Create

I have been here twice now and enjoyed myself immensely. There are lots of lovely knitting-​y crochet-​y things, but the real joy is the painting ceramics. You select your ceramic thing, mug, teapot, plate, whatever takes your fancy, and then you paint it!
On my two visits, I painted a milk jug and a teapot. You can easily spend two hours or more here, in fact the second time we had planned to follow up the painting with a trip to Betty’s only to realise we hadn’t left ourselves enough time. A strange sense of perfectionism takes over and all conversation dwindles after about ten minutes to be replaced with expressions of concentration and dismay in equal measure. Generally everyone thinks they have done a dreadful job after the painting and is thrilled and surprised to see the finished article. You have to leave your item behind to be fired in the kiln, so there is a good few days of suspense in between painting and cradling. Apart from the obvious joy of creating, it can also be the way to find that elusive item you have wanted for a while. For example, a friend of mine from work asked the other day if I knew anywhere she could buy a red teapot with white spots. I didn’t, but suggested she could come here and make her own which I believe she intends to do. Also it is wonderful for children. Indeed, some might say predominantly for children, but I ignore that!

Oh my goodness. You couldn’t ask for a more delightful accidental discovery than this amazing little café. I’ll try to cohesively convey what this adorable café is all about, but it’s almost as if my fingers are stuttering and talking over each other as I type in order to get it out faster!
This café is essentially a café where you can go in, have coffee and/​or delicious home made cake, and MAKE things at the same time! Get it yet? I shall explain. My friend and I were browsing for somewhere to lunch when we came upon Create. We wandered inside and initally thought it might be a knitting shop. They had hoards of wool, from Rowan Cashsoft to Debbie Bliss, in beautifully displayed country style units. Dotted about were pattern books of all different fashions and ages too for customers to purchase and knit their own. Hung on washing lines and hangers about this section of the shop were the most adorable and beautifully knitted garments, cardigans and jumpers etc, all of which had been knitted according to patterns that were on sale in the shop! Wonderful.
After looking around for some time at the lovely knitting section we realised there was more to browse and so we moved through. Oh. My. There was more! This is where we discovered the café, I for one noticed the delicious looking confectionary and cakes that were on display. *Tummy rumbles* We walked through to another large room connected to the café till area and discovered a beautiful ceramics room with a large table in the centre. To the back wall there was a huge shelf heavily laden with ready-​made ceramic items which you can pay for and decorate whilst you sit and drink your coffee! There are pots, mugs, simple fridge magnets and much more to choose from!
I couldn’t be more excited about this place, it’s such a wonderful and imaginative idea for a shop, and it exemplifies the reasons why Ilkley and Yorkshire are the creative and thriving places that they are. This is exactly the kind of independent gem that deserves to be sung about from the rooftops, that will give people just that little bit more spark in their lives, and encourages well being all round. Painting and making is something anyone can enjoy and it’s amazing to see such a lovely business whose very reason is to promote this!
Fantastiche!