This month welcomes a new shop to Blandford town centre. Hawthorn Contemporary Arts and Craft opens on Salisbury Street on the 14th August 2010.

This month welcomes a new shop to Blandford town centre. Hawthorn Contemporary Arts and Craft opens on Salisbury Street on the 14th August 2010. Committed to supporting local crafts, Hawthorn will be selling work from local artists and makers including jewellery, textiles and ceramics alongside work from emerging designers from across the country. 70% of items will have travelled a maximum of 50 miles to get to the shop, both reducing Hawthorn’s impact on the environment and ensuring the work of local artists and makers is presented in the environment that inspired it.

Opening the shop is Stephanie Carswell who lives in Blandford. Originally from Nottinghamshire, Stephanie moved to Dorset to study for a degree in Arts and Event Management at the Arts University College at Bournemouth in 2006. After working for this year’s Salisbury International Arts Festival as Marketing Coordinator, Stephanie decided to take the leap into self employment and follow her dream of opening her own shop. She said ‘Blandford lends itself perfectly to a shop such as Hawthorn. There is a great selection of independent shops in the town and Hawthorn will add to this, providing inspiring and beautiful objects designed and made locally as well as work from new artists. I’m passionate about craft and Blandford and can’t wait to open the doors.’

A visit to Hawthorn promises high quality, handmade jewellery, ceramics, textiles, glass, metal and wood work. There’s nothing mass produced in the shop so customers are guaranteed a unique shopping experience. Hawthorn also sells handmade cards, paintings, prints and stunning photography of Dorset and the South West from local photographer Paul Haynes.

Stephanie has lots of plans for Hawthorn including opening an online shop and personal shopping service and in the future running art and craft workshops in Blandford and the surrounding areas. Hawthorn opens on Saturday 14th August at 9am and will be open Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm daily. The Hawthorn online shop will be launched in September at www.hawthorncraft.co.uk.