Crochet artist Vanessa Cortes, AKA The Glittery Bat, is opening a shop in St Saviour’s Yard, Norwich tomorrow. Here, Vanessa explains how The Bat and Friends will be more community hub than gift shop
Can you remind readers who you are and what you do?
Of course! My name is Vanessa better known as The Glittery Bat and I am a crochet artist that focus on working with scrap yarn and materials found in charity shops to help reduce waste going into landfill.
We last featured you in April 2024 – what has been happening since then?
I can’t believe this was in 2024 already! Since then, I have opened a YouTube channel where I share process vlogs of everything I make and to show that you can still make great stuff by working with what you have already in your stash.
I have also taken a break from doing markets as I wanted to try and learn new skills with crochet (dabbling more into wearables at the moment) and finally learn how to knit!
What is the latest development for The Glittery Bat?
Things are actually getting exciting at The Glittery Bat HQ as I am opening a gift shop at St Saviour’s Yard in Norwich and will call it The Bat and Friends!
What can you tell us about The Bat and Friends?
The Bat and Friends will be a gift shop where you will be able to find pieces from amazing local artists and small businesses from across the UK. It is really important to shop small and support small businesses especially nowadays with AI being shoved down our throats, so this feels important to me.
There will also be creative workshops being hosted. Like crochet workshops, jewellery making and lino printing for example. And because I love reading there will be a monthly book club as well. So really The Bat and Friends will not just be a gift shop; it will be a community hub. Which I think is what the “friend” in the name stands for. It’s not just me; it’s all of us.
Where can people find you – and when do you open?
You can find me on social media and YouTube and a website will be happening a little down the line too. We will officially be open on Friday 3rd July so do come say hello from 10am!
The Bat and Friends gift shop opens in Container 71 St Saviour’s Yard, Norwich, NR3 1GQ on Friday July 3, 2026. Opening times: Thursday, 1-5pm; Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday, 10am-4pm. Follow The Bat & Friends (@thebatandfriends_norwich) on Instagram and Facebook. Also subscribe to The Glittery Bat on YouTube.
Featured image of Vanessa Cortes – supplied
Leave a Reply