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Coast & Country Crafts and Quilts Newsletter
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Beltane Blessings -
Good morning lovely customers and friends. Today sees us continuing to celebrate the new month of May. Yesterday was May Day or Beltane. A time to celebrate the start of Summer, the cycles of nature and the abundance and fertility of life. I am sure many of us have participated in dances around the Maypole and spent time around Beltane fires. Maybe you were a May Queen or a Green Man. We would love to hear your stories. You might still be involved in May Day celebrations. There is a resurgence of celebrating these ancient Celtic and Gaelic festivals that honour the changing of the seasons. This year May Day coincides with the Full Moon. This one is often called a Flower Moon in recognition of the blossom and blooms abounding at this time.
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Two Cornish festival days celebrate Beltane and the change of season. Yesterday was the vibrant Padstow Obby Oss with two 'osses or horses. These osses are large, colourful, and decorated with ribbons, flowers, and bells. Each oss is carried on a pole by a group of dancers known as the 'Teaser' and accompanied by musicians playing accordions and drums. It's a quirky and hugely important Cornish tradition. Next week, on Friday, we see the famous Helston Flora Day. I am sure many remember the Terry Wogan version of the Flora Day Song. The streets of Helston are filled with dancers and the houses and shops covered with flowers. Two very vibrant and exciting days.
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This week also brings the promise of a new season for Coast and Country. We will have more exciting news to follow next week once we have the I's dotted and the T's crossed! .............
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We have fresh new products this week in the shape of magazines from Australia. Homespun and Inspirations are both in and are full of fabulous projects. Each contains a wide variety of different styles and techniques so there is something for everyone including knitting, embroidery, stumpwork, patchwork and crochet.
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How long ago did you check out your quilting essentials? Are you still struggling with a rotary blade that really has seen better days. It no longer cuts fabric like a hot knife through butter but has little imperceivable nicks in it that catch on the fabric and means you have to go through several times. We are all guilty of trying to make a blade last much longer than it should! Scissors too and rulers with notches where we have been over enthusiastic with the blade. This is a little reminder to check your equipment and make life easier going forward.
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With the arrival of Beltane and the knowledge that Summer is drawing ever closer, we would like to share some links for holiday properties for rent that are owned by colleagues and family. Some of you have asked us about places to stay locally so below you can see three different places to suit varying budgets. We would love to welcome you to Cornwall so you can see why we love it so much. Maybe you can time a visit to coincide with our next sewing Get Together on July 28th. Full details are below with a sneak peak at the latest design from Mary. A gorgeous nautical Bargello quilt.
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Let us know if we can help you choose products or make up kits for a specific project. We work part time but will always answer a call or email whenever and as soon as we can. We hope to see you at one of our pop up events soon.
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With our Very Best wishes
Sally & Michelle x
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Alongside projects utilising popular techniques, Inspirations also include embroidery styles not previously featured in their magazines.
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In this issue, is the first of a pair of designs worked in Opus Anglicanum, a style that developed during the late medieval period. Designer Tanya Bentham is the guide to the techniques used. You will also find beautiful threadpainting, Hardanger, stumpwork and Deerfield embroidery. We also one copy only of the Inspirations Handpicked Collection Volume 5
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Homespun Magazine is always popular as it contains such a diverse array of projects. This issue is no exception with features and projects using crochet, knitting, applique, embroidery and patchwork.
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Above is a sneak peak at one of the designs on offer to make at the sewing day with Mary Vague on Tuesday July 28th. Pop it in your diary and book directly with Mary on smvague@gmail.com. Places are limited. Let us know if you need supplies once the list of requirements is available but we think Janet Clare fabrics may be useful if you want to make the Bargello Quilt in the photo. Full details are in the event page that you cna access by clicking on the photo. There will also be a hand stitch alternative project.
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Mary used a lot of Janet Clare fabrics in her Nautical Bargello Quilt above. The pattern will be available at the Sewing Day on July 28th, and her patterns usually released to buy online after the gathering date so that those further afield are able to make it too.
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High Tide by Makower would also make a delightful version of the Bargello quilt.
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Sally's Stargazy Cottage is a beautifully finished 3 bedroom cottage & has plenty of natural light for sewing. There is also an electric car charging point, a gorgeous garden with hot tub & is within 5 minutes driving to multiple South coast beaches including the glorious Prussia Cove in the photo where Ladies in Lavender was filmed.
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The 2 bedroom Taphouse is beautifully appointed and owned by Mary. It is on her farm close to Stithians Lake where there is a pub and watersports activities and fishing. It is centrally situated to make exploring the county easy.
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Kernyk Cottage is owned and nurtured by Barbara, Sally's mum. It is a 2 bedroom cottage in a quiet village by the sea, very close to St Michael's Mount and the beach at Perranuthnoe amongst many others.
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Cutting & pressing mats make light work of rotary cutting and ironing your work. The wool mats are invaluable as they transfer heat through the fabric making pressing easier.
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Complete your rotary cutting collection by having the right ruler. Made with clearly visible lines to make precise cutting easier.
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If you are tempted by the magazines above then you may need to top up your thread collection. We have 8 & 12 weight cotton perle, DMC stranded cotton skeins, as well as Gutermann & Aurifil threads for piecing, quilting & embroidery.
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Best Press is another handy tool for making ironing easier. It is not a starch but a spray that helps the creases fall out. Available in tea rose, linen fresh and lavender scents.
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Cut fabric easily by investing in a new rotary cutter or blade. We even have a book to help you get started with rotary cutting if you're not familiar with it.
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Everyone has a preference for their marking products and we are happy to supply several different ones. We have fabric pencils, erasable pens & water erasable fabric markers. All have fine tips to make accurate marking easy.
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