Supples

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Many thanks to julienoshoes to bumping the threads containing book recommendations, websites, etc. I was wondering if there was a similar thread (or threads) for supplies -- books, coloring supplies, notebooks, arts & crafts, curricula, anything! I'm always on the hunt for a good bargin and a place with good customer service.

I don't know of such a thread-but this could be the start of one!
if everyone inputs ideas for suppliers here, we can keep bumping this one too.

Generally we used car boot sales, Ebay, Freecycle, and Charity shops to source much of our supplies, in our case the kids would go off with their own money to spend on anything they liked, but would come back to me, if they found a potential bigger purchase and we'd discuss between us.

We also used The Works a lot, they have good craft bargains.

I used to Love Opitec but I am not so sure about it now, I believe it no longer has a catalogue, but continues to be very good value for money!

Best of all though was our HE group had a community group membership for our local Scrapstore!
Unbelievably good....

Grandson is into Warhammer and it's a bit pricey. We go to car boots and sometimes pick up stuff from there. Ebay, Amazon, Baker Ross and Hope Education is really good for educational stuff.

Just sent for this

Monarchy Card Game

There are good reviews on Amazon but the link is to the (allegedly) only pkace to buy Jubilee edition.

(you may have to phone your order - the payment page wasnt working)

Thanks for starting the thread scout

Oh yes! Warhammer! Our LA loved the fact that the local HE boys were into Warhammer, maths strategy arts and crafts, reading and social interaction all in there!
Our DS saved all of his money for Warhammer. Our grandson is into it too now and we are planning a trip to Warhammer World in Nottingham, now my Ds, his Uncle has finished at Uni.

The chap who runs the local Games Workshop is going in to do a teaching degree in September, Julie. He's taken grandson under his wing and helped him a lot. I can leave him there on his own for a couple of hours. Got him a nice lot of Warhammer stuff for his 13th birthday on Monday.

My DH loves Warhammer!

DD is meh about it but does help him paint the models when he lets her

Quite a lot of blokes do the Warhammer stuff and there's a lot of girls too. I found Hobbycraft a bit cheaper than the Games Workshop kits.

julie - thanks for links to Scrapstore and Opitec - anything you can recommend from Opitec in particular?

Looks like our local Scrapstore runs workshops - will have to see if anypne at our local group interested - TY :)

Another great resource is Pinterest. We had some great Titanic stuff from there. I just google whatever subject we're interested in and it comes up with a page full.

Great thread idea :) I tend to use amazon for everything so it'd be nice to get some different ideas.

I'm not HEing, I am one of those "Would love to homeschool but can't due to circumstances" mums so hope nobody minds me lurking!

"The Works" and "The range" do good crafty bits, the latter is sometimes a bit expensive. Poundshop/land has bits of stationary and craft stuff too.

Poundstretcher is a good one and Wilkinsons has reasonably priced books, stationary, and I also find the black and coloured cartridges for my HP printer are cheaper than anywhere else.

'stationery'

I love all these suppliers of 'stuff'

schofield and sims click the button to say you are a teacher and you will get the schools discount

school surplus

cgp books

tts

stimulus learning

I got all sorts from here - the education section

These three are all Christian companies - but dont let that put you off (if you are not a Christian!) most of the 'stuff' we own from these companies isnt specifically Christian - they sell a lot of American resources because 'homeschooling' has been popular in America a lot longer than it has here.

conquest books

ichthus resources

sonlight curriculum

Just to add:

If you are new to home education do please resist the urge to buy 'stuff' - wait until you have found your feet a bit more. Stuff you buy in the first few months wont be the things you use long term (I speak from experience!)

Thanks everyone!

Toddler's just over 2 1/2. I haven't bought "stuff" per say but we do a lot of crafts & exploring so I'm always on the look out for cheap inexpensive materials that I can use in a variety of ways.

I've used Crafty Crocodiles for Toddler, my Guides & my Seniors and for my local HE group. They're like Baker Ross but don't have as large a collection of tat stuff. However, their prices are better and you can buy things in singles (unlike B.R. which you usually have to buy in pack quantities).

Keep the suggestions rolling in....

Does anyone know if I can (and therefore where I can) get scraps of materials? I'm thinking things like fabric/cloth, yarn, ribbon, etc? There are some crafts/activities I want to do with Toddler and need just bits & pieces of lots of things and I don't fancy spending loads of money on a big spool or whatever when I need a foot or two (that, and frankly, I live in a matchbox and don't have the room to store lots of crafty materials).

Scrapstores

or swap shops. I can't find a good national swap shop directory but this gives an idea what they are like: Wallingford Swap Shop Your local council should be able to help you find one nearby. Swap shops are usually voluntary organisations, but councils are very hot on promoting them at the moment as it reduces the amount of stuff going to landfill.

Don't forget that you can take the unused bits straight back, as I am constantly reminding my crafty 12yo. Unfortunately our local swap shop is just round the corner from our house and her auntie bought her a membership entitling her to a number of bags of free scrap and a discounted price on further junk items. I do everything in my power to prevent her and her packrat dad from finding out the dates of upcoming swap shops. Then I sneak off to them to dump my unwanted stuff. Of course, I always return empty-handed because I am never tempted by free stuff myself.

My local fabric shop has a big box with odds and ends in at various prices. Once found a lovely blue/green square of (i think) lycra which DD used for years as a 'swimming pool' 'pond' etc. Then made it into a 'dress' for mermaid.

They also have a smaller tray on counter with odd buttons, bits of lace, trimmings etc.

I find staff in such shops really helpfull and generous especially with small child in tow (but not so keen if child is sticky )

Excellent idea

I'm going to save all the links until I have dd in bed and a cup of tea, then I will savour some fantasy resource shopping!

Not that we have half the actual shops in my part of the world, I am heavily internet based when it comes to shopping. In fact , if it wasn't for the internet I'd probably have paid off my mortgage by now.