About Us & Events

A combination of Scandinavian Retro Style and traditional English Country Living, inspired by Anglo-Norwegian family roots, best describes Retro Heart and Home run by Kristin Bathurst from her workshop in the Heart of England. 

A growing store of useful small pieces of lovely timber in the family joinery workshop gave Kristin the idea of creating a range of smaller items, beginning with the heart black boards.  Her products are all hand made - the hearts are individually cut and finished by Kristin herself.  All the timber is from sustainable sources, from suppliers with FSC, PEFC and BM TRADA Trak Chain of Custody accreditation. 

Other items are chosen for their sound practicality, as used by Kristin’s English/Norwegian family, or are simply just lovely to have in your home and make perfect gifts.  During the 1960's and 70's Kristin would travel with her familiy to the family home in Norway for the entire summer holidays, which would be spent at the beach, messing about in boats, and helping pick and preserve the homegrown produce from the large garden and orchard - these experiences are a major source of inspiration.

Kristin loves meeting her customers, and will take her stall  to craft fairs, open garden events, garden clubs etc., as well as hosting some events.herself, including 'kaffe og vafler' - coffee and norwegian waffles, the delicious combination that fuels much of Norway!  Register with us or send us a message via the Contact Us page for notification of future dates.

Events 2013:

Last Thursday each month  - Coffee, Crafts and Company at The Coffee Tree,  Duke Street Church Hall, Sutton Coldfield.  10am - 12noon.   Come and join us!

THE EDIBLE GARDEN SHOW, STONELEIGH, WARKS.  15th - 17th March 2013.  Stand 81.

26th June - 2nd July 2013 - Summer Arts & Crafts Event - Lower Slaughter Village Hall, Lower Slaughter, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, with Artists Guy Warner, Rosie Lomberg and Tara Davidson - a week long exhibition in an idyllic location!

2012 Dates :

14th March 2012, NSPCC Fundraising Event, Knypersley Hall, nr Uttoxeter, ST14 8RF     10am - 1pm

25th and 26th May 2012, The Red, White & Bluetique Market, former Buxton & Bonnett Dept. Store, 3 Spires Shopping Centre, Lichfield, Staffordshire.

3rd June 2012   Anslow Village Jubilee Farmer's Market, Anslow, near Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.      11am - 3pm (and possibly later). Just one part of three days of events to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee - free entry to all!  

7th July 2012        Norton Juxta Twycross Summer Fete, Norton House Farm, Orton Lane, CV9 3PU      12noon - 5pm.

14th July 2012      Little Aston Summer Fete, Forge Lane, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield.  12noon - 4pm.

18th August 2012 & 25th August 2012    Blue Strawberry Handmade on the High Street, 3 Spires Shopping Centre, Lichfield.  9am - 5pm

2nd October 2012  Buzzard's Valley Vineyard, Shopping evening in aid of St Giles' Hospice

6th November 2012  Breedon Hall Christmas Shopping Fair, Breedon on the Hill, 9am-2.30pm and 6.30pm-9pm  (entry donation to Breedon Church £2).

10th November 2012  Four Oaks Methodist Church Christmas Fair, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, 10.30am-12.30pm

14th November 2012  Holly Prince Trust Fair, Alrewas Hayes, Staffordshire  (daytime and evening event times TBC).

15th & 16th November 2012  The Christmas House, Hints Farm House, Bangley Lane, Drayton Bassett

29th November - 2nd December 2012    The Country Living Christmas Fair, Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate.

5th December 2012   NSPCC Coffee Morning, Westmorland Cottage, Old Hall Grounds, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire, DE13 9BS  10am -12noon

JULENEK!

Think of the birds for Christmas - in Scandinavia we hang  a sheaf of oats, tied with a red ribbon or tape, on the barn, out building or fence post as a treat for the birds at Christmas, which doubles as a lovely decoration in the garden, known as a 'Julenek'.  The tradition is accompanied by the superstition that this will help ensure a good harvest the following year, and that the more the birds sing, the better the harvest.

We just have to have one at home, and so source oats from a local farm, which we cut by hand and tie up ourselves.  In Norway you can buy them in the supermarket - though the locally made ones are better as you know where they come from, they are more generous and are sourced from mould and pesticide free crops, so they are safe for the birds.   Let us know if you would be interested for Christmas 2012, as the oats are soon sown, and harvested in August.

In the meantime, have a look on You Tube to see photos of me making Julenek, just google 'Julenek'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAcxxmtSc_Q&context=C36a8b84ADOEgsToPDskLhB4lDzLTeNEkumOVqwLL

Stock Availability :

All items are subject to availability.  We will advise you if an item is out of stock, or will be delayed. Most of our products are handmade by us, which may affect availability. Often it is simply a case of waiting for paint to dry!   So do please contact us if you are interested in an item marked 'out of stock'.

All measurements given are subject to slight variation due to the hand made nature of our products.  As wood is a natural material, variations in graining and finish will occur.

For bespoke kitchens, dressers, library shelves, garden buildings and home restoration and renovation projects, please contact  Steve Bathurst,  email:stevebathurst@aol.com, or send a message via this website.