‘Colourful and wonderful emporium’ FuzzypegFolk in Bungay is celebrating one year of trading. Owner Katharine Ricks reflects on the past year and explains why opening the shop is one of the best things she has ever done
Bungay enjoyed a spectacular evening of colour, magic, music and fun last week, as the much-loved shop, FuzzypegFolk, celebrated its first year of trading on the Market Place. FuzzyMeg, the Norfolk folk doll on stilts, (AKA Kate Evans) welcomed everyone as they gathered outside the shop for drinks. They were then entertained by comedic juggler Dulce Duca who, dressed as Fuzzypeg the hedgehog, balanced various articles from the shop on her chin including a full-sized cartwheel.
The events concluded with a live-illustrated storytelling of “Sant Jordi and the Dragon”, a folk tale about St George as heard in Catalunya, by local author and illustrator James Mayhew. As he told and painted the story, he was accompanied on guitar by well-known musical artist, Will Fergusson.
The shop – a colourful and wondrous emporium – was established in April 2025 by Katharine Ricks, offering customers a rich selection of vintage and new, decorative handmade crafts and folk-art collectibles, mostly from Eastern Europe. There is also a lovely range of homeware, toys, gifts and a fine selection of greetings cards and beautiful stationery.
Katharine was inspired to open her shop in memory of her late mother who had a shop called Fuzzypeg selling children’s clothes in Woodbridge, in the 1970s. The name is taken from the little hedgehog character found in the “Little Grey Rabbit” series of books by Alison Uttley. The original illustrator, Margaret Tempest created the shop sign that today hangs above the door of Katharine’s Bungay store.
Reflecting on the past year, Katharine says: “Just over a year ago I was still adamant that I wouldn’t open a shop, I would just rely on my website. What was I thinking?! Thank goodness that the opportunity to do so just happened out of the blue. Opening my little red shop in Bungay is one of the best things I have ever done – I love it!”
FuzzypegFolk (11a Market Place, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 1AP) is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm. Visit fuzzypegfolk.co.uk for online purchases. For enquiries, please email hello@fuzzypegfolk.co.uk.
Featured image of Katharine Ricks by Simon Buck Photography
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