Newsletter - November 2006

Autumn is in glorious full colour here in the Lake District, very inspiring and a sign for choosing our winter projects, hopefully we will have more time to indulge in our hobbies now that the clocks have changed!

October started with a great weekend at the Fashion and Embroidery show in Harrogate. We decided that we would make it a fun few days, as well as a ‘work' trip to find new tutors and ideas. Aren't we lucky to be able to do that!!! The exhibitions were just stunning!! There had to be something there that was to everyone's taste. We slowly made our way round ‘ooohing' and ‘aaahing' at all the wonderful colours and ideas. Britain has such a wealth of very clever and artistic people! We met up with friends and caught up on all the news. No trip to Harrogate is complete without some retail therapy and supper at Betty's – so we managed to include these too! The verdict was that we had had a great time, spent too much money and eaten too much good food. If you get a chance, it is well worth a visit next year.

When you read this we will have had our Beadwork Retreat with Jill Devon, at Muncaster Castle, we have been promised a write up from one of the students so look out for that next time!

We have just received some new Laurel Burch bags, which are going to be fun for the winter season! They are made out of cotton tapestry material with lovely cotton co-ordinating linings. There are Denim blue cats, rainbow coloured dogs, and horses in all shades of brown. They come in all shapes and sizes, useful for all occasions and will be ideal for Christmas Presents.

Do you need to stock up on threads and fabrics? Remember that we can supply ALL Zweigart fabrics, including aidas, linens, banding and afghans, in every count and shade. Give us a call for a competitive quote and if we do not have it in stock we will add it to our next order. We also stock DMC threads and can order anything from DMC that you require.

We are busy putting together our calendar of events and workshops for 2007. Our first residential Retreat of the year will be held at Muncaster Castle from 22 -27 April 2007, this is a Needlework Design Course and looks set to be a fabulous week with tutor Sally Scott Aiton from Cobweb Designs, all skill levels welcome, especially beginners! Full details can be found here Please ring or email for our colour brochure which contains the full itinerary.

In February we will begin a Block a Month patchwork course with tutor Barbara Slee. This will be a thorough (but fun!!!) course covering all the basics and building up to a complete quilt. Further details available online or please ring/email for further details. This course is also suitable for all skill levels and beginners are especially welcome, more complicated blocks will be offered to more experienced students! This course is expected to fill up very quickly, and is not to be missed so don't delay if you would like to join us!

We have a limited number of places on two beadwork courses early next year with tutor Elaine Peel, the first one is 24 & 25 February 2007, join us to make a Beaded Knitted Spectacle Case, and the second one is 10 & 11 March 2007, Beaded Tassels for Beginners.

We are also working on dates for a regular Beadwork for Beginners Course (a daytime course to run alongside the existing evening classes), further details available soon, let us know if you would be interested and we will send you the information as soon as it is available.

Details of other classes will be published on our website and in future newsletters as soon as they have been confirmed. If you do not have access to a computer, telephone us and let us know what you are interested in and we can keep you informed. If there is something you would like to learn or would like classes with a particular tutor, let us know and we will see if we can arrange it.

And finally, we are having a Beady Get Together on Sunday 3rd December 2006 in Holmrook. We will be having a display of work from the Thursday Beaders, and both the Beginner and Intermediate Evening Class ladies – come along and see what we have been creating. There will be bead sales tables and mince pies! Please ring or email for directions and times.

Until next month,
Happy Beading & Stitching

Beverley & Edna