A shop is for life, not just for bleddeh Christmas

“Ooh look, Barbara, that shops closed dahn, a wuz gooin ter get me bits fer Chrissmuss!”

 

It’s an all too common sight on our high streets. Empty units, pop-up shops, permanent sales. But you boggers can help. Support yer independent shops this summer, because this is the time of year when they need you the most.

Small businesses rely on a good Chrissmuss ter see them through the quiet times, but if we all bought summat when we popped into an indpendent shop the rest of the yeeyer, then it could mek the difference between it being there or not when it comes round to Chrissmuss!

So, next time yer in tahn, pop in and support an independent shop. Because by doing so, you’re not helping some CEO jet off ter the Bahamas inniz new yacht, you’re helping Boggers like us pay our rent, and buy cat food, and maybe nip off ter Skeggeh for a couple of days if we’re luckeh.

Think abaht it… big corporations don’t need yer munneh, they don’t even pay any bleddeh tax arf the time. Behind every small business, is a real person, tryin’ ter mek a difference to their lives, and yours. Just a card is all it teks, me duck.

Don’t get me wrong, we can’t bleddeh wait ter see you all for yer Chrissmuss shoppin’ but if everyone of you supports a local independent business at the this time of yeeyer, then it could guarantee them actually bein’ araahnd at Chrissmuss!

Ta muchly, for your continued support, me ducks. And remember:

A Brief History of Dukki

AY UP, yo boggers!

You might alreadeh follow us on Facebook, twitter or Instagram, and know a bit abaht us boggers, or you might ‘av just chanced upon our blog on your travels through tinterweb. Warrever the circumstances, we thought we’d introduce ussens, and tell you all abaht how Dukki wuz formed. (No, we ‘aven’t spelled the words wrong, it’s colloquial writing. If yer don’t like it, yowl soon geroverit, me duck!)

The history of Dukki, is also kind of a love story!

Way back in 2014, I was made redundant, from a job that I’d slogged at for 4 years, with little recognition. you know the type, you put everything into it, thinking that you’ll make something of yourself from it one day, but that day never arrives…

After 100s of job applications, and the realisation that I didn’t like ‘working for the man’ I decided to set up my own business. It was later that month, that I went on a blind date with a slightly quirky, bald man, and on a very sunny afternoon in #Beeston in the beer garden at The Crown, we discussed art, illustration, Nottingham and everything in between…. We discovered that we were both artists, and talked about how he could sell some of his work on my website, and we got on so well. In the July, we hosted our first stall with the @bibfmarket at the vintage warehouse, which was a quiet event, but we had such good feedback, that we pursued more. With no money for a car, we would load stock into suitcases and wheel it to events, like @bartonsplc monthly craft markets, and the @craftinthecityevents.

In December 2014, we won the Inspiring retail awards, and had 3 weeks to open our shop! It was a whirlwind from start to finish, but the rest is history. This photo was taken on the first day, right before we opened. 

We had hardly any stock, and hadn’t got a clue what would happen. We now get to live and work together every day, and we’re so proud of how things have gone. All we want to do is celebrate Nottingham, and the beautiful things it has to offer, and we’re so glad that you all want to support us whilst we do it. Getting to work with a slightly quirky bald man, isn’t half bad either 🙂

Introducing Katie Abey Design

This year has been a whirlwind here at DUKKI. But we’re very pleased to announce that our DUKKI SHOWCASE 2015 is ending with a big rainbow coloured bang, probably containing jelly beans, or unicorn droppings if that’s what you like to call them……ahem.

We introduce Katie Abey to our shop, although she needs very little introduction, because she is already a well known bogger on the Nottingham Illustration scene.

A big load of Katie’s goodies, currently on display in our shop, Broadmarsh Centre, Nottingham.

Katie lives and works in a crazy little house in Derbyshire, with her fiancé, Jeff, and their cat, Frank. She works from home and has her work area carefully positioned next to the kitchen (and therefore the fridge and the kettle!)

She is inspired by anything weird and wonderful and aims to create colourful and happy illustrations by combining humour and puns with a touch of attitude and sweetness. Her aim is to create statements that are relate-able and will make people smile.

It certainly did!

Every single day starts with with a fun illustration to get the cogs whirring. She enjoys drawing her illustrations using pencil and fine-liners and then adding colours and textures digitally.

Her work has appeared in all sorts of places, from the walls inside Spanky Van Dyke’s, the hoarding for the redevelopment campaign in Sneinton Market, and even a range of Stationary for WH Smiths! (oo-er!)

Cotton tote bags on sale in our shop.

When she’s not drawing she enjoys music, reading, going on adventures and frequently changing her hair colour to match its surroundings!

You can follow Katie on Facebook here and twitter here, and, of course, pop in and see what she has for sale in DUKKI!

Burning Sensations Pyrography are now exhibiting at DUKKI

Ay up!

Our July exhibition has started. Its a pyrography takeover, her at DUKKI, and here are some of the highlights. Make sure you pop down to see it all. 24 hours in, and some of the items in these photographs have already been sold!

  The exhibition will run until the 31st July Beautiful home sweet home hanging pieces, and mini trinket boxes.

Steam Punk Style wooden trunk £65 (detail shown below)

More burnt offerings!The tree of life Plaque.

Eye of Horus plate,

Please help to support our local artists, by popping into the shop, but if you can’t make it to Nottingham, you can follow Burning Sensations Pyrography on Facebook by clicking here

Ta for now, me duck!

DUKKISHOWCASE2015 – Introducing Burning Sensations Pyrography

Good Morning everybody! It’s time to introduce the forthcoming exhibition we are having here at DUKKI. The next bogger to come and exhibit is Liz from

                                      Burning Sensations Pyrography                                          17-31 July 2015

Liz has been a pyrography Artist for 17 years. She concentrates mainly on cartoon and tattoo style art, hand burning pictures and words onto wooden items, like keepsake boxes, plaques and bookmarks.

She also carries out commissions in a variety of different styles, providing personalised unique gifts.

Burning Sensations Pyrography is based in Gedling, Nottinghamshire and you will also find them at various craft stalls, festivals, tattoo conventions and comic conventions. They cover a wide range of steam-punk/alternative fairs all over the UK, selling their burnt wooden offerings; in fact, you can find them tomorrow at Dubdayz Summerfest tomorrow 11th July.

you can follow Burning Sensations Pyrography on Facebook by clicking here

Come down and show your support for her creations from 17 July, DUKKI, Upper level, Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, Nottingham, NG1 7LN

Thank duck its Friday! I need your Help

Dukki

Ay up fellow Dukkies. I need your help. 

I had just opened the shop this morning, and was putting the kettle on for the first cuppa of the day, when a woman entered the shop. I said my usual hello as I always do to new customers, and carried on setting up the shop.

I thought she was just avin a ‘goz’ at what I was selling, so I left her to it. but clearly, she had another agenda. She came up to the counter and asked me who did all the artwork. I went into my usual spiel, that we’re an independent gift shop, and that I produce all the local dialect stuff and my partner Ian paints all the Local Landmarks.

Then she said “so why this?” and pointed to this frame

          

“this isn’t Nottingham” she said (she was right) “why are you encouraging swear words in your…

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Nottingham Street Tales: Drury Hill

An absolutely fascinating article, about a long lost but not forgotten Medieval thoroughfare. Now the entrance to the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, not far from our shop!

Nottingham Hidden History Team

by Joe Earp

Drury Hill if it had existed today would have most certainly rivalled York’s very own Shambles as one of the most important and picturesque examples of a medieval thoroughfare. However Drury Hill was not to be and despite many protests the ancient thoroughfare was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the entrance to the then new Broad Marsh Shopping Centre.

Drury Hill, with its narrowness and congestion, and its curious haphazard buildings, gives us a good impression of what medieval Nottingham would have looked like. Drury Hill was 4ft 10 inches wide at its narrowest point and signs had to be posted to alert traffic to this hazard. Drury Hill was so narrow that it was said that at its narrowest people from the two adjacent buildings could reach over and join hands.

Drury Hill, Nottingham, circa 1906- Photo Credit: The Paul Nix Collection.

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Pitch Day

So, those of you who are following us on Facebook will know that we’ve been shortlisted for the inspiring retail awards 2014. If we win, then we will be opening a shop in the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre! We’re just on the way to pitch our brand, and hopefully put Dukki on the map.
I shall keep you posted about our progress, but for now it’s ta – ra from us, duck!