As I write this I am drinking my third coffee of the day and it’s only just lunchtime. Such is the way we roll during the Christmas prep here at The Stitchery - we are in the thick of preparing and dispatching our Advent calendars and it is all-consuming!
We have made up 250 and I don’t mind saying that I think it is our best advent calendar yet. I decided to incorporate some hand-stitch projects that would usually appear in the 12 Days of Christmas boxes and so this year there are 7 mini embroidery kits and 5 english paper piecing mini kits - the latter of which use some of my favourite Primitive Gatherings fabrics.
Of course there is also the usual Christmas mug, candle, project bag and notions pouch with a few other little surprises. The kits will all be released next Summer as standalone kits and I am so happy with how they have all come together.
There are about ten advent calendars left now, I think. And I have made the difficult decision that this will be our last advent calendar in its current format.
If you’ve always fancied one then now is your chance to buy. The calendars contain 24 individually wrapped gifts, presented in a beautiful reusable display box together with an exclusive printed jute sack in which to keep your gifts until you open them. If you’d rather something a little smaller then we do still have a few 12 Days of Christmas boxes left. You can buy those here. It’s a box of materials (together with hoop, needles and scissors) to make a set of 12 hanging hearts with the items from the 12 Days of Christmas embroidered on them. Of course if you don’t want to make hanging hearts you can do bowl fillers, lavender bags, a wall hanging… Anything you fancy. There is enough fabric for the backs of your hearts and a little stabiliser too; we are using lovely new linen for this as with our alphabet sampler and stitch sampler.
Another reason we are so exhausted is that we have welcomed a new set of paws into our home! Three and a half weeks ago Pip came to live with us. She’s a West Highland White Terrier the same as Lottie and we have all fallen head over heels in love. Even Lottie is quite keen! I wanted to get another Westie when Lizzie was alive but she got cancer and I didn’t think it would be fair to have a little one snapping around her. And it turns out it was a good decision because I have discovered that puppies love to play Bitey Face with older dogs!! Here they both are in front of the fire. Lottie has got a bit chubby since Pip joined us - she pinches Pip’s food when Pip isn’t looking - so Lottie is now on a strict diet. Still hoping that Pip grows into those ears!
Pip (named after Prince Phillip) had her last vaccination today so she’s allowed out for walks next week. I can’t wait to see what she thinks of the big wide world. She’s been travelling most places with us in a special little sports bag that she peeps out of and gets quite a lot of attention! (Which she loves!)
We are preparing for Christmas stitch clubs and workshops here at the studio right now. Lisa Mattock of Forage is coming next week and we will be doing some lovely slow stitching incorporating antique fabrics and lovely threads. I can’t wait! I am actually going to participate in the classes and hoping to make a good start on a Christmas cottage and a fabric advent calendar. First I need to get myself off to the garden centre so that I can dress the place for its visitors. There are some places available so do book in and join us if you fancy it. It will be a lovely day and one to keep you stitching in front of the television all up to Christmas.
On that note I will get back to my work - I have a new workroom to organise and a few kits to finish stitching. I can’t share anything at the moment as they are all surprises but I will be back soon with photographs of actual embroidery!
in the meantime, thank you for being there and come back soon!
Love
Nicki xx