Art Bank Cafe - Shepton Mallet

The Art Bank Cafe / Bar 

'Changemakers' supporting the community

www.facebook.com/artbankcafe/   www.instagram.com/artbankcafe/

Tonight they have a late bar and an awesome funky disco-ish set from DJ KayeLord of #ShangriLa. Fancy dress optional but bring your dancing shoes! Tomorrow- late-night Secret Bar!

 #SheptonMallet #Somerset #Disco #Funky #Classics #VisitSomerset #Frome #Bruton #Glastonbury #Wells #CastleCary #Dancing #Cocktails #OpenTillLate

Shepon Mallet Snowdrop Festival 2018

www.sheptonsnowdropfestival.org.uk

Shepton Mallet was home to James Allen, the first person to breed

 new varieties of snowdrops from wild plants 'the Snowdrop King'

Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival 2018 - Competitions

Shepton Snow Drops The Poetry and photography Competitions are open. 
Your chance to win £120 

www.sheptonsnowdropfestival.org.uk

Shepton Mallet Sunday Market

 Sunday 19th November - 10am - 3pm 

 Shepton Mallet

A selection of vintage and artisan shops will be open

sheptonmarket.co.uk

Shepton Mallet Viaduct

Photography Bx
The most gorgeous view of Shepton Mallet
Charlton Viaduct is a Grade 11 listed, disused railway bridge. Originally built in the 1870's, it consists of 27 arches. It can also be seen from the grounds of Kilver Court where it forms a structural backdrop to the secret gardens. 

Event Calendar 2017

Collett Park Shepton Mallet Events 

Sunday Market Shepton Mallet

A Sign of the New Town Street Times

At Starlight Studio Art Gallery & Juice Bar in Town Street, we have recently taken delivery of our new bespoke carved wooden shop sign. This was made by local Shepton craftsman Lee Keohane, pictured here with Brian Outten in an incredibly un-cheesy pose which is quite in keeping with the vegan/non-dairy juices and smoothies made here.

Lee can be commissioned to make bespoke signs especially for your requirements and works to a really high standard. He can be contacted on 07869 624170.

Meanwhile, Brian (pictured here with local advertising guru Lorraine Pratten (who runs the Tourist Information Centre in Shepton), has been creating another sign for the outside of the shop and has just put it up today. 

It's definitely not only his crazy printed shirts that are going to get us noticed from now on!

Skulls just wanna have fun!

Happy Mandy's are everywhere! There are five of us working from the arty bottom of Town Street, Shepton Mallet which is fast becoming 'Studio Land'.  There's Mandie with an 'ie' , also known as Amanda (oh, that's me) at Starlight Studio Art, there's artist Mandy McKenna who previously had a vintage clothes shop in town and now makes things, alongside Claire Goodman from their creative studio Lethal Postman, opposite.  Then there's Amanda the hairdresser at Flix Hair Studio which is next door to Starlight Studio Art.  New boutique IDo-Vintage, is owned by Miranda, who (just to add to fun) used to be known as Mandy but now likes to be known as Miranda, then last but not least theres Mandy with a 'y', who runs The Barber Shop diagonal to us.  

Today, I'd like to talk about this Mandy.  Not only is she a talented hair cutter and colourist but she also has her own business Fairygirl Jewellery.  As an avid collector of all kinds of beads, baubles, crystals and gems, she turns these into funky costume jewellery and can make unique, bespoke designs tailored to your requirements. Creativity obviously runs in Mandy's family as her daughter Corinne designs and carves quirky, slightly scary skulls which are used in funky displays to model the jewellery. Skulls and jewellery can be purchased directly from The Barbers Shop at 23 Town Street, BA4 5BE, where walk-in hair appointments are sometimes available

 Talking of skulls, at Starlight Studio Art, we have several collectable happy chaps hanging around.  There's a Celtic patterned Design Clinic fella from Cornwall, a slightly more Gothy gold fanged one, chewing a rose and my favourite, is rocking the neon-pirate look on a fabulous felt cushion.  

Not for the faint 'arted all this skullduggery!

Skulls designed and carved by Corinne 

available from The Barber Shop

Pre-loved Neon Pirate Skull Cushion, handmade in Somerset, 
from Starlight Studio Art

Happy skull oil painting by Mandie Stone 
at Starlight Studio Art

Wild things make your heart sing in downtown Shepton

Miranda at IDo Vintage in Town Street, Shepton Mallet has an "Absolutely Fabulous dahlin', sweety, gorgeous sweety dahlin" window full of beautiful vintage fashion-y things.  Perhaps, Patsy Stone, the champagne-swigging fashionista would feel right at home in Town Street these days, seeing as East Somerset is so fashionable for those urbanites wanting to escape the madness of the city - for, errmm, the even madder madness of the countryside.  Who knows, after a swish cream tea and pampering in the Charlton House spa, she might even pop into Vape in the Market Place and swap her real fags for a pretend one.

Anyway, back to IDo Vintage, that zebra coat is certain to add animal magic to any wardrobe - and you certainly won't be striped up by Miranda as all her exciting stock is very reasonably priced. If you do decide to treat yourself to this wild number, please be sure not to lay down in it as you wouldn't want anyone crossing you!

What a wild and wonderful day and it's all about new movies!  It's not all about juices, smoothies and vintage stuff you know.  This afternoon, bubbly vegan, costume designer and wife of Dave the Shepton busker Janet Burden literally swung downtown to Starlight Studio Art for a herbal tea - in a funky Tarzan outfit. Aaarhh, aaarhhhh, aaaarrr, arrrrrrrr.........Oh and she told me all about her creative business Unicorn Spit Originals where she has been trading in Shepton Mallet for 3 years now and makes costumes for films, bespoke special occasionwear, fantasty and role play costumes for theatrical events and can do themed styling for videos and photoshoots for bands/performers.  Pictured here is her dapper hubby wearing a poncho Janet customised from a skirt found in a charity shop. Janet is not only handy with a sewing machine.  She has a Masters Degree in English and taught in secondary schools in Essex for over 20 years before moving to Somerset for a quiet life!  Not so quiet when Dave's practicing his busking routine though!

Feature by Mandie Stone

Hello and I look forward to blogging for you

I'm happy to be a contributor to this creative local blog.  I'm Mandie Stone, an artist and writer running a new business in Town Street, Shepton Mallet, Starlight Studio Art, Gallery & Juice Bar BA4 5BJ, with my husband Brian Outten, who is a Science Teacher and green/environmental campaigner.  We are passionately supportive of the regeneration of the high street, market place and of shopping totally locally.  I love finding out what other shop-keepers, market-traders, artists and crafts people, small businesses and local organisations in town are up to and plan to bring you some interesting bloggy bits about their antics, super things for sale, events and product info.  Shepton Mallet has many quirky buildings and some even quirky characters - maybe I will write about them too!

Art Under The Hammer - Shepton Mallet 2016

Welcome to Art Under The Hammer - Shepton Mallet

10th September 2016

Mendip Golf Club - 19.00

An opportunity for local artists to showcase a piece of art on social media 

and donate it to raise money for two local causes.

Funds raised at the auction will be distributed equally to the following charities;

Southmead Hospital - Brain Tumour Equipment Fund

Eady's Journey - funding, therapy, and equipment for Eady

Exciting examples of work kindly donated can be found on 
www.facebook.com

The founder of Art Under the Hammer, Susan Ayton has a heartfelt reason to organise this fundraising auction - read her story featured on www.mirror.co.uk 

Susan's first and successful auction raised £4,000 for Eady's Journey

Mid Somerset Show - Lots of Creativity Today

www.midsomersetshow.org.uk

See you there! looks like we will get sunshine at 1.00

A Traditional Easter Message

 The Market Cross is often central to events and gathering in Shepton Mallet. On Market Day, Easter Friday there were gorgeous parrot tulips from a private nursey in Oakhill (at the market every Friday) photographed with No21 Interiors lucky sheep mascot.  

Shepton Mallet Churches gathered around the Market Cross to sing, 
pray share hot cross buns and explore the real Easter story. 

St Peter & St Paul, St Michael's, Salvation Army, Baptist Church, 

Methodist Church and Just Church send a prayer for a Happy Easter!

www.ctsm.org.uk

Happy Easter with Penny's Sweets

Character chocolates are great for party's
Planes, Frogs, Pirates and Bees are naming just a few !!

Large Easter bags filled with candy sweets are a great alternative to a chocolate egg

Easter carrot sweet bags, filled with jelly sweets or chocolate drops

Whippy ice cream-now on sale

Closed Good Friday 

Open Saturday 9am - 4pm 

Closed Monday 

36 High Street Shepton Mallet

Pennys-Sweets

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is all about encouraging everyone in the UK to support small businesses, 

both on the day and beyond.

Lights were switched on in Shepton Mallet by the winning elf 

to celebrate Christmas in the town

Friday Flea and Harvest Fayre.

The windy weather hit us on Friday with a number of stall holders unwilling to brave the colder climate, but it didn't dampen the spirits on the day. 

Here are some photos captured at the Friday Flea and Harvest Fayre.

Robert Stonor local resident and owner of the classic cars 1968 Triumph Spitfire Mk3 sports car - , 1296cc OHV engine, colour: Royal Blue and 1936 BSA Scout Fixed Head Coupe, Series4 - front-wheel drive, 4cylinder sidevalve 1204cc engine

A special treat, 'turning back time' came from the arrival of two gorgeous classic cars 
from Robert Stonor and music from guitarist and singer Paul Kirtley, contributing to a small, atmospheric market.