User:IanBowers/sandbox

George Weil arrived in London from Alsace in 1891 to supply silk linings to the fur trade, his original account books are still with the business which he started. Three generations of the Weil family created George Weil & Sons Ltd which became an important source of fabrics and decorative materials for the crafts market. The business has grown through the acquisition of other reputable craft suppliers and now offers a vast range of craft materials and equipment to professional artists, crafters, the performing arts, education and sheltered workshops, and many others world-wide.

George Weil & Sons Ltd provides high quality traditional craft and fine art supplies as well as supplies for felt makers, dyers, silk painters, jewellery makers, screen printers, weavers, knitters, modellers, paper makers, spinners - in fact, the range of craft materials are so varied that they can be applied to many other crafts.

In addition to the diverse range of craft materials, there is an extensive Book Shop which includes books for beginners through to experts. The books include titles from artists, teachers and hobbyists and often provide step-by-step instruction on where to begin learning about a craft. Alternatively, the selection of Explorer Packs and starter kits (complete with instructions, materials and equipment) are often the best place to begin.

Over the years a number of craft supply businesses have been brought together through George Weil. Each of the businesses is best known for specific products, and they are still sold through George Weil as Fibrecrafts dyes and fibres, Papershed papers and Selectasine screen printing pigments and binders. The Polymer Clay Pit traded successfully as a distributer for branded clays such as Sculpey polymer clay and Art Clay Silver clays. The George Weil branded products include silk fabrics and silk painting supplies.

Fibrecrafts was the first acquisition and was set up in 1982 by Anna Bowers, to offer textile crafts supplies for hand spinners, weavers, dyers, felt makers and knitters. She set the standard for the service we are proud of today. The products are still sourced from the best world-wide manufacturers, offering choice, quality and value, and, when possible, are delivered to our customers next working day.

The Papershed brand was originally developed by Kath Russon and acquired by the George Weil Group in 2004. Many of the Papershed handmade paper products are hand crafted by small rural communities and sourced from Thailand, Southern Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Other items, such as the hand-dyed silks, are brought in as raw materials and produced in-house. The Papershed now offers the serious paper maker the professional materials for producing high quality and durable hand made paper.

In 2008 the Polymer Clay Pit extended the group to include supplies of polymer clays and silver clay. The range also includes tools and equipment such as a kiln, shape cutters, pasta machine for blending clays, moulds and texture sheets. The business, was founded by artist Sue Heaser in 1985 and the Polymer Clay Pit, is now the largest specialist polymer clay retailer in Europe and a major stockist of Art Clay Silver clay. We continue to have a link with Sue and her knowledge of the materials and how to create outstanding items with them.

In March 2010 the Selectasine Serigraphics range was added. Selectasine Serigraphics was founded by Richard Knight, 30 years ago and brought with it a range of screen printing supplies which include the Selectasine (previously known as Bricoprint) binders and pigments. When combined the pigments and binders are made to create a large choice of screen printing ink colours and effects. The Selectasine screen printing system completes the range of materials offered to the textile crafts enthusiast.

The Guildford Art Centre joined George Weil in March 2013. The range of traditional craft materials and equipment now include a large selection of fine art supplies including oils, acrylics, watercolours, canvases, papers, brushes, easels and portfolios to supply the artist and student with brands including Daler Rowney, Winsor & Newton, Jakar and Derwent.

George Weil & Sons is a limited company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 00321890. Registered office: Old Portsmouth Road, Peasmarsh, Guildford, GU3 1LZ