Bohemia Village Voice

By Jonathan Broughton, Dec 2011

Lisa Edwards

Lisa Edwards (picture) opened ‘A Flock of Crafty Birds’ in May 2010. Her shop is easy to spot at 130 London Road as a lot of her stock is out on the pavement. Lisa has lived in St Leonards for five years and used to work in a well known DIY store, but disillusioned with their customer care, decided to branch out on her own.
She wanted to sell what people wanted, and encouraged by so many talented craftspeople in the area, she has filled her shop with locally crafted goods and anything else that takes her fancy, or that customers request. As a result, prices range from ten pence to five hundred pounds. There aren’t many shops like hers, in London Road or anywhere else, and she has capitalised on this with her range of eclectic merchandise. If you are looking for that unusual birthday or anniversary present, there’s a good chance that Lisa can help. “I realised that a lot of local people don’t drive”, she explained, “and I wanted to offer them something different that they didn’t have to travel miles to find”. She does a brisk trade with foreign students too, who like to buy presents for their families back home. The shop is tiny, not an inch of space is left unfilled. Furniture is one of her best sellers, and if she hasn’t the desired piece in stock she will happily undertake a furniture search.
“The shop’s name came in a flash of inspiration. Shops are places where people gather, like birds do when they flock.”
Even more remarkable, considering the limited space, are the workshops that she runs on Wednesdays. These include knitting, toy making, and at Christmas, wreath-making. Again, she is happy to work with customer requests and provide something specific that suits. She even finds time to do freelance work, designing interiors. You can be assured of a warm welcome and a warm drink in A Flock of Crafty Birds. And then marvel at the wonderful variety of wares on display.