The Doll's House in FOrdingbridge; a New Aladdin's cave.

I've just delivered some brand new pieces to the Doll's house in Fordingbridge and I couldn't believe my eyes when I got there.

The unassuming entrace to the Doll's house hides the treasure inside. Go in. A warm welcome awaits you.

This morning I loaded up my car with various different oil paintings in various different sizes and made my way to a beautiful little shop called The Doll’s house, in Fordingbridge. Which is a pretty little market town on the edge of the New Forest.
If  you know Fordingbridge you will know the Doll’s house is a little Artisan shop, which has been open for six months and has just been taken on by new management. That new manager just happens to be one of my former pupils Karen Parke. Karen  has liked my work for sometime and indeed has bought a couple of my pieces in the past. When she started working at the Doll’s house she was keen for the owner to get some of my artwork in there. And it worked jolly well as all my pieces sold. ​So understandably she wanted more!

A pair of Curious Hares!

Now The Doll’s house is  her very own artisan shop,  I asked her this morning how she was feeling.
“I’m nervous, yes obviously I’m nervous. But I’m really excited about this. I’ve had a couple of sleepless nights about what I’ve taken on but this is just so exciting and I’m really proud of the new artisans that will be featuring in my shop“ and I’m delighted to be one of them.  Karen showed me some of the other pieces in her shop too this momring, and let me tell you you’re in for a treat when you visit. Karen’s little shop is just along from the river, virtually opposite The George pub and in easy walking distance of the car park.
It’s a little Aladdin‘s Cave of beautiful things. She has some of her own textile work in there; she makes fabulous handmade purses, wash bags and cushions. There are some beautiful glass works, sculptures and furniture. Far from being a random gathering, it’s simply beautiful in there. As you walk in you won’t know where to turn first as there’s just so many beautiful things to see. ​

Karen has been very savvy in her choice of pieces, because there is a huge range of work, sizes, and prices.  Karen told me this morning that she’s even noticed some people, wait for it, have started Christmas shopping! It’s so much more interesting than just a plain old gift shop, and what’s even better is the stock is very high quality but at incredible prices! The shop is full of beautiful handmade creations from people that live there or thereabouts. Nothing is mass produced and so anyone setting foot in the shop isn’t it just supporting an independent shop owner, but they’re also supporting the myriad of artisans that supply that shop. And I’m so pleased to be part of it!
I wish Karen all the luck in the world with her new venture and I sincerely recommend if you find yourself in Fordingbridge to pop into The Doll’s house and have a little look -I  bet you won't walk out empty-handed!

"Adare" This Stag is currently in the window at The Doll's house.

Clck here to go to The DOLLS HOuse Facebook page