More than 25 creative makers have been exhibiting their handmade works in a Letchworth pop-up shop this week – and they’ll be giving live demonstrations this weekend.
The Artisan Ladder Pop-up Shop has been set up in the Commmunity Museum in The Arcade since Friday night, with furniture, homewares and more on show.
Founder Lisa Heaton – who makes textile accessories and theatre costumes – came up with the idea as a way to solve the problem of how to stock and run a shop window while simultaneously designing and creating her wares.
She told the Comet: “The first-day opening and our first customer was a delightful moment and a sign of all our work coming together.
“The first couple of days have been really promising, with lots of wonderful people coming to buy and writing supportive things in our comments book.
“The goods are really selling well, and I’ve needed to keep up constant contact with the artists to ask them to replenish the stock.
“I have also had several orders and commissions from customers wanting the artists to do special projects for them.”
The artisan team will be marking the opening day of the Letchworth Festival this Saturday with a Meet the Artisan event, showing how they work.
They come from a wide range of backgrounds, including some pursuing their first career choice and others starting a new direction after working in other fields. Several contributors come from the Digswell Ceramics Community, based at the Fenners Building in Openshaw Way.
Visitors to the pop-up shop get a voucher for 10 per cent off at the ETC café opposite. Part of Artisan Ladder’s takings will go to the mental health charity Hertfordshire Mind.
To find out more see facebook.com/ArtisanLadder.
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