A DUDLEY family are living their dream after launching their own coffee house in Gornal almost a year from opening their debut shop.

Michelle and Mick Howard unveiled Fiddlesticks Coffee House earlier this month, which sits alongside the family’s craft and gift shop which opened on Louise Street last October.

It is has been a labour of love for the family who decided to take the plunge and open their own shop inspired by Michelle's love of crafting.

The shop, which is called Oh! Flipping Fiddlesticks, specialises in craft items and quirky gifts and hosts craft classes such as crocheting lessons.

Mick explained: “We wanted to do something different with crafting as a lot of young people are getting into it.

“Michelle had to go everywhere to get her wool, one day we said why don’t be get our own place. One week later we had the shop.”

Michelle began baking cakes for the crafters and before long was inundated with demand for sweet treats and even birthday cakes for customers.

From there the duo turned the success of their culinary creations into a fully fledged coffee house serving homemade food, drinks and treats.

It also has an outside garden area for people to sit, eat and craft, with Mick and Michelle eager to create a place that is restful and promotes a positive wellbeing.

The pair describe their food as homemade and rustic with the cakes proving so popular Michelle is baking around the clock to keep up with the "crazy" demand since the coffee house opened on September 1.

The duo said they have been blown away by the support they have received from the community in Gornal, where they now see their customers as friends.

Mick said: “It’s a great community and a great bunch of people, once you are in with Gornal, that’s it. They are very loyal.”

The craft space in the shop has also quickly become a vital part of the community as it provides support for people living with conditions such as anxiety and autism as a place to relax and get creative.