This corner store has everything -- as long as you like your chips and soda soft and plushy.
Lucy Sparrow's project The Cornershop is a typical convenience store, except everything inside it is made with felt. Hand-stitched chips, beer, magazines, ice cream -- you name it -- were created by the British artist as part of a temporary art installation.
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Located in Bethnal Green, East London, Sparrow's store grew out of her dream to create a fully immersive art experience. "I wanted to create something that was so complete that it drew people into it and surrounded them completely," Sparrow tells Mashable.
The Cornershop is also a source of nostalgia for many visitors in the neighborhood, who see many stores like it being taken over by larger supermarkets. "I hoped that this project would remind people just how much the corner shop cemented life in local communities," says Sparrow.
Sparrow and her assistant spent eight months hand-crafting every single plushy piece for the shop. There are 4,000 objects in total, covering a full range of products one would see in a typical store, from canned goods and toiletries to alcohol, chewing gum and tobacco products. According to Sparrow, 90% of the products are made entirely of felt, with some Lycra, plastic, or fabric paint for effects.
The entire process was funded by Sparrows successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised more than £10,000 ($16,800 USD). Sparrow's original goal was only £2,000.
Visitors are free to come to The Cornershop and browse until August 31st. Pieces of art are available to be reserved in person or purchased online at The Cornershop's website.