Handmade High Street

Basically a brick-​n-​mortar Etsy with all local crafters (most of whom are on Etsy as well, but why not step into a shop, talk to people, pick things up, join the neighborhood?).
This is my first stop for gift shopping. Lots of interesting and eccentric jewelry, crafts, doo-​dahs, and thingamajigs. Nice hand-​made greeting cards. They have clothes too, but I’ve never found anything for myself here in that department.
An anchor of the struggling Annerley strip. Shopping local has never been so easy or fun.

Has the quality craft of the Paddington stores without the attached pretention or price tag. SO GREAT

Handmade High Street throws together some really great local crafters and creators of all things pretty and fun.
The first things that caught my eye was a crocheted rose-​shaped brooch with quite a few other similar ones to keep it company.
I found delight in the handmade jewellery and recycled accessories including hairpins made out of old buttons and old teacups being transformed into candle holders, which is something I would never have thought to do.
They also had one of the very lovely dresses that is so identifiable as one of Rachel Burke’s I Make My Day projects, which is surrounded by a mountain of handmade things to choose from like tin earrings and very flamboyant floral hairbands that are just gorgeous. I was most impressed with earrings that were fashioned out of origami designs. Some of the things in here are so original and it’s so nice to see support for local crafters. One of the back shelves advertises renting a space in the store so other artists can sell their wares.
As I was walking out I laughed out loud at the cute new spin on bottle top jewellery when I saw bottle tops printed with vintage pictures and resold as necklaces. I think that’s a really cute and unique idea. Another item Handmade High Street currently sells is a product by Reclaimed Records, who make old records into new products like notepads and use only recycled paper. A recycled record notepad will set you back $ 45 but hey, you are paying for an old record.
I like what this place has going on. They’ve got some really great pieces and I see a lot of potential for the artists who showcase their wares here.

Handmade High St is a store with a
mighty good message behind it.
One of the owners was so exasperated with the
retail scene and the numerous corporations gulping down
the majority market share, they created a space to support
that struggling artist or crafter. And Handmade high st was born.
Unlike other stores that charge extortionate commission rates,
Handmade high st keep the rent low which enables the artist
to make a good return on their pieces.
Having opened in december the business is just starting out
so may appear a bit barebones at times, But it is well worth
a dig around.
All tastes are catered to with this store selling wares
that range from delicious teas, bows and teeshirts to
pretty dresses, stuffed toys, baby clothes and delightful jewellery.
Support local and check out Handmade High St.

Kath Chownston, one of three brains behind Handmade High Street, said that she wanted to provide a space for artists and craftspeople to easily sell their wares. Markets are often exhausting, subject to the elements, and aren’t a very reliable way to get the money coming in if you’re selling your goods in this fashion. The internet is a great way to get your stuff out there, but still, she went one further and opened a store– for the good of everyone! For her, for the people who rent space in her store, for the person who happens to pop in for a look and take away something local and unique.
For the interested artist or craftsperson– the way the rent system works at Handmade High Street works is that there are small ‘cubes’ (shelving space) that are $ 20 per month. If you do larger scale work, clothing for example, and you have a rack that you’d like to have in store, it might cost you around $ 200 per month. The rental price is subject to how big and how much of the work there is, and whereabouts you want it placed in the store.
There’s some great stuff there too. The beads by Patti Pennisi made me want for the ocean, the glass work of Cairo Made That was gorgeous, and I couldn’t help but want to take home some scented soy wax melts by Lisa Macnab. There’s not the tired repeat of like works in there either; there’s great diversity.
Go in and support a new local business that supports it’s locals. Handmade High Street. Remember that name.