Nutmeg News

Welcome to Nutmeg News. We do hope you're enjoying fine summer weather, and we'll try to give you an update on the recent happenings in the Nutmeg Company.

We've reached the end of the current show season, so life is a little less busy at the moment. Having said that, we've decided to do a new show, The National Quilting Championships, at Sandown Park in June. The diary will give you exact dates and keep you informed of the shows we hope to attend in the Autumn. There are several new ones - Cardiff in September and Glasgow in October, as well as a return to the Lacemakers' Fair at Solihull in December. Thanks so much if you've visited our stand at any of the shows we've recently attended. The highlight of every show we do is always the conversations we have with stitchers.

You will see that we've had to raise some of our prices this year. It is with great reluctance that we do this, but the constant rises in the cost of materials makes it essential if we are to keep Nutmeg kits available. Talking of materials, another difficulty we contend with is the withdrawing of fabrics used in our kit range. Several of the coloured evenweave and aida fabrics are no longer available, and some of the designs in our range will have to be withdrawn over the next year. We stock up on fabrics whenever we can, but even our stocks are running out for some designs!

A friend recently showed me a copy of the magazine “Girls Own Paper”, dated 1900! Amongst articles entitled, “Some novel ways of dressing the potato” and “The medical side of electricity” was one headed “The revival of art needlework and embroidery”, by Florence Sophie Davson. This article is fascinating to anyone who enjoys stitching today, and the writer observes, “...far too little needlework is taught in ladies' schools nowadays”, a sentiment I've often heard expressed today! She goes on to talk about the different places offering such education, mentioning Hellbronner's shop in Bond Street, London, The Royal School of Art Needlework in Exhibition Road, South Kensington, and “Mrs Evershed, the well known embroideress, ... at 7, Hanover Square”. This was something of a surprise, as you can imagine! We'll try and find out a bit more about our predecessor - do let us know if you have a history of needlework in your family too.

I'm off to read about dressing potatoes! Have a good summer and do stay in touch with us.

All good wishes - Mike and Meg Evershed

The Nutmeg Company

Unit 8, Reeth Dales Centre, Reeth, Nr. Richmond, Yorkshire DL11 6SP

Telephone: 01748 884926

Email: sales@3dcrossstitch.co.uk