
Mad About The House is not yet three years old and there have been so many times over the months that I have wished I could have a shop where I could gather together all the wonderful things I find under one umbrella.

Well Cinderella, you are invited to the ball. Some weeks ago I received an email asking me to get involved in a new venture called Great.ly. The idea is that a panel of people – the so-called Tastemakers – bring together the products they like from the Makers and create their own individual shops. That way you – the Shopper – can check out the boutiques of the bloggers, writers and stylists whose tastes they already chime with and, hopefully, find things you want to buy.

The makers get 60 per cent of the retail price, the tastemakers 25 per cent and Great.ly 15 per cent. It’s an idea that is simple and deserves to do well. After all, don’t we all find Not on the High Street a little unwieldy? It’s just too big to plough through most of time. Unless you know what you are looking for, which slightly defeats the object. And Etsy, well I’m a fan but I can’t often find what I want.

Great.ly can, of course, only be as good as the products on the site. When we first started we were all asked to bring five makers with us. They are gradually coming on board and I am delighted to share with you the work of Di Overton of Ghost Furniture, whose gorgeous gold and wooden chopping boards came about through a sort of Mad About The House introduction.

I am hoping to show you more wonderful British makers as time goes by, but in the meantime, have a look at the things I have already found. They will all ship to the UK and stock is growing every day.

My shop is divided into four sections: kitchen and dining, home accessories, decor and – a little indulgence this – fashion. I truly love everything I have chosen and I hope you will too. This is the logo which some of you may have noticed appeared on the blog a few weeks ago, now you know what it is. Click it any time to be taken straight to the Mad Shop and see what else is in stock.
If you want to know more about Great.ly and see who else is involved then this interview with the founder Sarah Bryden-Brown is a good overview.
Sounds fascinating! Brilliant concept. Good luck! X