We’ve been catching up with Simon and Louise Taggart, an innovative design duo with a stall at Ely Markets.
Louise is ceramicist and textile artist. Simon is a woodturner. Together, they have founded Blended Monkey, which combines the natural beauty of clay, wood and silk. They sell their unique pieces at our Saturday craft market, as well as offering courses at their studio in Upwell.
Their mission is to create pieces for your home that are both beautiful and useful. From a simple wooden bowl to a delicate silk scarf, their pieces are designed to be used and loved. Simon and Louise particularly enjoy collaborating on their designs and combining both clay and wood in one piece – such as a pot with a wooden lid, or a decorative base for a bowl.
As well as showcasing their designs on Ely Market, Blended Monkey also run award-winning courses at their home studio. You can choose between one-on-one woodturning courses with Simon, a ceramics session with Louise or a combination of the two! The studio is set in their lovely garden and includes lunch. Bookings are now being taken for August onwards, although in these uncertain times you’ll be relieved to hear that all bookings are valid for one year.
Although our markets are currently closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Simon and Louise are already making plans for their return to Ely. We hope to see them back with us in the not too distant future. In the meantime, you can shop online with free UK delivery.
Details of all Blended Monkey’s courses can be found at www.blendedmonkey.co.uk/tuition-classes. If you’d like to order a course as a gift, Simon and Louise can send out a personalised gift card which is valid for one year.