Guest Blog by Kate Fisher local Potter

New Guest Blog from our Most Recently Aquired Local Crafter

Kate Fisher came to see me with her Exquisite pots and I had to have them in the shop, below Kate tells us a little bit about how her inspirations lead her to her works of art. You can buy Kates Pots in The Wishing Tree or In our Online Store.


Hello all.

As I am a new crafts person to The Wishing Tree, I thought I’d introduce myself to you all, so you know a bit about the my background and my ceramics, one of the many great things about buying locally made work.

I’ve always had a huge interest in nature, and crafts, and although for most of my childhood I made a lot from textiles, clay seemed to be the closest to a natural source as I could get. I, like many children, used to love playing in the mud, I think being a potter is a natural progression from this.

Like I said above I was always into textiles and I almost went to do a degree in fashion at Salisbury university. Luckily I chose to go to Lowestoft college to stay closer to home and did a BA (Hons) degree in design crafts. In this we got to have a go at everything, woodwork, metal work, textiles and ceramics. I was still adamant I was going to be a textile designer of some sort, until the throwing workshops. At those, taught by Stephen Baker, I found my love for the potters wheel! I went on to specialise in ceramics and carried on developing my work to how you see it today.

I use several different clays, but my favourite to use at the moment is white stoneware. I like the surface texture it has once thrown because, as it says in the name, it looks like stone. I always prefer a semi matt to a full matt glaze as I enjoy form more than surface design and I feel shiny glazes can sometimes distort the shape when you look at them.

Landscapes are where I get my initial ideas and I then allow the shapes and textures to develop naturally from this. I enjoy going out and taking my own pictures, at this point in time coastal landscapes are influencing me a lot. They’re so beautiful and can look so very different from one day to the next! As we all know, rough stormy seas look fierce and frightening where as a calm sunny day at the sea side is warm and inviting.

At the moment I’m interested in creating all sorts of things, for example; domestic ware- mugs, plates, bowls, cooking equipment; decorative items- oil burners, tea light holders, vases; and sculptural forms. I make items and sell them in beautiful shops, such as The Wishing Tree, and I also do commission work to design things for individuals as they request.

I’m currently renting a lovely little studio space in Pulham market with my friend Danielle Wade, who is the name behind Polly’s prints. It’s situated in The Gables Yard, opposite the green, and we’re lucky enough to share a courtyard with four other local crafts people.

So now you know a little bit more about myself and my work, why not take a trip to The Wishing Tree and take a look at what local crafts people are up to these days.

Guest Blog By The Perfect Little Purse Company

Hi, I am Joy Peters, the crafter behind The Perfect Little Purse Company.

I have always loved to craft in so many ways ever since I was a child. I grew up with an expert sewer for a mother and it seems to have rubbed off and now it is my most favourite thing. I have been making bags/purses for about 3 years now and started selling on the internet and now, to my delight, in `The Wishing Tree’
What first made me want to start making handbags?
I had a dream about loads of different handbags. All of them black but every single design possible and I just thought I should be making bags! It sounds so cheesy but it really is true. I set about finding out how they were actually constructed and the first ones were quite ambitious beaded frame purses. These are tricky and quite time consuming. After that I found many more techniques and have got to the point now where most of my designs are my own. I do buy the odd must have pattern if I am allowed to sell the finished product. From time to time I make other things such as Christmas stockings and other decorations at seasonal times. Currently I am making little knitted animals (see blog for details). I do like to vary my work to keep me sharp. Who knows, maybe some knitted bags may roll out next. Watch this space.
What is your design process?
I am often asked how I go about designing a bag. Usually, it all starts with the fabric. I will see some I ‘have to have” and then set about finding a co-ordinate for the lining. This normally leads to several more. Once it all arrives I will decide which fabrics lend themselves to which designs I do. Sometimes they lead to new ones. Sometimes I design around new handles. Its mostly all about the fabric. My not so secret obsession.

The interesting stuff is that which I make to order. I really enjoy the custom work. Folk come to me with their own ideas and themes that I may not have ever thought of. Transforming someone else’s ideas is exciting as you never know where it will take you. Lots of my past works can be seen on my flickr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/perfectlittlepurseco/sets/72157606847784417/
and may give you some inspiration for your next new bag. All can be arranged through The Wishing Tree or e-mail me direct.
I also write a blog from time to time and this can be found at http://perfectlittlepurses.blogspot.com/.

Unique Handmade Bags at
www.perfectlittlepurses.etsy.com

Green is the New Black

Reading my E-Mails this morning……

I came across this article about Ethical Clothing, as well as making interesting reading it is very appropriate as The Wishing Tree has now brought in a range of affordable and Ethical Summer Fashion. We stocked some cotton clothing last summer and the response was very good, so now that the Sun is shining again I decided to bring it back.

All the stock is cotton, Ethically sourced from Thailand, by a friend of mine. The range includes, Tops, T-shirts, beautiful floaty Dresses, Skirts in a range of styles and Trousers. All free sizes, great colour selection so you can be leading the way with colour and style this season without Maxing out on the Credit Card…

Come by and have a look, of course you can Accessorise too, with beautiful funky and chunky Jewellery from Viva Beads and our range of Silver and Gemstones. Not forgetting great handmade bags, new in stock now and online.

Read the article below to see why taking the Ethical Route to Summer dressing is the way to go….

Green is the new black at Pure London



Being eco friendly and stylish has never been easier with the number of amazing ethical and fair trade brands choosing to show at Pure London.

The ethical brands will be edited across the show by type and price point making sourcing easier for buyers. All ethical brands will be highlighted on floorplans and stands so buyers can spot them.


Newcomer to Pure London, Nancy Dee (left) produces simple but quirky dresses from eco-jersey, designed to be wearable, stylish and fun wardrobe essentials.

Also new are Miksa who produce collections using organic, fair trade cotton, low environmental impact dyes and even zips and buttons made from coconut and tagua nut.


Returning for another season is People Tree (left), who form sustainable partnerships with fair trade and organic producers in developing countries to create a strong clothing and accessories line.

Jackpot Organic, who were recently nominated for a Special Ethics award by Danish magazine Dansk, will present their Spring/Summer 10 collection along with Wellicious, Nomads Clothing and Komodo.


Pure London is once again partnering up with the Ethical Fashion Forum. The EFF promotes ethical business practices in the clothing industry and will support and assist with ethical criteria and vetting process in regard to brands applying to be promoted as ethical at Pure London.

The EFF will have a stand at the front of the show and we are working with them to put on an ethical seminar programme that will take place throughout the three days at Pure London. The issues behind ethical fashion are complex, creating tough challenges and inspirational opportunities. They aim to give an introduction to some of the key issues in this section as well as provide buying direction so you can make informed decisions.