Author: Wansteadium

Wansteadium is running a campaign to highlight people the shops and traders who help make Wanstead. And in doing so, we hope to give readers the opportunity to make local choices and thus play a part in making Wanstead.

Next up is upholsterer Alix Senior, who writes:
“I re-upholster old pieces of furniture including dining chairs, armchairs and stools as well as making soft furnishings. I studied textiles at university and wanted to find a career where I could put my insane love of fabrics and vintage furniture into practice. I love that my job allows me to take old relics, often with sentimental value, and make them last longer by putting in new fillings and covering them with beautiful fabrics. Reupholstering means that we get to use things that normally end up on the side of the road, and also allows clients to be more individual with their style choices and have something unique in their home that they can treasure for many more years to come.

“I set up Blanket Upholstery on my own after moving to our home near Wanstead Flats where I live with my husband and two daughters. Wanstead and the surrounding areas are great as I work part-time and spend the rest of my days with the kids getting out to the playground or, more recently now the weather has turned, we love a visit to Wanstead Library. I’ve got all sorts of clients from people who have lived in the area for decades, to people like me who have moved to E11 more recently to get a better quality of life or starting a family without having to leave London.”

Alix can be contacted at her website. And if you’d like to be featured in Wanstead is made in Wanstead – or you’d like to offer help – get in touch with us via info@wansteadium.com

   
   
The snow wasn’t around for long, and there wasn’t much of it in the first place, but it does look pretty. These pics from Jenny Baptist, an early for the new all-comers Wanstead Weekly Photo.

@the_george_wanstead George & the DRAGON! 🐲 Flying high above the bar! 🍻 #thegeorge #georgeandthedragon #dragon #england #stainedglass #jdwetherspoon #wanstead #wanstead_e11 #london #eastlondon #pub #cheers #roof #above #wings #lights

A photo posted by Your Guide To Wanstead (@wanstead_e11) on Jan 8, 2016 at 9:50am PST

For the past three years, ace snapper Geoff Wilkinson has been contributing Wanstead Weekly Photo to this website, based on his amazingly industrious Wanstead Daily Photo blog. We’re stepping things up now, and are inviting ALL Wansteadium readers to contribute. You can either send us pictures directly (info@wansteadium.com) or post them on social media. Alert us in the usual way if you want us to take notice. In the meantime thanks to @Wanstead_E11 on Instagram for this week’s picture.

Welcome to the first instalment of our new campaign, “Wanstead is made in Wanstead”.

There have been lots of expressions of interest since we announced the campaign on Wednesday. In case you missed it, it’s an acknowledgement that the atmosphere and spirit of Wanstead is thanks in no small part to the shopkeepers, traders and local businesses which are based here. And it’s also a reminder that it’s within the power of Wanstead people to choose to support them.

So with that in mind we are going to feature some Wanstead businesses. First up is our new optician, Greg Etkin, who took over C J Packford’s late last year.

He kept on all the former staff, and is now planning a significant (and pretty stylish) refurbishment of the shop, pictured below.

He writes: “I’m an optician with 20 years experience, and am originally from South Africa. I’ve always loved the East End of London so when Mr Packford told me he wanted to sell his practice I jumped at the chance.

“So far it’s been tremendous. The staff are top notch and the residents are very supportive. I’m modernising the practice with a new boutique feel but trying to ensure that the ‘essence’ remains the same. That’s so important. I’ve also added new frame ranges and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and look forward to becoming an integral part of this close-knit community.”

The shop’s website is here.

If you would like your business to be featured, drop us a line at info@wansteadium.com

It’s one of the world’s most creative toilets, apparently. If you don’t believe us, you can see for yourself here…

The original photograph was taken by Reuters as part of its coverage of World Toilet Day – a thoroughly sensible campaign to highlight the lack of access to toilets that many people in the world have. (Ironically, it’s a problem which affects India more than most other countries…)

 

The butchers might have closed. But readers of this site seem determined not to let Wanstead die and ready to pledge to support local businesses. So Wansteadium is going to play its part by starting a regular feature – Wanstead is made in Wanstead – about people who are making stuff, selling things, or offering services. In fact anyone who is helping to make Wanstead.

Hopefully, armed with information, Wansteadium readers will be able to make good local choices and play their part too. The first instalment, featuring Wanstead’s new optician Greg Etkin, will appear here on Thursday. And if you would like to draw a bit of attention to your business, drop us a line at info@wansteadium.com.

And yes, the Wanstead is made in Wanstead logo was made in Wanstead. Could you tell?