The Totally Locally Shipston-on-Stour group organised an excellent Arts & Craft Fair in the streets of central Shipston last Saturday, which brought out the crowds.
The Totally Locally group in Shipston-on-Stour was formed in early 2015 via a nationwide template created by Chris Sands, and made available to small towns trying to keep and encourage their local shops and identity.
At an earlier monthly meeting of the group, the new tea towel and shopping bag designs had been agreed and organiser Louise Harvey had proposed a street market for the wide range of Arts and Crafts in the local area. After assistance and support from the helpful Shipston Town Council, the event was approved and the road closures set.
The Arts & Crafts stalls were set up in the streets of The Bury and the bottom end of Sheep Street, with the support of the town's shops.
We had stalls selling photographs, cushions, soaps, dog baskets, spoons and other wooden crafts and the Totally Locally stall selling tea towels, bags and general information.
The stalls included one for Emma-Jane Roberts and her Calypso Kids for on-going entertainment, mask making and general fun for the small children.
The Free Spirit Studio stall had decorated old saws and other artwork, and owner Doony (based in Halford) explained that she had rescued these saws, and after her husband had polished the handle, she painted tattoo-inspired designs on the former blade face to interesting effect. "With a background as a tattoo artist, I am branching out with my work 'up cycling' materials with an 'Old Skool' twist ! Her work also includes watercolor and acrylic paintings"
Martin Damen has a very interesting selection of wooden spoons to purchase, their were bags to purchase from 2MaddBags, framing from Artistory, Fairy Fun with its face Painting and other fun items, Red Knot Grey with its furniture and display pieces, Ann Wyatt with her mounted local photography and 
Q@ Temple Mill with their wooden pieces.
Penny Varley Ceramics had the latest displays of her ceramics, Wagtail & Willow had their cushions, handmade furniture, and dog accessories, and the artist Melanie Charles had her collection of animal paintings.
Carian Interiors were displaying their furniture, chairs, glassware, metalwares, silver & silver plate, painted furniture, paintings & prints, and of course our re-upholstery services.
Rachel Harwood (Ginger Hen) and Yvonne Claridge (Marmalade) had on offer a selection of cushions, bags, purses, and gifts. Marmalade also reupholsters small pieces of furniture while Ginger Hen creates wonderful flowers by weaving willow. They also sell haberdashery a range of haberdashery with fabric packs, ribbons and lots of sewing kits ready to put in Christmas Stockings!
Mallory Journals had on display some journals with local maps in their front covers, but as their orders come from all over the world the furthest was from the Philippines. From this fair, they are now looking at more Cotswold Maps for potential customers.
The Arts & Crafts market had a lovely small, courtesy of the Little bird soaps stall. Based in Stratford they make fabulous ethical soap using English-sourced ingredients and essential oils.
Kate Harbridge from Bedtime tails had both candles in china and dog baskets made from old suitcases with both going down a treat.
The very talented local musician and artist Hannah Porter designed and painted our Market entrance sign.
To keep the crowds happy a range of your local buskers had been arranged throughout the day, with the clarinet of Lauren to start off the day. Then we had some buskers from Chipping Campden, With Lilly Shickle (Guitar & vocals), Harriett Broomfileld (vocals), Hugo Gaitskell (Guitar) & Ed Hunt (Guitar & vocals) giving us a splendid multi-harmony rendition of hallelujah.
In the afternoon we had the excellent singer/songwriter Charley Mack singing with her guitar, including some of her own songs along with Sasha and Joe.
The event was well received by both the crowds and stall holders and Totally Locally organiser Louise Harvey was over the moon with the crowds and interest from the locals. There will also certainly be another event in 2016 to support local arts and crafts around the Warwickshire town of Shipston-on-Stour
