Boutique and Unique - Hambledon Gallery, Blandford Forum, Dorset

Another great reason to live in Blandford - Hambledon Gallery on Salisbury St.
Slightly off the beaten track this shop is a hidden nugget of retail treasures.  

They have two floors full of beautiful things: women's and children's clothes, toys, glass, china, toiletries, table linen and quilts.  And if you really insist I suppose any of their products would make perfect gifts too!

The upper level is devoted to beautiful designer women's clothing.  Labels include Great Plains, John Smedley, Masai Ali Capellino and Johnstons Cashmere.

Downstairs in the toy shop, we love their traditional and wooden toys.  It is a veritable treasure trove for little people.  Labels include Charlie & Lola, Olive & Moss, Trunki suitcases and the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

There is something to cater for home makers too.  Vintage inspired baking utensils, paper party pieces, glassware, picnic essentials and gardening implements too.

    

And their stylish window displays are sure to tempt you in - at any time of year.

All images (c) the Hambledon Gallery

     

Boutique and Unique - the Vintage Bazaar, Hartley Wintney

A date for your diaries.  Next Saturday, the 27th April at The Victoria Halls in Hartley Wintney, the Vintage Bazaar will be holding another of their amazing fairs with over 30 traders selling vintage clothing, textiles, collectables and homewares.

The Vintage Bazaar was set up three years ago by Lizzie and Clare who came up with the idea.  They felt that Frome was a perfect venue to sell all things vintage as well as Clare's fabulous cloche hats. The Bazaar has now spread to other towns. 

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Exhibitors include Rebecca's Aix  and Les Jolies Choses 

as well as Angela's Vintage with their lovely display of nostalgic items from the 1930's and  1940's which includes English Embroidery, Linens and Haberdashery.

     

Refreshments are available in vintage style thanks to Lavinia's Tea Party 

The Victoria Halls are in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. and doors open at 9.30, finishing at 3 pm.

Surf's Up - Lavender House Vintage

Just had to share this website when I stumbled across it.

    

Lavender House Vintage have a passion for all things antique and vintage, and stock an ever changing range of authentically chic and shabby pieces for you and your home. And although they are based in the historic city of Lancaster in the North West of England, they deliver nationwide.

    

As a little girl, Emma helped her mother on her Portobello Road antiques stall and developed a passion for all things vintage.  

    

From this passion a business has flourished and if you fancy a bit of browsing, there is a wealth of treasure on offer: worn painted French and English furniture, clothes and jewellery, faded textiles and well travelled period luggage.

   

We defy you not to find something you'll covet and probably end up buying.

    

Trivial Pursuits - Building Blocks, Cornwall

If only every town had a place like this. If you fancy trying out a new craft, then surely this is the place for you.

Based in St Austell, Building Blocks caters for all ages and tastes. With such a diverse variety of workshops on offer there's bound to be something to suit everyone.

Applique, basic cross-stitch, T-shirt printing, felting, button bouquets, Waldorf story dolls and 'Getting to know your sewing machine' have all been on offer.

The venue is the brainchild of Jeni Carson and Gill Birchall whose aim is to bring beautiful handcrafted Work at Home products to the high street and provide somewhere for mums to share and build their creative skills.

The Kids' and Afternoon Craft Clubs are proving popular and it's easy to see why.  I hope the idea spreads throughout Britain.

Do you have somewhere like this near you? Let us know about it.

Boutique and Unique - shops and the arts - Quay Arts, Isle of Wight

We've been lucky enough to supply the Quay Arts Craft Shop with some of our hats and having just sent off another order, I thought I'd check out the centre as it is so much more than just the shop.

This converted 19th-century brewery warehouse complex overlooks the river Medina.  A light, generous space with three galleries, theatre, shop and cafe/bar, as well as artists' workshops and studios, it's a great place to get the measure of the island's and other regional craft makers, whose work is available to buy in the shop.  Items include ceramics, glass, textiles, metalwork, wood, jewellery and of course knitted hats!

Their theatre is named after Anthony Minghella, the Island-born Oscar-winning director and offers theatre, comedy, music, dance, kids and literature with a cinema that shows the best in world and classic film.

I must book a weekend away and pop over to check it out for myself.

Boutique and Unique - the Linden Tree, Huntly, Scotland

It's so exciting to see a new shop brightening up the High Street.  The Linden Tree on the Square in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, must surely be worth a visit.

It opened its doors last Saturday and we wish owners Ingrid and Neil Binning every success.

Many of the crafters and artists have day jobs and spend their evenings producing much of the shop's stock which includes woodwork, cards, jewellery, toys, textiles and ceramics, including these lovely buttons.

And their first featured Artist of the Month is Anne Fenton.

Boutique and Unique - Hawthorn contemporary craft gallery, Blandford

Hawthorn contemporary craft gallery is yet another shop helping to make market town high streets a destination for shopping.  This fantastic shop is perfect for those looking for something quirky for their own home or in search of a truly original gift.

Everything is hand crafted  by design-makers and artists and over 70% of their stock is sourced within a fifty mile radius.  There are ceramics, jewellery, glass, wood, textiles, cards and prints.

An you will completely rethink about the art of felting when you see owner Stephanie Carswell's work.

At the back of the shop there is an Aladdin's cave of buttons, ribbons, vintage haberdashery and felt making kits for those who want to try a hand at their own creations.