View this in your browser. | Unsubscribe

Coast & Country Crafts and Quilts Newsletter
Coast & Country Logo
Sallys_Shop-image-1080x764

Imbolc blessings

This past week saw us reach the mid point of winter, Imbolc, half way between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Imbolc celebrates the hearth, home, and the return of light. It is quite literally mid-winter, while days and nights can be cold the days are getting, lighter and signs of Springs are appearing.
There is still a definite nip in the air, and its been more than a tad chilly at times this week, but has anyone else noticed signs of spring creeping in already? The gradual unfurling of leaves and peeling away of layers like a burlesque dancer slowly removing her gloves. This week I have seen primroses, daffodils, camelias, snowdrops and crocuses emerging. Yet I look outside and despite the blue skies and sunshine, I see clouds moving as fast as an airplane flying past. The winter wind still blowing hard.
This week we take a look at books and bundles. We have a great variety of publications for all tastes and skill levels. From basic beginner embroidery stitches and how to use a rotary cutter, to intricate beadwork and stumpwork, and more intricate quilt or doll making books. Below, we have tried to pair up books with the fabrics, threads and sewing essentials that will provide a more enjoyable experience for you by taking out the stress of finding all you need. We know that some customers find it harder to navigate our online site so we want to make it a more pleasurable for you all.

Sending warmth and happiness from all of us here. We look forward to helping you with everything sewing related both online and in person. Why not pop in for a browse and a fumble then go to the Olive Grove for cake or lunch, or both!
Best wishes
Sally & the girls
Tilda books contain a huge array of patterns that include quilts and dolls and items for the home. They are incredible value for money and always inspirational. There are books for specific seasons as well as some geared more towards characters and dolls, or quilts and cushions.
Why not use our fabric bundles or scrap bags to accompany the books. For the doll and animal making, we stock some of the Tilda doll fabrics. They have a slightly looser weave which creates a slight stretch making them easier to stuff while retaining strength and durability. You can also use calico, linen or the Japanese Woven cottons.
Pretty Table is a pattern booklet with layout options for a table runner or table topper, by Kathy Skomp and Bekah Pipes of Lavender Lime.
Made using the rich Chelsea Garden collection from Moda. Use one of the bundles to make it. We have a few options.
We have Sashiko needles, panels, and two books on Sashiko and Boro stitching. We also stock perle thread to use in place of sashiko thread and we have a wide range of gorgeous woven Japanese cottons in patterns and plains.
Jackie Nichols from House on the Hill has these gorgeous little booklets jammed full of ideas for pretty makes for the home or gifts. Simply Seaside filled with nautical themed projects has a suitably blue fabric pack to give plenty of options of things to create. Simply Rouge is made up of country reds and linens for a rustic look.
We have a varied selection of books that use wool and woolfelt. They include books by Corinne Lapierre to make decorations, birds and other animals, plus the three Luna Lapin books by Sarah Peel. To accompany the books we have bundles of felt from Corinne Lapierre, and our own large selection of woolfelt to order by the long 1/4. We alos have the divine 100% wool Lanacot wools in a rainbow pack of either fat 1/4s, fat 1/8s or fat 1/16s.
Pre-cuts are a really lovely way of getting a whole coordinated range of fabrics ready to use without having to make a choice of what to use. Named pre-cuts because they are already cut into squares or strips. Most are available as 10" squares or layer cakes, 5" squares or charm packs, mini charms of 2 1/2" squares and jelly rolls which are 2 1/2" wide strips cut across the width of the bolt so approximately 44" long. We have books showing how to use these handy packs and lots of precuts to choose from.
Kaffe Fasset fabrics and books are always a feast for the eyes with their bold patterns and colours. They bring joy and richness to even the dreariest of days
Embroidery comes in such a huge variety of styles. Simple running stitch to more intricate goldwork, bead work and stumpwork. We have books that encompass all abilities from beginner to expert and everywhere in between.
Of course for embroidery the threads and fabrics are super important. We have the delicious DMC stranded cottons in hundreds of shades including variegated threads. Stranded cottons are usually used by separating the strands and using one, two or three strands at once depending on the intricacy of the project.

You can buy any colour of DMC by telling us the number you need in the comments section of the online order or take the guess work out and order one of our packs of threads. These are made for specific projects but they are also a great way of buying a coordinating selection of threads for any of your own projects.

We also stock both DMC and anchor perle threads. These are in two weights, the finer 12 and thicker 8 weight. These are not stranded and are to be used as they are.
Many beginners are intimidated by using a rotary cutter for the first time but soon come to see how time saving, and fun, they can be. We have cutters, blades, mats and rulers as well as a book detailing ways to use your rotary cutter with safety and accuracy.
Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched has several books all in her quirky style. They are a mix of stitchery, applique and piecing. We have found that scrap bags are a great way to replicate the little projects and the scrappy look of some of her bigger book projects. Each book contains a large project or quilt plus lots of smaller items to make.