What We Do
Managed Retail
Open 7 days a week
Managed Retail
We have a variety of trading options subject to availability; wall spaces, glass display cabinets and units in our large shopping area at Heart of the Shires, Nr Weedon and at The Bell Plantation, Towcester. Suitable for small businesses, handicrafters and artisans. Contact us for details, pricing and an application pack..
So much to see
Open 7 days a week
Managed Retail
Come and browse at our two lovely shops .... with over a hundred traders we have a huge selection of vintage, artisan, antiques, home furnishings, art, modern and vintage jewellery and gifts.
Open 7 days a week
Open 7 days a week
Artisan and Handmade
We are open from 10:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday and from 10.30 to 16.00 on Sundays. Take advantage of the free parking and easy access directly from the car parks at Heart of the Shires Shopping Village and at The Bell Plantation Garden Centre and Cafe.
Artisan and Handmade
Gifts, Art and Personalised Items
Artisan and Handmade
Salvaged, Vintage & Antiques
Gifts, Art and Personalised Items
Gifts, Art and Personalised Items
Gifts, Art and Personalised Items
Gifts, Art and Personalised Items
Gifts, Art and Personalised Items
About Us
Dawn
Evie and Margo
Dawn
Who’d have thought back in 1980 when I was painting my first piece of second hand furniture in bright red gloss (it was a unit to sit my record player on) that I would one day I would make it my business and be selling paint specifically created for furniture painting.
Although during the following years I continued to paint furniture for
Who’d have thought back in 1980 when I was painting my first piece of second hand furniture in bright red gloss (it was a unit to sit my record player on) that I would one day I would make it my business and be selling paint specifically created for furniture painting.
Although during the following years I continued to paint furniture for myself, I spent most of my working life as a School Business Manager. Backed by Philip, in 2016 I decided to follow my passion and start my own business creating homewares and upcycling. In 2018 Philip and I took the opportunity to take on our shop at Heart of the Shires and then our second shop which is run by our daughter Faye in June 2022. I now have the great privilege of working with and supporting our traders and selling the things that they have created.
What a lovely way to spend your days working with family and friends.
Faye
Evie and Margo
Dawn
I was recently asked what my professional background was, and it gave me some pause for thought. What came to mind was ‘patchwork’; an odd collage of experiences threaded together by a love of art, history, religion and folklore. I trained in philosophy and fine art and had a subsequent career as a professional artist, during which time I
I was recently asked what my professional background was, and it gave me some pause for thought. What came to mind was ‘patchwork’; an odd collage of experiences threaded together by a love of art, history, religion and folklore. I trained in philosophy and fine art and had a subsequent career as a professional artist, during which time I secured a position as Lecturer in BA/MA Fine Art at the University of Central Lancashire. My artistic interests and pursuits have been many and varied; I’ve taught watercolour and life drawing classes to retired folk in Bedford, introduced university students to the weird world of video art, morris danced from Preston to Wigan, costumed an entire samba band and constructed ten-foot puppets to terrorise the residents of Hull. Currently, alongside developing new illustrative work and pottery.
Philip
Evie and Margo
Evie and Margo
So, here I am back in the world of retail again, quite a few years after leaving it! I started as a 2nd Sales in a gentleman’s tailors and progressed to managing a pet shop, which was interesting. The majority of my working life has been spent as a Weapons Engineer in the Royal Air Force and then the defence industry at major contractors
So, here I am back in the world of retail again, quite a few years after leaving it! I started as a 2nd Sales in a gentleman’s tailors and progressed to managing a pet shop, which was interesting. The majority of my working life has been spent as a Weapons Engineer in the Royal Air Force and then the defence industry at major contractors, finishing up as Configuration Manager on the Foxhound programme. However, it is great to be back dealing with the public and our traders, no two days are ever the same and certainly we are all kept on our toes. It is also good to be working with the family and we are all excited at the prospect of our latest venture and the challenge of managing two outlets.
Evie and Margo
Evie and Margo
Evie and Margo
And in case you were wondering where the name Margo&Evie came from .... they are our much loved Airedale Terriers. Evie, sadly, is no longer with us but her name very much lives on in the shop and is a lovely reminder of her every day.
Margo can normally be found behind the counter either at Heart of the Shires or The Bell Plantation wher
And in case you were wondering where the name Margo&Evie came from .... they are our much loved Airedale Terriers. Evie, sadly, is no longer with us but her name very much lives on in the shop and is a lovely reminder of her every day.
Margo can normally be found behind the counter either at Heart of the Shires or The Bell Plantation where she takes her role as shop dog very seriously indeed.
This gorgeous photo of them was taken by
It says it all that the only professional photograph of us all is of the dogs!