This is a great find I had found this shop on google maps before visited Stratford Upon Avon. This…read moreshop is not on a main street so I could of walked past it had i not had a map. A really good range of products for the beginners crafter as well as the more experienced crafter too. Everything you could ever stamps, papers, peel off's, trimmings, brads, punches and eyelets. Many many more item and helpful staff so if your a little lost just ask the staff are ubber friendly.

Earlswood is packed full of little independent businesses, all set out in an old fashioned farm…read morevillage. Earlswood Interiors & Crafts in particular is one of the shops in this collection that truly maintains a unique feel, taking customers back to a bygone era surrounded with a love for handcrafted items. The shop aesthetics are all about the amazing, long-forgotten tradition of wood carving furniture. And for me, this artistic skill beats any cheaply mass-produced house items every time. It's so lovely to find out that places like this still exist, and more so, places that encourage customers themselves to have a go at making their own furniture/ornaments. That's right, the company aren't just selling their products, they're also a little workshop for budding creative people. When entering the small, cosy little shop, the smell of fresh wood immediately hit me. It's one of my favourite smells, and really captures my imagination. Exploring the shelves, I uncovered little wooden mice, mushrooms and owls, which all had unique features urging me to purchase them. If I had enough room at home, the carvings would all be sitting on the table next to me now as I write this review. But unfortunately, I had to leave them back at the shop until I make some space through my own clutter. The shop also sells bigger items, from walking sticks to tables and chairs, which have all been unusually and affectionally created. This little place deserves all the support it can get. Why not transmit the handcrafted passion and bring some character to your own home. I'm certain you won't regret it.

Birmingham lacks many high quality art & craft supplies shops. That's where Birmingham Bead Shop…read morefits in. Small but perfectly formed haven full of shiny things and pretty things and crafty things for you to buy to make yourself prettier, or to make something pretty for someone you know. I've been spoiled by a recent trip to NYC where I visited the Brooklyn Charm Shop and spent a long time ogling shiny expensive and inexpensive charms and other jewellery making supplies. I was grizzling away about how there's nothing that even compares anywhere near me - so it was an AWESOME surprise to pop into the Birmingham Bead Shop only to be blown away by the range they manage to cram into such a small space, as well as the helpfulness of staff who can show you how to properly open and close a jump ring, or what a crimp bead is for. They've even run classes in the past in jewellery making, though they have none advertised at the moment. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled though!

Just one store that shows there's life yet in Birmingham's independent retail scene, the Birmingham…read moreBead Shop is a haven for craftsy types who like to create pretty things for their own amusement, to give as gifts or sell online. Back in 2010 after consuming too much cider at the sunniest Glastonbury in recent history, myself and my equally sun/cider-addled friend decided we were gonna give up this capitalist lark and make felt owls with button eyes and sell them at festivals. This never happened, of course, but having my eyes opened to her skill with a sewing needle and bits of material I couldn't make heads or tails out of, I was on the search for a shop like this for a while until discovering it just before Christmas. Now, our annual DIY Christmas gift pact (make each other garish jumpers, stockings, etc. - this year, a onesy has been proposed, eek!) means I always make a trip here to stock up on supplies. Whatever I don't use in my fumbling attempts to create something cool, I simply give to her as part of the gift seeing as she's into her jewellery making and whatnot. As well as lots of cool stuff to aid in 'Blue Peter'-style craftsmanship, fashion fans who like to pair things together to make something exponentially cooler can find all kinds of cool charms and sparkly bits and bobs to add to charm bracelets, necklaces, pin to their clothes, etc. As someone who works for a high street jewellers that sells massively popular Pandora and the like, I have to say this little shop of treasures offers something a bit different for those who like to get creative with their accessories.

Great shop for all things crafty. Its not very often that I go in here and cant find what I want…read more There is a great range of papers, pens, beads and stickers. It caters for stationary, jewellery making, card making needs

With stock ranging from paintbrushes and model kits to photographic canvas prints and fine art,…read morethis New Oscott-based Arts and Crafts centre houses everything you'll ever need for a bit of hands-on creative fun. As a quaint, converted house, the store has its own small, off-road car park and houses an extensive selection of art equipment. Staff are welcoming, polite and always willing to help and as part craft centre and part print shop, the business also offers a broad range of printing services for business customers, specialising in leaflets, business cards and flyers.

I've never studied art and I didn't really know what my options were. A friend of mine recommended…read morethat I try my hand at painting. At first I had visions of drawing scenery which I didn't really fancy. But afterwards, I thought perhaps I could use a variety of colours and make something abstract! So I went along to Vesey Arts and crafts and I I ended up purchasing a large blank canvas and a number of brightly coloured paints along with a paint brush. As well as helping me buy the equipment, the assistant recommended some techniques and an inspirational web site to check out some similar work.

Great little art and craft supplies shop, stocks most types of art supplies, good range paint paper…read morepencil etc. Alo some craft supplies but quite limited. quite expensive on price, but paying for the conveinece of availability in a very small town. staff very helpful but can be very busy on a saturday

The Jinney Ring opened in 1980 and was the brainchild of Richard and Jenny Greatwood, former…read moreHerefordshire farmers. It is situated in a tiny village called Hanbury, in Bromsgrove, 18 miles from Birmingham city centre, and 5 miles from Redditch. It was very easy to find, as it is not far off the A38 and is sign-posted most of the way. The car park at first glance looks very small, but once you get in the courtyard, the track leads round to the left to reveal a big car park. Whether it would be big enough on a weekend, I'm not entirely convinced; we went on a Friday, and the actual centre seemed to be fairly busy, and there was plenty of parking left, so perhaps it would suffice. There are some disabled parking spaces in the first courtyard you drive into, which would be ideal for people with restricted mobility. However, as our wheelchair lift comes out of the side of the van, I didn't feel there was enough width to the parking spaces for me to get Ian out. We parked in the other car park, which is still flat, and provides access to the actual centre via a ramp and a pretty view. The actual centre itself is fully accessible, but it does have one or two minor annoyances. At one point there are a couple of steps, so I had to wheel Ian off the main path and into the picnic area, which was fine, except for the fact that to get back onto the main path, I had to manoeuvre him over a big dip, in which we got stuck. I would have to therefore recommend that any wheelchair users who push themselves approach this centre either with caution, or with a friend. The restaurant is wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and the staff were helpful enough to carry one of the trays to the table. Some of the shops are a little on the small side, as you might expect in a place of this sort, and the gift shop has access to the upper floor by stairs only, so again, if you are a wheelchair user, or cannot manage stairs, your experience is limited. The centre also has a toilet with disabled access. I have to admit that some of the shops were either shut or weren't big enough for us all to get in, but the whole place gave me an impression of a Victorian high street. The shops all led off a slightly worn path, and were very close together. The most interesting shops were the ones where you could watch people making their wares, and then buy something, but there are also services such as a picture framer, garden designer and interior designer. Although every shop was well maintained, and all the people working there were friendly and helpful, here were some shops I would recommend more than others. 1. Glass blower the biggest building, and therefore the easiest access. As you walk through from one door to the other, you can watch the glass blower working. He also has pieces of glass on display, either on shelves or hanging from the ceiling. I particularly like the huge baubles of swirled colours, which seemed reasonably priced at about a tenner. 2. Stained glass some very beautiful work, but tricky to get in. luckily, it's displayed well enough that you can see most of it from the outside. I particularly liked a huge yellow and blue sun, but it was priced a bit out of my range. 3. Jewellery very small, but very pretty shop, bursting with beautiful pieces of jewellery. There were some lovely silver pieces with semi-precious gems, which were also attractively priced. 4. Pottery we couldn't really get inside the shop ourselves, but I would highly recommend a visit, as you can see the potter working at the wheel, which I always find fascinating (we watched through the window!). 5. Candle maker again, it was hard to see what was going on peering through the window as we were, but it was no less fascinating. I was going to buy some candles on the way back to the car, but I forgot (as usual). I really would have liked to see the violinmaker, but the shop was shut. I fully intend to return on another visit to Birmingham, so I'll update this review if I ever get to see him. The biggest shop is, of course, the main gift shop. It is a treasure trove of bits and bobs that most people (well, especially women) will enjoy digging amongst. As well as greetings cards, dolls, and ornaments, they have an amazing children's section, which I spent about half an hour looking in, and a shelf of joke items, which Ian enjoyed. Upstairs is a craft gallery with pieces of artwork by local artists, as well as clothing and jewellery. The restaurant was by far the busiest place in the whole centre. Almost every table, and it's not a small place, was taken up with at least two people. There was certainly a proliferation of women; either older ladies 'doing lunch', or young mothers and babies chatting. Now and again, I spotted a man, no doubt dragged there by his wife, but it seems to be a predominantly female clientele on a weekday. The food is standard lunch fare jacket potatoes, salads, quiches and pies,

The Jinney Ring is an attractive craft centre found in a set of farm buildings in beautiful…read morecountryside in Hanbury. It's more than just a craft centre, the whole atmosphere of the place harks back to times gone by. In the summer, you can sit in the beautifully landscaped gardens, with a view of the Malvern Hills, breathing in the peace and quiet, save the noise of the ducks. The buildings are converted into craft studios where you can buy unique jewellery, art, pottery, glass, felt and there's even a violin maker. Go along to be inspired and to support these talented local artisans.

This quaint little craft centre is great place to visit if you're on the hunt for a unique gift for…read morea friend or loved one. Impressive art from local and national artists adorn the walls and vary in price from reasonable to very expensive. I'm a fan of two shops in particular, the chocolate shop has a yummy selection of handmade chocolates and cakes for sale. It offers a bespoke service whereby you can have your own design made for those very special occasions. The other shop is the kitchen shop, here it has quirky utensils, pots, pans, baking dishes which are all quite unique and reasonably priced. I'm also a fan of the on site cafe, which gets really busy during lunch time, I had a simple cheese and pickle sandwich and a cappuccino for around £6.00. There's a comfy area with sofas, you can sit at a table or there's outside seating which is very pleasant in the summer months.

There are some lovely craft shops at Mitchell's, I got some great unique Christmas presents this…read moreyear, plus a pair of earrings for myself! The knitting shop has a huge collection of wool and is very reasonably priced. Plenty of free parking here and it's a lovely place to browse!