So, last week, having spent what I decided was an unreasonable amount of time cooped up indoors avoiding the snow, I decided to do something new. Crikey! So on Wednesday morning, I collected up the quilt I was working on and set off to a local town to do something I'd always meant to do but just never got round to. Do you know the feeling?
I was headed here, a crafty shop called Stag and Bow, which opened up a couple of years ago and I've previously dropped in for a natter now and then but never been to their open crafty morning on Wednesdays. Why not? I really do not know!
Well now I'm in the swing of things, so today I packed up my bag again, and my cake this time, and off I set.
Inside, the shop is lovely with a definite vintagey feel. There's a large table in the middle where crafty folks can sit and chat and well, craft, obviously.
A most inviting scene awaited, the tea warming in the pot with a hand knitted cosy atop, vintage china and cake and biscuits.
The surrounding walls are filled with lovely haberdashery and craft items and also, the work of talented local people which is for sale.
What a treat, to sit awhile with like minded folks, partake of a little Victoria Sponge, and chat and make all things crafty, whether your poison be knitting, beading, patchwork or quilting (and anything else besides). I've finished the quilt I was working on last week so I took my trusty hexys. The never ending project!
Once I'd eaten my cake (priorities and all that), I did manage quite a bit of sewing but I couldn't help looking at all the loveliness around me.
The owner, Pascale, is clearly a very capable crafty lady and the shop offers a whole array of workshops taught by various other talented individuals. As such, there is much on offer to buy here, from yarn to pom pom trim, fabric to bias binding, feathers to buttons. Bias binding was what I needed today and it was so nice to be able to buy it locally.
There's a shelf very high up which looks to be full of Liberty Tana lawn so I am saving that for a future visit.
I LOVE these old shop counters. Even more so when they are full of haberdashery, quite a bit of it vintage.
Around the shop, every available surface is attractively and thoughtfully decorated. Always something to inspire...
Beautifully made things...
Wednesdays shall never be the same again...
P.S. Charlie Boy was quite overwhelmed by all your lovely messages on his guest post, thank you so much. His furry head is really rather large now so fitting through the cat flap might pose a problem!
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What a wonderful and inspirational shop. I love those two words 'cakes and crafts' they seem to go so well together. Looking forward to catching up with you in Feb at the V&H.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
Lovely shop- how smashing to have it close AND have a crafting group there. so nice to get together with other people once in a while to work together. Cake is always good too! I have always yearned for one of those glass fronted counters.
ReplyDeleteThat all looks very inviting, lucky you. We have a ladys clothing shop that has been going for over 100 years, it has cabinets and counters the same as this shop, it's like a time warp You would love it.
ReplyDeleteThat all looks very inviting, lucky you. We have a ladys clothing shop that has been going for over 100 years, it has cabinets and counters the same as this shop, it's like a time warp You would love it.
ReplyDeleteHello, newbie here!
ReplyDeleteWhat a divine shop, it's very similar to one fairly close to me (Heaths Country Store) and although I have never joined in one of the classes I have purchased many a habers and a few dashery's!
It must have been a delight to sit in such an environment to eat and sew, jealous!
I envy your patience to do patchwork, I started one in hexys about 25 years ago, sadly it's still at the same stage. I come across it every now and then if I rummage in a certain tin, but there it shall stay. I actually thought I was doing it wrong because I found it so time consuming but since have learned otherwise.
Oh dear, rambling at you, sorry about that.
Your blog is so much fun, it really does make me smile, love it!
Beckah X
Ooo! my idea of heaven! I love those counters too - remember peeping into them as a child with fingers itching to get hold of the gorgeous haberdashery goodies inside ... still feel the same now.
ReplyDeleteSounds absolutely wonderful Hen!!! Such a sweet shoppe, and I love all the vintage goodies in it!! I would love to find a shoppe like that where I am. So fun! Hope you had a great time this morning and a lovely crafty day! xo Heather
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful and very inspiring store... I am delighted with your post and your cake! :))
ReplyDeleteWow Hen, what a fantastic morning! I'd be drooling all over the place they probably wouldn't let me in again! :) x
ReplyDeleteOhhhh my idea of heaven! If I could do anything I would have a coffee/cake shop where people could come and craft all day and I would sell crafts made by local people too....sigh...maybe if I win the lottery tonight! Nikki
ReplyDeleteHow fabulous! Looks like a wonderful way to pass the time :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely. One of the things I miss about the U.K. is the craft shop I used to go to every other Friday for a patchwork/craft session with 5 or 6 others. It's always inspiring and encouraging when you are with like-minded people and sometimes quite expensive as, when surrounded by all the wares, it is difficult not to come away with more than you went in with.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be able to go somewhere to do something like this. I'm also a tad jealous of all those lovely items in the shop! What a lovely way to spend a morning.
ReplyDeleteOh my...what a heavenly place to while away a couple of crafty hours! AND cake! It looks absolutely wonderful! :)
ReplyDeleteTania x
and now I'm jealous!
ReplyDeletexx
I lived in Dartmouth Road for a while - I even bought a piano from a shop on the corner, but don't remember this one! Wish there had been a greater interest in crafts then - I lived in London when all the needlework shops were closing down. :(
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful place!
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
Ooh! I'm jealous too. My dream has always been to have a shop with old books AND yarny, crafty things all combined with comfy chairs and tea. People could come and sit and have wonderful chats while we craft away.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
This looks a fantastic place! My fave coffee shop has started doing a craft gathering on a wednesday but unfortunately I work that day. however they invited me to an evening session tomorrow so I'm hoping I might get along to that.
ReplyDeleteEllie
x
Dear Hen.. oh how lucky of you to find a place for crafting and friendship! I'm excited as my blog friend Taci has a monthly knit and crochet group and has invited me and a few of our other local bloggers to attend the next one in her home!! I've been so envious of those of you who have "knit and natters". Thanks for sharing! Oh.. did you see my blog post on the Indian powwow I went to? It was fun.
ReplyDelete((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Oooh you lucky Spud - I don't think I'd be able to leave! You did very well actually getting some hexies done while you were there - I think I would be too busy gawping x
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence, I have just been to a meeting about a local craft cooperative thats going to be starting in my town, something I'm very excited about being a part of.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's going to be as lovely as yours, I'll let you know!
: ) x
p.s loving your pins b.t.w!
The photos show what an inviting and interesting place this shop is. O if I could only see it myself but it is a wee bit of a distance. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful shop! I wouldn't have been able to tear myself away. I could spend all day long in places like that. I'm so glad you found a nice place to go for nattering, crafting and, of course, cake!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful shop owner to have a place crafters can gather. I spied several items I would love to have too. Really love to have.
ReplyDeleteFrom your photos and descriptions, I can tell why you would have wanted to revisit this shop.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it grand to find a place with wonderful things for sale, but also having a friendly atmosphere. It would seem that this shop's owner must see it as a labor of love.
Best wishes. xo
I wish I had somewhere like that to go locally - looks like you had a fab time and your hexies are looking beautiful
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who has some of those haberdashery drawers built in to her studio... yes, I am exceedingly jealous of her!
What a lovely day you had!
ReplyDeletewow that shop looks fab!! What a nice way to spend the morning :) x
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful shop...I'd be in heaven. And it's always nice to talk to and get ideas from other crafty folk!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place. Perfectly peachy Wednesdays for you in future.
ReplyDeleteCarol xx
Hi there Crafty Hen, Please send the address, I would like to go live there!!!
ReplyDeleteLove
AMarie
There are some shops around me that host crafting gatherings, although I have never attended. I did used to gather with some friends about every other month to do the same thing but we would meet in each other's houses...always had food, and some show and tell, and lots of talk, and sometimes even some crafting would get done! LOL...
ReplyDeleteSounds perfect to me and the cake looks wonderful...
ReplyDeleteNo shops like this around me and your post made me dream!!!! It's seems to be such a lovely and warm place, I'd love to be there!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you very much Hen for sharing your find, I know the road, a friend used to live over one of the shops there years and years ago! so will look forward to having a look round next week.
ReplyDelete