Jewellery By Shalini

The Rutland County Museum Christmas Craft Exhibition Opened Last night. There are some absolutely gorgeous hand-made crafts on display including my jewellery (of course!), Wood-turned pens plus textile crafts, weaving and jewellery by 4 other talented artisans from the area. The Exhibition will be on until 22 January 2011 at the Museum at Catmose Street, Oakham, LE15 6HW Work by the followings makers is on display: # Jewellery By Shalini (and Stamford Lapidary ) # Wisteria Woodcrafts (member of The Stamford Artisans Guild ) # Calla # Rhubarb # Wiggles # Jo Edwards Do come along and browse though the beautiful items on display and for sale. The wonderful staff at the museum are very helpful and a great group of people. Some photos from last night:

Watching  "Turn Back Time - The High Street" on BBC1 last night made me sad. There really isn't much hope for the High Street because independent small businesses are shutting down here there and everywhere. Small businesses simply cannot afford the rents and rates from landlords and the competition from big companies who sell everything at really low prices.  Just like the Butchers and the Bakers who left the High Street yesterday and the Blacksmith who left a week ago on the programme lots of small, independent business are leaving the High Street every day. I have lost count of the number of Mobile phone shops we have. And we have lots of cafes and of course the Charity Shops  and usual sprinkling of Costa Coffee, Subway and even a Tesco. Then we have this huge New Look and various other clothes shops. Not a lot that is unique to Stamford there :-(