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Project BooksNovember 2000
I heartily agree with your request for fewer 'Project Books'. In this small area alone, we have lost three shops which were selling specialised embroidery materials. The demand, I was told, was for cross-stitch kits which, after all, include all the necessary materials. Any supermarket or sewing or wool shop sells these.
The same applies to magazines. These, too, are cross-stitch and even weekly women's magazines follow the trend. I appreciate that these designs are very attractive and I have a friend who is absolutely hooked on them, but none of her pictures are original works. One magazine doesn't sell because it doesn't feature cross-stitch. The only magazine catering for true embroiderers is The World of Embroidery.
I am so pleased that the Embroiderers' Guild is relocating to Manchester. This will be a blessing to all embroiderers in the north of England. Looking through the adverts for supplies and specialist classes, you will see that ninety per cent are sited in the southern part of England. There are very few local suppliers, and most of us like to choose our materials. Again, those of us who would gladly attend the specialised classes are prohibited from doing so, not because of the cost of the classes but because of the added cost of travel and accommodation.
Personally, I am 'getting on' now and the thought of driving to these distant venues on the now crowded roads is more than I can cope with. I look forward to visiting the new premises in Manchester and taking part in classes I have only read about, but with an opening date of 2005, I think it might be to late for me.
Dore Russell (Mrs)
Stockport, Cheshire