Morning Everybody here I am again with my stream of consciousness blahhhh

..it’s an unofficial duvet day here in Calton and I’m coming to you from the super king American bed, mid morning with a bowl of tomato soup precariously balanced on the laptop. I must stop worrying that someone will find out my dirty secret ..
We’ve just hosted a 2 day workshop this past weekend with visiting artist Emily Jo Gibbs – and it has been amazing! Fantastic to have such a fantastic textile artist teaching her delicate embroidery portraiture techniques and class goers producing some intricate  pieces… photos below!

Hopefully this brings an end to the catch up workshops and people were able to attend the rescheduled classes. We have started a new program of workshops and people who haven’t been able to make rescheduled classes are invited to attend these. For obvious reasons we’re being cautious, limiting numbers and asking participants to wear masks, and observe social distancing.🙏🏻

I’ll shut up about workshops in a mo – but while on the subject –  if people would like to come and have a one to one session, or even get together a few friends for a session – then I’m more than happy to accommodate. The classes I generally take are easy .. angels, advent calendar, embroidery – machine embroidery is popular, and something that can be done easily. Also I would be happy to open up the workroom for an evening a month for people to do their own projects and just pay a nominal fee and use the machines. Email me here if you’d be interested, if there are 6 people I’d definitely do it + may even motivate me to do a project for myself.

Well the shop is bustling again lots of fabric and a NEW delivery of Liberty Tana Lawn (that Nicky is putting out as I speak). Some lovely sparkly fabric which would be fab made up in one of our new patterns! and  loads more Stylecraft wool including some of the new ‘Highland Heather’ plus more colours of the favourite special DK. Remember if you’re being cautious and staying in we’re uploading new stock to the website shop, or feel free to contact us (email, phone, Facebook) and we’ll do our best to help you with all your crafty supplies!

We’ve had a few new Elves join the team at Betty’s, Jam has come as a graduate on an internship, having recently completed her degree in graphics and communication at Falmouth, she’ll be helping with the shop but mainly building Betty’s social media presence and sorting out the pesky SEO (that’s search engine optimisation for all you luddites). Jam’ll also be helping us go online with live and recorded sew alongs – so you may well have me live-streaming into your home (from the super king American bed?) in the comfort of your own home😳  And the lovely Flora has started on Saturdays, come to rescue us and is already making her ‘mark’ producing some beautiful cards ready to sell here in the shop.

I hope this finds you all well on this bright sunny Tuesday – it seems set to be a long winter, but there’s always a warm welcome here for you, remember if you’re completely locked down we can help by supplying you and I can easily get stuff in too.

Much love and have a great week

Annie

Here I am in the super king American bed finishing the day with fish finger butties on this dreary wet evening.. is it just me who does admin from the bed? Anyway I managed to squeeze in a few days in Cornwall last week, good to be with the family and enjoy fabulous weather and views, walks and food, though I think that’s my holiday quota used up for a while.

Things at Betty’s are picking up well, with lots of new visitors and our trusty regulars too. The Tearoom seems to be be busy with customers taking advantage of outdoor seating during the recent good weather, remember new tearoom hours are 10-3pm.

We have new stocks of beautiful fabric, great for those of you making masks and also new items from ‘Two Ugly Sisters’ and delicate Liberty ‘makes’ from our friend Alison, plus green pebble cards and gifts to tempt you.

We’ve restarted the workshop program and I’m praying that now everyone who was caught up in the ‘great postponed workshop debacle from lockdown’ have now been rescheduled, reimbursed, rehired or even rehoused (Julie-Anne and Rachel!)  well you get my drift.. it’s been a bit of a mare with me being slightly challenged on the organisational front 😳 So PLEASE contact me here if you feel like you’ve missed out, and I’ll endeavour sort things out.

Anyway our workshops have kicked off, and we are taking COVID-19 guidance seriously, with fewer participants in each class, regular cleaning of machines between users plus haberdashery items and fabrics packaged individually to avoid cross contamination. Kath Perry recently led 3 workshops making her famous appliquéd panels. She would’ve got an ‘outstanding’ from OFSTED, with everything planned to the last minute detail and all students producing amazing work. Sophia Reed’s recent beginners crochet was also a success with attendees enjoying her patient guidance which we all love. It’s been a difficult time for all of us, especially taking these first few steps into this new unknown world, and here in our Betty Bubble we are doing our little bit to make sure people feel safe so we can, hopefully, get back to some sort of normality.

Much excitement in the shop as Jake recently fitted a beautiful new display cabinet – which is stunning andpractical – a link to Jake’s email is below if you would like any bespoke joinery! Contact Jake

So I’ve added the upcoming workshops. You’ll notice Emily Notman is having 4 separate daily workshops at the end of next week, and there are a few spaces on each day. The capacity has been reduced to 6-7 participants for each day (depending if you’re coming with a ‘bubble’ member!) Email or call me or book on the website. I don’t want to go too mad listing too many new workshops in case anything happens..  Have a peruse and see what you think.

In the meantime have a great summer, stay healthy and well, and come and see us soon.

Much love

Annie x

Here I am again in sunny Crete enjoying sun, sand and er.. bazouki (as I write this I can hear the strains of Zorba the Greek!). The batteries needed recharging  and the filters changing, after a busy and uncertain few months – many of us with small business had to find alternatives to keep going,  thankfully we are ok and most of the Ashbourne independents too – largely thanks to you, our loyal customer base 🙏🏻

I hope you’re all keeping well and happy, crafting away and ready to visit Betty’s. The Tearoom is going well. It really has been lovely to be back together in our ‘Betty Bubble‘, and all our lovely staff too.. I love them dearly and the fact I can escape for a week is testament to how fantastic they all are.

So I should have a list of upcoming workshops… as I’ve said before it’s been a bit of a challenge to reinstate workshops, accommodate everyone and make sure refunds were issued – if anyone is still waiting to hear from me please contact me HERE

Omg! Can I firstly take a moment to describe the smell of home baking  that is permeating through Betty’s this morning… it’s Ginger cookies with undertones of caramel and golden syrup.. I’m thrilled that the tearoom and sewing box are at last reunited and getting back to some semblance of normality, with Julie  back in the kitchen understanding Landlords and friendly customers who’ve really supported us through  scary and uncertain times.

I’m beginning to plan and rearrange workshops so have added dates, however trying to contact people who’ve previously booked is proving to be challenging – so if you see one you’ve paid for and haven’t been contacted please email or call the shop.

Take care everybody

Annie

Evening Everybody!
t’s late again but I thought I must send this email to you because Betty’s is gradually coming out of lockdown… hurrah!!

We open properly to the public this coming Tuesday and will be having a soft opening for a few weeks, so staff and customers feel comfortable about the arrangements. If all goes well we’ll be back to our regular opening times soon.

Opening hours until the end of June: Tuesday – Friday 10am – 4pm.

Here are a few rules we’d ask you to observe:

• Please use the hand sanitiser before coming into the shop.
• We will be wearing masks to protect you and we ask that you do too.

• Please respect social distancing and keep 2m away from others.
• Only 2 people in the shop at any  one time.
• Please avoid coming in with other family members as far as possible. We have made seating available outside.
• Please avoid touching the products and ask the staff to get items out for you.
• Please pay by card.

We’ll still be taking orders over the phone and Sophie has now uploaded lots of our new stock to the online shop so please use that facility.  I still have our ‘Click and Collect’ system, and I can easily leave items for you to collect.

I hope this all makes sense and as usual I thank you for you’re support. I’ve really missed  you all, and look forward to seeing you soon.

Keep safe
Annie

Pew.. what a scorcher!

Hello everybody! I hope you’re well, enjoying the weather, staying healthy and hopefully doing some crafting. Being creative has helped me so much over the years, it’s ‘mindfulness’ and meditation for us arty types. The lockdown has challenged us all, I have days when I feel motivated and positive -then others when I’d happily drink gin for breakfast. Going to the shop most days has been a huge help and a few visitors has been a happy distraction – it’s good to see you, and hear from you too.

Well ‘mask-gate’ hit Betty’s after I floated the idea in my last email that I could possibly make a few… we had a huge response, the poor website broke, I had to recruit the help of my lockdown buddies Lulu, Jake and Sophie-Rose and Bettys’ Elves, Myra and Rachel, also came to the rescue! We’ve posted masks all over the country so you little beauties have been sharing the email for which I’m so grateful. I’ve had conversations with people from Stroud, Brighton, Essex, Stornaway was probably the furthest North! Thank you all of you for continuing to support Betty’s, it’s really offered us an unexpected income stream during these uncertain times, now I’m on first name terms with the post ladies and I’ve been able to to donate a portion to our local Ashbourne charity Carline.

Our push to make PPE continues, as sewers reach burn out (or, in Cathy Reavy’s case, her sewing machine has!) new sewers come onboard and I absolutely know it’s been going to the right places – Care-homes and Hospices. We’ve helped GPs, Dentists lots of local frontline workers. Sewers all over the area have worked so hard it’s been great to be part of such a positive and useful group.
TAKE care and be safe
Annie

I really hope this finds you all well coping with lockdown and quarantine or if you’re  a key worker – my heartfelt thanks to you – you really are awe-inspiring. These are such strange times, making us reflect on our lives, re-evaluating what’s important.. oh and I’ve learned a ‘tictoc’ dance..

I must admit that I went into a bit of a tail spin when all this happened, having worked so hard to build up the business, focus on the workshops for 2020, enlisting some ‘Heavy weight’ artists to teach us new and diverse courses .. well it just seemed like everything was going to collapse overnight🥺
Then Sarah Pollard contacted me about making scrubs and aprons, and I was quickly jolted out of my reverie, doing something really positive – collecting duvet covers and sheets, and then, bizarrely here we are displaying our items in Young Ideas shop window – Du-vet to Gucci in a few weeks!
So many sewers from our community have got involved it’s been an amazing response and judging by the mountains of bed linen there must be many tidy airing cupboards! As I type this we’re up to 2000 plus items.

I think the Universe is teaching us all a few lessons.

If there are any local sewers who’d like to take part email me, or look for ‘Coverall Gowns for Careworkers’ on Facebook.

Some bittersweet news..
I’m sorry to tell I you the sad news that our lovely colleague and friend, June, has lost her husband to cancer. Many of you will know June through the Knit and Natter group as well as being the Betty’s Quilting aficionado. David was only diagnosed 4 months ago. I’m sure you’ll all join me in sending her our love and prayers at this time.
We loose a member of our Betty’s family and then we gain one: the after school sewing teacher, Donna, has had her baby. Nancy was born on April 14th and we’re all thrilled, Mum and baby are doing well despite the current situation!   The after school youngsters are busy making a collaborative surprise for her (hard to organise something ‘collaborative’ during this time of social distancing will keep you posted!)

Many of you have been so understanding over postponed workshops and courses. We’re  working on new dates, but until we know when it’s safe to resume normal life I’m not in a position to advertise them again, I promise they’ll be on, I’m also researching more artists and honing my own skills too.

So I think that’s everything for the time being – PLEASE stay safe, stay in and stay in touch!

Much Love

Annie x

Dear Friends,

It’s with a heavy heart that I have decided to postpone all the upcoming workshops and courses at Betty’s Sewing Box, due to the increasing concerns around the Coronavirus outbreak. I am currently working with the teachers of the courses in order to find new dates for these events.

I haven’t taken this decision lightly, as you know from my last email I was still quite positive, nevertheless I feel that with the latest directive from the government, our customers health must take precedence above all else.

I feel incredibly grateful to run Betty’s and be surrounded by such talented and creative people and am humbled by the support people have shown me.

To those of you that have paid for an upcoming event, I would ask that you continue to support us by transferring your booking to a rescheduled event in the future. I’ll be releasing additional dates as soon as possible. By doing so you will be helping me to protect Betty’s and keep us moving forward during these uncertain times.

I am still going to keep the shop open and will be posting items online and on Facebook, even a few online tutorials – Angel making and Free machine embroidery… the courses I was going to run. I’ll still be here to help and support anyone who needs vital crafting supplies to keep you busy – and can post out as well, or just come and have a sanitised chat and a brew!

Thank you so much for your continued support keep strong and healthy!

With love and gratitude

Annie

The new look ‘studio’ is so bright – we love it 🥰

Hello everybody – Blimey,  they weren’t wrong about the gale force winds! As I write this it feels like a tornado is brewing outside!

Anyway I hope this finds you well and happy and enjoying the weekend and welcome to our new subscribers.

It’s been steady in the shop this week, we’re still enjoying the ease of working in our new look ‘studio’ with everything still organised and streamlined. Gordon came and took some lovely photographs recently and Hannah styled it beautifully so we can still retain the ‘Betty’s’ look. Thanks for your lovely comments – it’s always nice to hear we’re on the right track!

I’ve added a few speciality craft packages for Hens, Baby-showers and  private get togethers.. the first one booked is a Nipple Tassel or ‘Pastie’ workshop .. I’ll just leave that there for you to digest😘

The Liberty aficionados among you will be happy to hear we’ve ordered more Tana Lawn from their new collection including ‘sun daisy’ (pictured below) AND I’m expecting a delivery of two Liberty craft cotton spring ranges by the end of the month which will hopefully inspire our ever growing quilting community (June and her girls!)

I’m still sourcing different textile artists to deliver speciality courses for you, and have just added Annette Emms
who will be running 2 workshops making fabric textile books – incorporating many of the techniques you may have learned from other workshops.

Anyway I’m enjoying the day ordering more Stylecraft Wool and thinking of Lulu whose Birthday it is today, sending happy thoughts out to you all wherever you are in the world!

Annie x