New Makers and Machines exhibition at Thinktank!
The launch of the new 'Makers and Machines: Creativity in the Computer Age' exhibition at Thinktank sees the arrival of a new range of exciting products in the shop.
Exploring the exhibition’s themes of coding, weaving and gaming, these products offer something for everyone – from craft kits and games to homeware and books. Featuring local makers, outstanding crafts, books for all ages and William Morris products, Birmingham Museums Trust shop’s new collections offer everyone the opportunity to continue exploring the rich history of coding from home.
Hawthorne Handmade are a small UK based business who produce beautifully designed cross stitch and weaving kits. These kits teach the basics of a timeless craft and are available in a range of designs. Beautifully presented in a gift box they make a perfect gift for crafters! (Rainbow Cross Stitch Kit, £22.95)
Our Knitting & Crochet Kit is designed to teach children age 5+ in a fun, inspiring way. The kit includes all the yarn, tools and instructions for projects including scarfs, bags and decorations. (Knitting & Crochet Kit, £40).
William Morris designs for his woven textiles feature in the exhibition, showcasing the history of weaving and its links to the city and Birmingham’s collections. No home would be complete without something Morris inspired and we have a beautiful range of textiles and homeware on offer. Our Art Print collection features a number of William Morris prints from the collection so why not adorn your wall with a beautiful print that can be customised to suit your home? (William Morris Art Print, From £27; William Morris Cushion, £30; William Morris Latte Mug, £15).
Sparklymouse is one of our incredible local makers. Louise is born and bred in Birmingham. She creates hand embroidered illustrations, working with an ambition to make life a bit more colourful in a world full of doom and gloom. Shop her bright, fun designs for your next occasion. (Sparklymouse card, £3.25 each).
Learn to code with our books designed to introduce the intriguing world of coding to all ages. A Coder Like Me (£7.99) introduces young readers to problem solving and coding, answering questions about robotics and artificial intelligence, and teaching the language of coding in a fun interactive way. Coding for Beginners Using Scratch (£12.99) provides a guide to Scratch Coding, a programme used in Primary schools across the country. With step by step instructions, the guide shows children how to create their own computer games, animations and much more. For adults, explore the history of coding with the inspirational autobiography from Dame Stephanie Shirley, Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story (£10.99), or Electronic Dreams: How 1980s Britain Learned to Love the Computer (£17.99), exploring how computers invaded British homes and the people behind the boom. You can also learn about the ins and outs of becoming a professional programmer with The Self-Taught Programmer (£14.99), the ultimate roadmap from writing your first program to passing your first technical interview.
With the 1980s giving birth to the retro arcade game, our coding range wouldn’t be complete without some retro inspired products. PAC-MAN and Tetris mini arcades in a tin would make the perfect gift for any gamer, younger or older! We also have mugs, puzzles and brain teasers inspired by the classic games. (Tetris Arcade in a Tin, £29.99; PAC-MAN Arcade in a Tin, £29.99; Tetris Impossible Puzzle, £9.99)
