Letters in print!

Those of you who subscribe to Stitch Magazine will have seen yours truly on the back page talking about my favourite things, of course this is not all of them and I really wish I had included Small Businesses in the list.  The area where I live in Birmingham is called the Jewellery Quarter and it is full of small businesses many of them that have been in the same family for generations, as well as the on street retail there are many jewellery makers, setters, platers,casters, box makers and designers each of them a small business in their own right, infact I counted that on one of the main streets there were over 100 small businesses!!  It's a tough old world out there at the moment for everyone with all of us wanting to get value for money and having to watch how we spend everything we earn. The renaissance in interest in Craft and Handmade over the last few years has meant that traditional trades and craftsmanship have never been far from our television screens it really is interesting to watch a product being made and also how that product can be made differently using 3d technology (I'm waiting for the day when tapestry needlepoint is made this way!).  Craft and small business never stand still and so in the run up to Christmas why not think about buying your gifts from local makers and producers?

Small Business Saturday takes place on the first Saturday of December each year and promotes small businesses across the country. Take a look here at all of the businesses that taking part in your area, there are so many craft fairs also taking place on that day and so it will be a real celebration of the small maker and producer.  The campaign is not just about on street retail and so be sure to take a look on line at your favourite small business and see what they have to offer as an alternative to the High Street big names.  It is impossible to compete with the offers that will be available on Black Friday, an inch of stitching still costs the same to produce from one day to the next! 
Another great initiative to help the small designer maker and small business is called Just a Card, the campaign started by Sarah Hamilton after she spoke to her local gallery that was closing down the owner stated that "If everyone who'd complimented our beautiful Gallery had bought just a card we would still be open" so here is another way to support you local designers and makers, buying a card whilst not seeming very important really does go a long way to keep businesses afloat.

So whether I see you at Harrogate for the Knitting and Stitching Show over the next few days where I will be running workshops on stitch and Using your Stash or whether I see you browsing my on line shop I'd just like to say a big thank you for supporting me this year and I hope that next year will be full of new designs, products and workshops that you will all be able to enjoy!
(PS I sell cards!!!)

Until next time happy stitching and I hope you enjoy reading about my favourite things!