Keeping Heritage Crafts Alive

The Frog in the Craft is a small Nottinghamshire-based business dedicated to heritage button making and hand sewing crafts.

My aim is simple: to help people rediscover traditional textile skills and realise that many of these crafts are still accessible, enjoyable and surprisingly relaxing today.

Some of the techniques I teach and support, such as the Dorset button and the Yorkshire button, date back hundreds of years. They were once everyday skills. Today, fewer people know how they are made.

Through carefully chosen supplies, beginner-friendly kits and small craft workshops, The Frog in the Craft helps people reconnect with heritage crafts through mindful button making.

Whether you make buttons, sew by hand, embroider, quilt, slow stitch, sew your own clothes, cross-stitch, or are simply curious about learning a new craft, you are very welcome here.

My Story

The Frog in the Craft is a one-woman business run by me, Sandrine.

I am a French expat who has lived in the UK for over 30 years. Craft has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My grandad first introduced me to making things with my hands when I was young. One of our early projects together was building a wooden sewing box when I was about ten years old. I still use that box today.

Over time I developed a particular love for heritage crafts, especially traditional textile buttons. These crafts combine history, creativity and practical skill in a way that feels deeply satisfying.

A few years ago I also discovered something else: slow, mindful crafts such as button making and hand sewing can be very helpful for mental wellbeing and chronic pain management. That discovery strengthened my desire to share these crafts with others.

Recognition

In 2026, The Frog in the Craft received the Creative Business of the Year award in the Sherwood Forest Small Business Awards, presented by local MP Michelle Welsh and voted for by residents of the Sherwood Forest constituency.

The award recognised the work I do to share heritage crafts, support local creative communities and help keep traditional textile skills alive.

I am also a member of the Heritage Crafts Association, which works to support and safeguard traditional craft skills across the UK.

What You Will Find in the Shop

The Frog in the Craft specialises in button making and hand sewing supplies for textile crafters.

The range includes:

• Button making kits, tools and accessories
• Hand sewing threads and needles
• Darning and mending supplies
• Fabric or items ready to be personalised with your stitching
• Textile craft kits (hardanger, cross-stitch, etc…)
• Haberdashery essentials

Some items come from trusted brands in the sewing world. Others are designed or handmade by me, or created by talented independent makers I collaborate with.

Whenever possible I also reuse and repurpose materials in my own creations, giving new life to fabrics, ties and textile scraps.

Crafting with Care

Wherever possible, I aim to run The Frog in the Craft in a thoughtful and responsible way.

This includes using eco-friendly packaging, reusing and repurposing materials in my own creations, and encouraging slower, more mindful crafting practices that value skill, creativity and longevity.

The way I run the business also reflects this philosophy. I work at a pace that allows me to give proper care to each order, each workshop and each customer interaction, rather than focusing on constant launches or fast turnover.

For me, sustainability is not only about materials. It is also about supporting people, community and traditional craft knowledge.

Sharing the Craft

Alongside the shop, I also teach small in-person craft workshops and drop in workshop sessions in various events and markets across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

These sessions introduce people to heritage crafts such as Dorset buttons and other traditional textile buttons in a relaxed, beginner-friendly environment and often with a modern twist.

Workshops are designed to be welcoming and informal. The aim is not perfection, but enjoyment, learning and connection with others who enjoy making things with their hands.

Some workshops also support local causes through fundraising activities for organisations such as the Hucknall Wildlife Group, of which I am a member.

An Independent Craft Shop at Heart

Although The Frog in the Craft operates online, I like to run it with the same care and personal service you would expect from a traditional independent craft shop.

Every order is packed by hand and every message is answered personally. Supporting customers on their creative journey is an important part of what this business is about.

For those who enjoy sharing their progress or asking questions along the way, there is also a small private WhatsApp community where makers can connect and support each other.

From Etsy to My Own Website

The Frog in the Craft first grew through my Etsy shop, where many customers discovered my kits and supplies.

As the business developed, I created this website so I could offer customers a better overall experience: fair pricing, a wider range of products and resources, and more flexibility to reward loyal customers and support international buyers.