By Isabel Fraser Friday Jul 25, 2025
Located unsuspectingly on Sandy Park Road, between terraced houses and an estate agent, These Two Hands hosts a carefully curated collection of beautiful, handcrafted homeware and sustainable gifts.
The owner, Naomi Evans, said: “It’s all about nature, inspired handcrafted designs made from natural materials – that’s my thing.” She added later: “Nothing is flown in from anywhere – everything’s locally sourced.”
Naomi is also the curator of the space, and seeks to bring together local artists with a shared passion for artisanal, nature-centred design. She commented: “It’s all women, actually – apart from one man,” explaining how she started with five women, and now hosts the work of 65 female artists.
It is essential to Naomi that she knows all of her makers, either in-person or from making an online connection. “That’s important to me, so I can say ‘that’s Julie’s work’, or ‘that’s Wendy’s work’.”
Naomi continued: “When you go around, even though it’s all very different women, it works really well together, because we’ve all got that same love for nature, and natural materials, at the heart of it.”
Naomi started an online website for These Two Hands almost eight years ago, a year after her daughter was born, and set up the physical shop in October 2021. Intending to “give the shop a go” for three months over the Christmas period, four years later These Two Hands continues to thrive.
Naomi recalls: “I was really craving physical connection with people because all my stuff is so tactile.
“It’s not a busy area, but it is a fiercely supportive, friendly community. It’s like in the old days, when you knew the sweet-shop owner and would talk to them.”
Naomi explained that those living on, and nearby, Sandy Park Road try to do all their shopping on the street, as there is also a local deli and other small businesses. Naomi continued: “People come in and bring photos of their newborn grandchildren, they bring their grandparents when they’re visiting, they bring friends who are visiting from overseas. It’s real.”
Naomi also brings art and nature-inspired events to the local community. This started with the BS4 Art Trail, which Naomi and two other makers began in 2023. “I met so many local makers who I didn’t know existed,” Naomi explained. “We got 75 makers in the first year already – the community was so ready for it. This year we had 90-odd makers, 31 venues and people coming from all over.”
Preparations for Naomi’s next event, a Harvest Festival on October 11, are already in full swing. The event will raise money for Sara Venn’s project ‘Edible Bristol’ which encourages individuals to grow locally and donate to food banks. Sara Venn, who was known as a “rock star” in the local gardening community, passed away in June.
Naomi looks forward to the future of These Two Hands, and noted “all you hear at the moment is how tough it is being an independent business, but it’s also the most rewarding thing you can ever do.”
She continued: “If you go to a supermarket, you’ll never get that conversation about how a piece was made, or why it was made. I don’t want customers to grab something and run, I want to know who it’s for, why you’re shopping.”
Naomi noted that people visiting the shop often feel safe in its calm, authentic atmosphere. Having experienced the shop first-hand, I certainly agree. As Naomi concluded: “It’s a very nurturing space where you can tell stories and be held. People often spend hours in here, but that’s what I want.”
“It’s connection – that’s what it really is about.”
83 Sandy Park Road BS4 3PG
Brislington Community News 