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As we’re getting used to the message of shopping small, shopping local, and supporting designer makers, we’re getting pickier in our handmade market habits. And it’s detrimental.
When you tootle off to your choice of handmade event, you’re usually (quite rightly) expecting a range of well branded and presented stalls, chic bunting and a (delightfully hipsterish) eating area. This is where you find quirky screen-printed housewares, artisan breads, contemporary ceramics and silver smiths. It’s the Instagram worthy highlight of your weekend.
Consider then the often overlooked small craft events. Near you is a scout hut, community hall or church hall that probably holds a seasonal or monthly event of local crafters. You may think that it’s got too few stalls to be worth your time, some of them are selling ‘tat’, some of them are frilly things your nan would embarrass you with as a gift. But you’re missing a trick…
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 Image: Rachel Saunders photography Look up, and you'll find a different city. Whatever inner city you inhabit or visit, take some time to look up, and odds are you'll find spires, towers, tiles, facades, clocks, statuary and more, which breath above the plastic shop fronts. Look behind, and you'll find a different city. Alleyways and gardens, unexpected havens, graveyards and green spaces, statues and squares. Nottingham isn't a big city but is has a more than its fair share of surprises and survivors, and they can be easy to overlook, or become over familiar with and miss their real significance historically or architecturally. An old city which strained at it's boundaries before given leave to expand, cruelly treated by developers over many ages, the historic parts of Nottingham are all the more delightful for still standing where others have fallen.
The lesser known of Nottingham, or a different perspective on them, formed the basis for some of my artwork. I went a step further though, using Nottingham lace to pattern the silhouettes, brass rubbings from Nottingham Castle Museum to create backgrounds, material printed with Nottingham lace to paint as cloudy skies. The history of Nottingham's lace trade is wound through the art, just as it helped to fund and build the civic pride and architecture of the city itself.
Buying from small businesses is a big idea right now, and rightly so, as people want to repay hard work and great ideas. So it's great to find an enclave of independent shops in a major shopping centre! Lots of folks will tell you that the Broadmarsh in Nottingham is dead, not worth going near. It doesn't have the high street powers of the Vic centre, but if you tread towards the escalators and lift, upstairs is a small business designer maker haven. As well as the Dukki shop and free trade shop, there's Made in Nottingham, and its fashion partner, Threads.
Made in Nottingham is full of carefully selected local designers, chosen and displayed to create a very high end feeling shop. This isn't the tatty, looks a bit like a jumble sale, end of of the handmade market, this is lifestyle inspiring and evokes crisp and clean department stores. From award winning limited edition shirts through to Eco friendly bags, there's a huge range of goods and concepts to browse. Some of what caught my eye is below, just click to see more from those designers on their own websites! I was pretty flattered when asked if I was interested in stocking my jewellery at Made in Nottingham, and very impressed at their approach to small businesses. It's not just about getting items on shelves for them, the team behind Made in Nottingham have know how in presentation, pricing and a raft of details many makers can overlook, so they are happy to take the time and chat about development. With a constant flow of customers whenever I've been in there, Made in Nottingham is a gem many people are getting smart about, and the surrounding shops of similar ilk make this a destination worth a detour for. So take this rare chance, and head into a large corporate shopping centre to buy something made locally.
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Welcome to Lisa's Perfidious Jewellery adventures. Unusual yet wearable accessories to help you share your personality with the world, plus cats, tea, and craft ideas! Categories
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January 2025
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