HandMade In Ayr Market
A Creative Market At The Grain Exchange.
HandMade In Ayr Market is a brand new arts and crafts fair, designed to showcase the best of Ayrshire's creative talent. It takes place on a monthly basis in the newly refurbished Grain Exchange in the heart of Ayr.This historic seaside town was once a holiday destination for Glasgow merchants, and boasts a rich maritime history and wealth of historic architecture. The Grain Exchange, built in 1843, was the site of Ayr's original corn market. Having fallen into disrepair, it has recently been re-opened as a local cultural and arts venue.
HandMade In Ayr Market is one of the regular scheduled events. Small but perfectly formed, it comprises of up to ten artists at any time, showcasing a curated collection ranging from homewares and ceramics, to textiles, original art, woodwork and jewellery. Leona Stewart Glass, the anchor behind the event, creates her range of bespoke tableware and ornaments from her workshop in the heart of Ayr.
On the day I visited we were also lucky to find Fine Art Printmaker Ian McNicol with some of his beautiful landscape etchings. Ian is Master Printer at the Glasgow Print Studio, and some of his contemporary designs are currently on show at the London Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
Two local jewellers were also selling at the Market, each with their very individual handmade silverwares. Gayle of Silver Fox Jewellery creates an eclectic range of unique, modern, clean pieces, whilst Janet of Laurie Silver Designs specialises in free-flowing designs, with silver incorporating beautiful semi-precious stones.
Julie Harris of Starshine Design brought her bright, linocut printed designs, which she has transferred onto fabrics to create cushions, stationery and tableware. These vibrant jewel like colours and patterns are inspired by her garden.
Thistledownseed also take inspiration from nature and the garden. Her range of needle-felt toys, trinkets and ornaments, including felt balls and animals, lit up the stand. Thistledownseed also make a to-die-for felt bumble bee mobile. If you want a sneak of how she does this, have a look at her video.
We always love when our makers use natural materials. Robert Reid of Kestrel Bespoke Furniture uses locally felled timber to create his range of wooden accessories, including these beautiful wooden album covers. A sustainable way to create a beautiful keepsake.
When Is It On
HandMade In Ayr Market runs on a monthly basis, featuring different makers at each event. Organised by Leona Stewart Glass, details of dates and artists can be found on her Facebook page here.
Address
The Grain Exchange, 77-81 High Street, Ayr, KA7 1LU. A map can be found here.
Details of other events are on The Grain Exchange website.
How To Get There
Ayr is the last stop on the West Coast mainline commuter train route from Glasgow Central. The railway station is located near the top of the High Street. For drivers, parking is available around the town.
Coffee Stop
Various independent cafes are sited around nearby Newmarket Street and Sandgate. Worth a shout out is Unity Grill, who's profits are used to help challenge food poverty.
While You Are There
Ayr Beach and its Low Green promenade provide a lovely way to enjoy the view and catch the breeze. The stretch also forms part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Nearby open spaces are at the Old Racecourse and the River Doon walks at Ayr College. As well as some pretty residential suburbs, parts of the historic centre are worth exploring, including the Auld Brig, the 1513 dated Loudon Hall, the remains of the Cromwell Fort and St John's Tower.
Verdict
The first HandMade In Ayr Market in August 2019 proved a big hit with both customers and vendors alike, and in conjunction with The Grain Exchange, looks set to continue. With easy transport options to Ayr, and plenty to see while you are there, it makes for a worthwhile day out.
PS: Want to read more? Click here to return to the main blog, and hit "Subscribe" to register for updates. Do let me know by commenting below if there's anywhere I should visit.
Address
The Grain Exchange, 77-81 High Street, Ayr, KA7 1LU. A map can be found here.
Details of other events are on The Grain Exchange website.
How To Get There
Ayr is the last stop on the West Coast mainline commuter train route from Glasgow Central. The railway station is located near the top of the High Street. For drivers, parking is available around the town.
Coffee Stop
Various independent cafes are sited around nearby Newmarket Street and Sandgate. Worth a shout out is Unity Grill, who's profits are used to help challenge food poverty.
While You Are There
Ayr Beach and its Low Green promenade provide a lovely way to enjoy the view and catch the breeze. The stretch also forms part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Nearby open spaces are at the Old Racecourse and the River Doon walks at Ayr College. As well as some pretty residential suburbs, parts of the historic centre are worth exploring, including the Auld Brig, the 1513 dated Loudon Hall, the remains of the Cromwell Fort and St John's Tower.
Verdict
The first HandMade In Ayr Market in August 2019 proved a big hit with both customers and vendors alike, and in conjunction with The Grain Exchange, looks set to continue. With easy transport options to Ayr, and plenty to see while you are there, it makes for a worthwhile day out.
PS: Want to read more? Click here to return to the main blog, and hit "Subscribe" to register for updates. Do let me know by commenting below if there's anywhere I should visit.
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| The Grain Exchange, Ayr |
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