilminster TA19 0DN and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm until the end of December 2019 and longer if demand allows.
Email marcswood@hotmail.co.uk
