I have this thing that I do when I’m walking home from work. I walk past all the kebab shops, take-aways and mobile phone shops and plan out how I would replace them if I was a town planner, or indeed a millionaire. So far I’ve decided on a book shop, card shop, deli and a record shop (all independent) and yesterday I found another shop to add to the list.

Of Cabbages and Kings is a gem of a store situated in the lively area of London’s Stoke Newington. Kitted out in brightly coloured, reconditioned 50’s kitchen furniture, it’s a real find. Originally a sweet shop, it has been derelict for many years but now stocks handcrafted gifts, jewellery, ceramics, knickers, toys and accessories, all individually sourced from artists and independent small-scale designers.

Oh why can’t we have something like this in Levenshulme? For now, while the take-aways and mobile phone shops reign supreme, I’ll have to console myself with the Of Cabbages and Kings online shop.

Pics (left to right):Strawberry Milk Carton by Hanne Rysgaard Ceramics, Choc Rain Earrings by Chocolate Rain, Dolly Bag Blue by Emma Gordon.

Sustainable knitwear label Keep & Share have just announced details of their latest round of knitting workshops. At one special event held to celebrate National Knitting Week, participants can knit Keep & Share’s signature style, the Gladys Cardi, in a single weekend.

The Gladys Cardi has become a Keep & Share classic since its introduction in 2005, and the two-day course offers knitwear fans the chance to make their own cardigan (in a choice of sizes and colours) from start to finish. No knitting experience is required as Amy will guide participants through the making process, using her trusty chunky knitting machines and signature seamless joining techniques. The Sunday session finishes at lunchtime with a celebratory meal at the village pub.

The course runs at the Keep & Share workshop, just outside Hereford, on Saturday 11 October, 10am to 4.30pm, and Sunday 12 October, 10am to 1pm. It costs £135 per person, including materials, equipment, refreshments and lunches.

The ‘Knit your own Gladys Cardi’ course is just one of a series of events planned for the autumn. A beginners’ machine knitting course will run on August 23/24 and November 15/16, while those wishing to get busy with a pair of needles will be interested in a day course covering the basics of hand knitting on 6 September. Further events are planned for 2009, and bespoke knitting workshops for groups can also be arranged.

Details of all courses are available at www.keepandshare.co.uk.

I was really excited to discover Mrs Eliot Books over the weekend. The London-based artist makes little wooden books, prints, cards and original collage pieces. She takes cut-up sentences and everyday conversations and turns them into something quite beautiful and unexpected.

See for yourself at www.mrseliotbooks.etsy.com.

You may already know Laural of Thimble and Jen of the Toronto Craft Alert. If not, you soon will. They have recently joined forces to form goodEGG industries.

goodEGG industries is an online shop that carries an eclectic yet curated mix of accessories, clothing, interiors, and art objects from Canadian designers / makers. The site also features a growing directory of Canadian crafty resources, handy for locals and crafty tourists alike.

Shop online at www.goodeggshop.com.

What do the above have in common? You can find them all in the Hannah Zakari sale which starts today. There’s 20 - 50% off jewellery, bags, accessories and artwork, including pieces from Custom Made, Blissen, Eclectic Shock, Suzanne Smith, T-Boo and more.

And if you mention Indie Quarter on the comments page during checkout, the lovely Rachael will pop in a free badge or hairgrips or sweets. Yay! Go to www.hannahzakari.co.uk/sale.

While you’re over there, check out the new range of eco friendly bags and homewares by Showpony. Trompe l’oeil, meaning to ‘trick the eye’, is a theme which runs through much of Showpony’s designs and therefore expect to find bugs in the folds of cushions and vintage images on modern shapes.

Don’t miss out on that sale!

Plants and water are Elizabeth Scott’s favourite subjects. This is reflected in her beautiful sterling silver jewellery. Her botanical pieces feature some of her favourite plants, including hydrangeas, ginkgo, birch, aspen, and poppies. Whilst her water pieces mimic the shape and texture of liquid metal, an effect achieved by pouring molten silver into water. So pretty.

Shop at www.esdesigns.etsy.com.

Thank you to Dionne Swift of Host Studios for this guest blog post.

Huddersfield and its surrounding area is exceptionally fortunate to be home to a plethora of nationally respected creative talents, in a vast array of disciplines: jewellery, textiles, painting, sculpture, ceramics and furniture.

HOST is now in its fifth year and provides a unique opportunity to visit the artists in their own studios and workshops. You can watch them at work, see what inspires them, perhaps have a go yourself and get inspired!

It’s also an opportunity to buy work direct from the artist, and to chat to them about their thoughts and inspiration for your chosen piece of work. You could also commission a special piece to be made exclusively for you.

Fifty artists in 22 studios will be opening their doors for two weekends at the end of September. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore their private and personal spaces of spontaneity, innovation and deliberation.

If you would like to support HOST and benefit from invitations to VIP launch events and discounts from artists, log on to the website and register as a Friend of HOST for only £20 a year.

Saturday & Sunday 20 & 21 September 11am to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 27 & 28 September 11 am to 6pm
Launch Parties at all venues Friday 19 September 6pm to 9pm

I couldn’t resist these. I don’t know whether it’s the lovely bright colours, the mixture of prints or the gorgeous creatures themselves. They’re made by Lulu Carter and you can find her Etsy store at www.lulucarter.etsy.com.

And to find out more about Lulu visit her blog at www.lulucarter.typepad.com.