Category: Blog

We’ve had great weather this week, & being lucky enough to live near the sea, I had an early morning swim before work twice this week, which is a lovely way to start a summer’s day.  Needless to say that during July & August, the beach doesn’t stay this empty for long!

With so many planning a trip away, or perhaps having a Staycation, I’d like to share some lovely projects that are perfectly portable, & great for taking on holiday, or just sewing in your garden.  These include Care, Share, Dream Rotary Wrap Kit by our lovely Mary, Make It Blue book, In My Garden Booklet, All Creatures Booklet & Hexagon Purse pattern, all by Natalie Bird, Summertime Stitching by Gail Pan, Free to be Me Phone Case & Simple Joys Pincushion patterns by Hatched & Patched & Mama’s Washing Line which is a stitchery pattern by Lynette Anderson.  All these great projects are perfect for taking away with you or stitching in the garden

There’s some lovely summer magazines to look through too, including Inspirations which has just arrived, Homespun, Quilter’s Companion & Simply Vintage.

We are continuing to offer appointments if you’d like to visit our shop, on Tuesdays and Thursdays (please call or email to book), but you can also order on line and can either Click & Collect if you’re near us Monday to Saturday 10 – 4pm, or we’re posting out daily.

We hope you’re all safe and well & able to meet up with friends and family now, & are enjoying some time to sew.

Best wishes & Stay Safe
Sally & the girls

As we’re in self-isolation let’s make the most of some sewing time! It’s time to do all the projects I’ve been dreaming of and haven’t had time to get going. I’m really excited to get started on the Strand Coat – don’t be fooled by the awful front cover it’s actually a really stylish Coat! I’m using the beautiful tweeds we have in the shop and lining with a fabric from the indigo range!

Simply Rouge is a lovely pattern book by Joanne Stephenson and Jackie Nicholls from House on The Hill with so many beautiful designs to create and stitch. We have made up some amazing fabric packs to go with this book with a selection of red and cream fabrics and some linen and embroidery threads to match.

I have thoroughly enjoyed making up some of the designs into hearts and cushions adding a little sprinkle of lavender in some of the hearts.  You can allow your imagination to run wild by adding lace flourishes or buttons and ribbon to enhance the designs and test out your hand embroidery skills.

This would make a lovely gift for a sewing friend or someone who is starting out on their crafting journey or even to stock up on your stash of rustic design fabrics.

Simply Rouge book can be found here

Simply Rouge fabric kit can be found here

A lantern button used in the small wall hanging can be found here

‘Hi my name is Mandy Pryor and I was lucky enough to be invited to join the Coast and Country family last year.  I love the designer Anni Downs work and her Hatched and Patched range of fabrics and patterns. I have just finished a really lovely wall hanging called ‘ A Merry Christmas Wall hanging’ using the Hatched & Patched Christmas fabrics Winter Wonderland .  This was such a fun project to do, the central applique and embroidery panel would make a lovely picture all on its own.  The cute little random applique penguins really finish this off and give it a fun factor.  We have the pattern for sale online and in the shop and we have also made up a superb fabric kit to enable you to complete the front and binding with the embroidery threads included.  If you don’t have enough wall space for a wall hanging, but love this pattern, it would make a lovely festive lap quilt to cuddle up with! 

Just got to finish off my ‘Gardners Journal’ quilt now so that I can be ready for the new, much awaited ‘The Making of a Peaceful Day’ pattern book to go with the new ‘Tealicious’ range of fabrics which we also have online and in the shop.  Happy ? Sewing everyone love Mandy.’