Mrs Didi - handpicked, ethical & inspired by island life

Three years ago, following 11 years of running gift shops in the Lakes supporting 100's of creative businesses, we moved our family to the Isle of Arran to live differently — after much soul searching we're growing, making, and creating with our own hands, and living as sustainably as we possibly can.

Jean cooks food from scratch, grows veg in the polytunnel (recently flattened by storm Dave!), swims in the sea, and is learning pottery as Mrs Didi Ceramics, using a traditional kick-wheel. Ade is building a workshop/mancave come utility out of pallets, still screen-printing ethical tees under our much loved ‘Zak the Collie Dog’ brand, and getting back to music as a songwriter and guitarist.

We’ve gone from three collies to two, Jesse-dog and Rescue Ru (we lost our beautiful Jack, Zak’s son recently) and have two kids embracing island life (one learning the bagpipes, the other football mad).

Mrs Didi, in time will offer tried and tested craft retreats and will handpick ethical & sustainable gifts - some promoting traditional arts and craft, others which consciously reduce environmental impact and some just because she loves them. We’re working towards regular pop-up shops, quite the downsize from our Lake District highstreet stores.

You can find us some weekends at the famous Barrowland in Glasgow - The Barras! Just head to 'C Section' and you'll find out neat little pop-up shop, just up from the lovely HoneyBees, with Mrs Didi's sea inspired Ceramics, Zak the Collie Dog screen-printed tees and much much more.

We’ve finally started sharing our journey - we’re documenting it all on YouTube ‘Arran from Scratch’ so if you fancy joining us, please do.

Thanks
Ade, Jeannie, Lily, Mikey, JesseDog & RescueRu (with Zak & son, Jack the Lad watching over us).