Hi everyone and welcome to our Handy Dandy web site of Hand built, Hand cut, Hand painted, Hand stitched hands-on arts & crafts. This bit of our site is a little on how we got to be where we are going, heir apparent artificers to the great and swelling masses residing on planet earth.

Sandra is the painter and teacher; she knows allsorts and everything about crafts. She took up decorative painting during 1992, and very quickly became more than competent. When friends started to ask her to show them techniques, she began to think it might be worth setting up a small home based business. Before too long our home was regularly invaded by groups of painting and crafting hobby-holics. The teaching also moved into several schools where Sandra guest’ed at special open days and presentations. Sandra also co-founded a crafting Society, which grow to a membership of 500.

David being an Engineer was easily convinced to buy a variety of power tools and machinery needed to cut and make wood parts for the projects the classes worked on. They were useful also to build tables, stands and craft show set ups. Each new project Sandra worked on seemed to bring in another nice piece of equipment. What started with a few shape to cut items turned into several nights works per week, and a regular visit to the timber yard for more wood. It was an agreeable return to hands on activities, which had been enjoyed during earlier years in Engineering. David Cuts all shapes and sizes, and will quote on any custom item.

2001 brought a redundancy; a home relocation and the opportunity to set up the business full time, and operate from a shop front. The crafts we made became gifts selling direct from the shop. The teaching continued and quickly built up classes for painting and crafting for both adults & children. We also give Craft birthday & event parties for children.
Sandra became a helping artist for the Décor art group and began having her work published in national crafting magazines. Then some of the designs were picked up and mass-produced on notepads, bookmarks and various other items. Sandra is often invited as a guest crafter and artist at museums in the North East of England. She is regularly booked for School Holidays, teaching projects and demonstrating crafts at the “Discovery” in Newcastle.

Our Shop in Marley Hill Gateshead is small, and compact, it holds as many crafts as we can get in along with the classes. This web site was the next logical step to showcasing the crafts we produce. The crafts and classes are supported by wood shape cutting, plaques, house signs and a variety of scroll saw work.

Please enjoy your look through our site and do leave your email so we can send you our newsletter.

Happy shopping and buy for now.

Sandra & David