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 fathers' day fast approaching, I thought I'd head to Secret Crafter rather than Something…read moreSpecial, for a change. Leaving my trust 'Something Special' was a big decision, yes, but Secret Crafter did a good enough job to make me think twice about where I visit before the next birthday/anniversary or ermm Christmas. There isn't too much to say out of the ordinary about this place if I'm being honest; prices were average, service was pleasant as was the shop as a whole. I can't see Secret Crafter attracting visitors from all over the Midlands, but for those who live nearby it really is a great convenience to have.

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.

You can pretty much guarantee that once I enter this place, I'm going to be in here for some time!…read more This haven is perfect for creative types and for those who want to get creative with everything housed under one roof. There is cake baking utensils and ingredients, decorations, rubber ink stamping, card making kits, jewellery making the list goes on! The staff in here are friendly and helpful and the prices are reasonable (depending on what you are looking for) with bargain bins located near the tills. The quality of the items are good and there is something for everyone including young children. No excuse to not get creative with these kind of shops around!

Sometimes it just works great to add that personal touch to your presents and cards. I think a lot…read morepeople really appreciate seeing DIY hard work put into their birthday gifts. If the above sounds right up your street, then Rainbow Ribbons is the best place for you to go to purchase your bits & bobs & trinkets, in order to fuel your creative streak. Entering the shop, you'll encounter ribbons as far as the eye can see, which are different widths and in every colour you could possibly imagine. In other words, if you're very picky about how you want your present to look, you'll be catered for perfectly here. The same applies to paper and card, as you'll find a further infinite selection of colours and qualities that are just brilliant for card making enthusiasts. And even if you can't find something that you're after, ask a member of staff, and they're sure to find it. The shop owners are very approachable and friendly, so never fear. Rainbow has literally thought about everything, from single hole punchers to needles to other equipment that even I have no idea what it's used for. But of course, if you're passionate in this area of creativity, then I'm sure you'll know exactly what everything does. This place is really worth travelling to, and it makes me want to start being artistic with presents myself.

From the owner: We stock a large range of card making and craft equipment, tools and materials from all the major…read moresuppliers including Creative Expressions, Crafts Too, Spellbinders, Ranger, Pion Design & many more..... As well as holding our regular classes and workshops all year round. Please see our website for further details.

How to screw up a business in a short amount of time. Was a great business but one man managed to…read moremurder a long standing business within a year, didn't listen to the staff and bought in crap and sold it st stupid prices.....

I love stationery - ergo I love stationery shops. Shopping for a new notebook or decent pen makes…read moreme happy. Osborne's for me then, is a real treat - encompassing a wide range of notebooks and pens as well as diaries, address books, (do people still use these? I hope so) notelets, paper by the sheet, stickers, rulers, pencil cases, plastic folder things, index cards, hole punches and card. There's a photocopying service that always seems very much in demand and a comprehensive crafting range where you can buy paper flowers and best of all GLITTER and they stock a nice range of cards and non-fiction books - the latter best described as 'stocking fillers'. At Christmas I also like perusing their calendars which seem to consist almost entirely of cute kittens or scenic shots of the canal network (but never both at the same time sadly). It's the place to go for reams of paper and printer cartridges and situated by the 22/23 bus-stops is the ideal place to waste a few minutes before your bus is due.