Pondering Small Business: An Embroidered Goose

Today I launched a mini kit of a Christmas goose. You can buy it here if you fancy. I designed it back in the summer when I was preparing my advent calendars (which include six mini kits). ‘Designed’ is a bit of a grand word when it is just a little drawing of a goose but I particularly wanted to use the beautiful soft pink antique linen that I have been saving for a while.

I decided not to use the goose for my advent calendars, choosing instead a Nutcracker-inspired mini stitch. The goose, I thought, would be a lovely kit that I could launch closer to Christmas, available for everyone. We filled the thread cards, wrote the instructions and I was just left to finish the stitching ready for photographs. Of course I then had the actual advent calendars to produce and despatch (100 of them) as a well as the Handmade Fair in London to prepare for. The goose was left to languish in my WIP pile.

Meanwhile, a stitching friend of mine, The Embroidery Bird, shared her own goose design on Instagram. It is so very beautiful; she was planning an embroidery class with a choice of three gorgeous designs. I was enchanted by Penny’s embroidery (as I always am) but my heart sank. I had put such a lot of time and money already into my goose kits, but now I was going to look as though I had stolen my friend’s idea. I contacted Penny immediately to let her know; her response was typically gentle and generous but I still felt bad.

I think lots of makers can empathise. In these days of social media there is such a lot of content being shared with us each and every day via various platforms, influencing us both consciously and sub-consciously. Not to mention images on the television, in magazines and shop windows. Inspiration and influence is everywhere, resistance is futile.

Running a small business I have to spin so many plates; kit design, marketing, production and despatch are just a few of them so it is impossible to launch designs as quickly as they are drawn up. I have sketch books full of ideas and possible embroidery kits. Nothing I do is ground-breaking, I know that. I am inspired by nature, social history and the seasons; my ultimate goal is to produce beautiful vintage-inspired embroidery patterns (with a modern twist) and create step by step instructions so that a beautiful design is achievable for the absolute beginner. To encourage people to take refuge from the stress of every day life and promote positive mental health.

I have learnt, through experience, to scan absolutely everything into my computer as a way of protecting myself should it become necessary further down the line and I really recommend that other makers and designers do the same. It isn’t a form of copyright but it is a pretty watertight way of dating your design process when you are holding back a launch date or focusing on something else for a while.

I am very much of the opinion that all art shared is A Very Good Thing and if my work has inspired something similar from another maker then I am honoured. The world is big enough for all of us, there are plenty of customers for everyone and stitching is a happy occupation that is a welcome respite from the stress of everyday life.

I don’t often share my musings on running a small business; I am doing my dream job and loving [almost] every minute but there are challenges all of the time that I am learning from. If my experience can help other people then I think it’s worth a bit of waffling now and then, don’t you?

I’ll be back soon with a little Christmas round-up if you are stuck for gift ideas but in the meantime remember that the offer of a free mini cotton gift bag with all orders over £55 (excluding subscriptions) is still live. The Christmas thread collections are beautiful, Aurifil embroidery thread is very good quality and the sets make a lovely gift for the enthusiastic stitcher in your life (or a treat to yourself).

Thanks for reading and happy stitching,

Nicki xx

Autumn, grief and a new puppy

Lizzie. I miss her so much.

Always by my side!

Lottie and her ‘ride’

Full name: Lottie Doreen Bagel Franklin. Likes cheese, leaves and wicker baskets. Dislikes carrots, gates and seatbelts.

I am writing this at our kitchen table on a chilly late October morning. I have made myself a nice strong coffee and the room is quiet except for the [unexpectedly loud] hum of our fancy new fridge and the occasional squeak as our new little dog chews her rubber lizard.

I love this time of year. I usually blog sooner, I think, declaring my love for Autumn and the run up to Christmas. It starts in September, when we get the first proper chill after Summer, and that distinct earthy smell one day that lets us know that Autumn is around the corner.

I am late with things at the moment, though, and it is taking me a while to catch up. Our sweet little dog, Lizzie, died in August. At nearly 13 she was getting old but had shown no real signs of illness until the very last couple of days of her life. Losing her was a shock and it turned it my world upside down.

It seems silly and indulgent to talk about grief in relation to a dog. “Just a dog”. The thing is, she was never just a dog to me. At home she was always by my side; I talked to her constantly, walked her, sat quietly with her and danced around the kitchen holding her in my arms. She comforted me when I was sad and when she wanted a cuddle herself would come and tap me on the arm until I fussed her. She was gentle, friendly and incredibly well-behaved, if a little smelly sometimes.

Whilst it was comforting to know that I had done the right thing by acting quickly on discovering Lizzie’s illness, it is so hard to get used to life without her.

Lottie came to live with us on 16th September when she was 9 weeks old. She is such a character and makes me laugh every day. (She also makes me cry, swear and stress every day, too, but I am trying not to focus on that!) She travels in what I can only describe as a small sports holdall, for pets, and has subsequently developed a penchant for tiny spaces. She pulls out the bottom drawer in our vegetable rack and climbs in, squeezes her fat little bottom under the sofa and on Sunday made a casual leap into the simmering oven of the Aga when I opened it to cook our lamb mince. It’s not an especially hot oven but the floor has a very hot plate which could burn her little paws. I acted remarkably quickly considering my panic, pulling her out by her tail like a furry saucepan. I spent the rest of the evening feeling very shaky and checked her paw pads many, many, times for burns. (She is fine.)

So it is safe to say that Lottie is keeping us on our toes. I accidentally tread on a squeaky toy, making myself jump most days and my hands are dry and chapped from her [incredibly painful] ‘play-bites’. Having had her vaccinations Lottie is able to walk freely outside now and is loving her trots around the village. She has partied hard at the local vet’s puppy gatherings and is responding really well to training. She can sit, lie down and roll over on command (if I am holding a small square of cheese). We are working on stay and drop. Toilet training is hit and miss. We spend ages in the garden, in the icy rain, waiting for her to do her business, only to eventually give in, come indoors and have her immediately pee on the kitchen floor. It is like a battle of the wills and she wins. We need to up our game.

She likes to be held like a baby, on her back, and have her chest tickled. It sends her off to sleep, which is adorable and a very useful trick to know if you can calm her down long enough to lay back!

Of course it makes me cry when I see her sitting at the garden gate, just like Lizzie used to, but it is nice to have a fluffy white reminder of beautiful Lizzie around the house. She is gone but never, ever, forgotten.

After updating you on my biggest news I must crack on and start the day. Advent calendars are starting to ship this week and the October subscriptions need to go out too. Those packages won’t wrap themselves!

Thanks for reading,

love

Nicki xx

Journalling with Abby Monroe 13th July 2019

Image credit Abby Monroe

image credit Abby Monroe

Image credit Abby Monroe

A snippet of EdieRoseAshley’s beautiful botanical dye journal

A dye journal by EdieRoseAshley

My botanical journal; this page with a poppy in remembrance of my Great Uncle who had died just a few days before.

Remembering a sunny Spring day with my Mum and nieces. I was anxious about mum’s forthcoming operation.

Watercolours in ceramic palettes.

Abby Monroe is coming to the studio next weekend (Saturday 13th July) to teach a blissful day of journalling. We are going to learn how to make our own paper journals (with stitched binding) and decorate the pages however we like with old papers, stamps, fabric and tracing paper, adding little pockets for pressed flowers and other found treasures. Abby will talk to us about the benefits of journalling and how we can try to fit a little bit of slow creativity into our busy days. With everything available digitally now it is so lovely to hold a beautiful paper journal bulging with favourite scraps of fabrics and little notes from loved ones; even shopping and to do lists are nice to keep and will one day inform social history.

I think the word ‘journal’ is a little intimidating. It alludes to creative arty types writing in the wee hours; endless pages of beautiful script and thoughtful prose. But actually a journal is just a sketch book or a notebook, filled with things you want to remember. Whether that’s bread and bananas from the shops tomorrow or the way your little girl mumbled something sweet in her sleep.

Prettying up your notebook and holding onto things you find and love is an easy way to incorporate some creativity in your life every day. An easy way to slow down, think about your day and plan your week. I have lots of journals, still on the go now. I have a botanical journal full of pressed flowers that I started in 2016, a sketchbook (or two) full of embroidery designs and a little book I made from the post-it notes I used to quickly scrawl funny, or cute, things my family has said over the years. The latter is very basic but quite sentimental to me now as I have been adding to it for ten years.

A favourite ever gift was the exquisite book hand made for me by a friend who wanted to treat me when I started The Stitchery ‘because you always send post to make other people smile and I thought you should have some happy post too”. The pages are constructed of beautiful handmade rag paper, quality watercolour sheets and even old lace handkerchiefs. There are tiny pockets and envelopes on some of the pages and thoughtful little snippets from old books and magazines. It has its own creamy antique linen cover and a little pen made from an old twig. It is divine and so very special to me.

I am so excited about making a new little journal and I have been trying to decide what I will use it for. There are so many uses, but I am favouring:

• A little book of very favourite recipes from friends and family together with little illustrations or tiny photographs* of the ingredients and finished dish.

• A record of this year’s holiday; brief notes on what we did, what craft project I was working on, little photographs of the scenery, receipts from cafes and cute things my nieces said.

• A record of craft projects; dated, with pattern details, colour palettes and snippets of fabric, threads and yarn used or considered. I could write where I was sitting, what I was watching and what the weather was like as I worked. Bullet points of my thoughts rather than huge longhand missives.

• A ‘mood board’ book’; little collections on a theme, just because. Wildflowers or trees would be a lovely topic and there is lots of inspiration in Castle Ashby.

• A little book of colour; gatherings and found items with separate little journals for each colour. I quite fancy making a sepia-themed book full of old paper collages with antique photographs, little sepia sketches and gathered nature finds. In one of my first art classes I painted a little sepia barn in a field and I rather need somewhere to keep it.

• A dye journal; inspired by EdieRoseAshley at a botanical dyeing workshop she taught last week. Rosie shared her beautiful dye journal and with its snippets of dyed fabric and notes on colour recipes, I am totally going to start my own. Too beautiful for words. (I’ve included a couple of pictures above.)

Come and join us if you can. There will be lots of shared ideas and inspiration; papers, string, prints and washi tape. Don’t worry if your handwriting isn’t the prettiest, I have rubber stamps, typewriters and old letraset transfers to play with! We will be cutting up old books, newspapers and antique documents and creating pages on which to write and draw.

Book here; the course price includes a full day of tuition and all of the papers and materials you need to create and start your own journal. There will also be a delicious two-course lunch provided by Castle Ashby Deli with plenty of tea, cake and fruit to keep us refreshed throughout the day. There is ample parking and the Castle Ashby grounds are beautiful to walk around at the end of the day if you need some fresh air. It is the loveliest way to spend a Saturday.

Hope to see you then - have a wonderful week!

Nicki xx

*there are lots of ways to easily print pictures from instagram and I have a lovely portable printer than makes teeny tiny photograph stickers for my journals.

World Embroidery Day - Tuesday 30th July 2019

Following our first wonderful Wilderstitch sewing retreat at Domaine de La Salle in France, Erica and I have created a special Chateau-themed project inspired by the friendships formed during the long weekend of quiet companionable sewing, brocante-shopping and tea-drinking.

My absolute favourite thing about The Stitchery is how it has brought people together; both in real life and online. Friendships have been made and there is the most lovely sewing community that has come together to help and support each other with the gentle art of sewing. Without The Stitchery I wouldn’t have met Erica and I wouldn’t have been to France with the most lovely group of women. All because of a few shared photographs and stitches; I am so grateful for what sewing, and social media, has done for me.

With this in mind, World Embroidery Day feels like something I want to celebrate and promote! On Tuesday 30th July 2019 I will be holding a gathering at my studio in Castle Ashby teaching a gorgeous sewing pattern designed by Erica and embroidered by me. Attendees will receive a full kit and materials together with accompanying ebook, and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea with a group of like-minded people. Beginners and advanced stitchers are all welcome. The project is something you can expect to have finished by the end of the day and will be very useful for future sewing sessions! Book here if you can join me!

We are mindful of our customers across the world who we would love to stitch with but cannot due to distance… so we thought it would be fun to create a mini ebook containing the pattern, instructions and a few pretty little extras so that you can hold your own chateau-themed sewing party and connect with us online.

More details will follow but the digital book will be available to buy here on 14th July 2019 so watch this space! We hope you can join in and celebrate this important day. Book online to join in the workshop here. Tell your sewing friends, and sewing groups, too. Everyone is welcome and it would be truly amazing to have a little online sewing party on the day.

illlustrations by Erica Jane Waters of Wilderstitch (find her books here)

Escape to the Chateau - Sewing Weekend

On a misty day in November I made the short drive to a beautiful old cottage in the Northamptonshire countryside. Having made acquaintance via instagram, as soon I walked into Erica’s sewing room I knew I had met a kindred spirit. I immediately spotted a chippy old cabinet, stuffed full of squishy balls of yarn, in colour order, of course. I could see that Erica’s colour preferences matched my own: cool and creamy neutrals, muted blues, soft greys and dusty pinks. Curiosities adorned the old stone walls; a display of antique scissors, decorative picture frames and antique sewing supplies with beautiful labels.

All manner of soft, handmade toys were perched lovingly on every surface. Sweet dolls with enviable hairstyles and whimiscal woodland creatures wearing cosy hand-knitted jumpers. A fire burned brightly in the grate and French cafe music played quietly in the background. It was the cosiest setting imaginable and I knew I was going to have a truly special day.

Bonding over a love of antique buttons, lace and trims, we talked a little about France, brocantes and dreamy chateaux so I was delighted when Erica contacted me to see if I fancied joining her for a Chateau Dolls sewing weekend in the idyllic setting of Chateau Domaine de la Salle. Erm, yes please!!!

If you have watched Escape to the Chateau DIY you will be familiar with the owners, Mariam and Johnno, who have moved to France from Dubai to renovate their chateau for a B&B and retreat venue. The chateau is light and airy, the food delicious. Set in acres of woodland, it is the perfect setting for a magical weekend sewing dolls and making tiny dresses.

I cannot wait to go and you can join us too!

Arriving on Friday 14th June and leaving after breakfast on Monday 17th June, we will spend the weekend making Erica’s beautiful heirloom Chateau dolls with dresses made from delicate antique linen and lace. Small shoes made from antique kid leather gloves and fastened with tiny buttons. Hand-knitted shawls in the softest, natural yarn. I will show you how to embroider the dresses with sweet little details; perhaps a row of pale pink rosebuds along the hem or tiny daisies on her bloomers. I am planning everything that I need to take and experimenting with naturally dyed linens and embroidery threads for special, one-of-a-kind, embroideries.

You can come alone or with a sewing friend and if you want to incorporate the weekend into a longer visti to France, your non-stitching partner can join you in a double bed for the extra cost of just £150 to include all meals and accommodation for the weekend. There are plenty of places to relax, read and wander during the day as we sew.

A brochure is available with more details and prices. Please drop me an email at hello@nickifranklin.com and I will send it across to you. Have a look at Erica’s lovely blog for more information and photographs, too. I hope you can join us for a truly magical weekend.

Nicki x

Free Vintage Folk Dove Embroidery

Free with orders placed from now until midnight on Friday 12th April; receive this lovely vintage Folk Dove design screen printed onto antique linen.

The design fits perfectly within a 4” hoop.

I am back from a mini break in the Lake District and preparing for a Social Stitch at my studio tomorrow. Although everyone brings their own projects to work on, I do occasionally like to hand out a little complimentary stitching project for people to work on. This month we are trialling new silk threads by stitching simple little wildflowers onto olive green linen and embroidering these little folky doves with a lovely mid-grey cotton thread.

Hello Spring!

Welcome, Spring. We have been waiting for you! (Well, I have.)

Despite having a million and twenty three things to do today, I took my notebooks and coffee into the conservatory first thing this morning for a bit of a slow start to the day.

I love our conservatory even though it is falling to bits. There is a big comfy sofa in there, lots of lovely cushions and my antique quilt collection (safely stored in an antique meat safe where I can see them folded and pretty, but out of direct sunlight). There is a little desk for when I want to paint by the window and a very shabby coffee table piled with books on all manner of subjects. It’s a lovely, relaxing and inspiring room to be in.

As I cradled my coffee cup this morning I watched the birds come and go. A pair of blue tits was checking out the accommodation I have provided and seemed to settle on the sweet pale grey property that I have put up on the old barn wall. One of them kept popping in and hammering its beak on the wall inside, which I took as a positive sign that the dwelling is satisfactory! It is in a pretty little spot right above an old ladder on which I hang galvanised steel buckets planted with trailing pink flowers in the summer. We had blue tits nesting in the same box last year and I wonder if the same family has returned. I like to think so.

A large female blackbird hopped around collecting various leaves and twigs, carrying huge beakfuls to a spot in the neighbour’s hedge which overhangs a wall in the shady part of the garden, by our swing seat. This makes me very happy as I adore baby blackbirds. They are so darned fluffy and very cute when learning to fly.

Narcissi are bobbing their heads happily and my favourites are those that are pure white with spiky petals. I planted a variety of tulips which all look set to bloom very soon and I can’t wait for the bluebells. Is there anything nicer than a walk in the bluebell woods during Spring? I have been stitching a little bluebell embroidery in my spare time and dreaming of it.

The Stitchery Seasons Spring kit was posted out to subscribers last week and the reaction has been very positive which is a huge relief! When people sign up for a surprise through their post box each month there is a huge responsibility to make sure that you meet expectations and create something that people will enjoy stitching. There are a few kits left (unfortunately without Kate’s beautiful Limited Edition packaging) over on the website now if you fancy stitching a few Springtime flowers in the sunshine. We ship everywhere and the kits are suitable for all levels. I’ll be sharing a tutorial video in the next few days too, for anyone stuck with the stitches. The kit comes with a little paper sign with ‘hello Spring’ but as the pictures above show, you could customise it with your own lettering (and words) if you prefer. Just be sure to use a removable pen and cover the marks very carefully.

Wishing everyone a happy week and a short ‘to do’ list.

Love

Nicki xxx

New Year: Take Two

You may remember that I started the new year full of hopes and plans, as I always do. In fact, I wrote about it here.

Well.

Despite loving the Winter and all of the cosiness it brings, I usually struggle with a low mood and tiredness in January and February. I thought that I could fix all of that by making lots of plans; things to look forward to. It didn’t work. Instead I felt too tired and just too low to go anywhere or do anything. Cancelling plans made me feel even worse.

January and February was mostly spent at home, wading through huge workloads which felt tougher than usual. I slept a lot, ate a lot and, in retrospect, hibernated. I felt horribly guilty, and lazy, until I went for a restorative weekend in Devon for a break away with my husband and dog. I had booked onto a watercolour workshop and, by chance, met up with a friend who was doing the same class. I told her about my impromptu hibernation and she mentioned a podcast she had been listening to called The Living Experiment. She especially recommended that I check out the podcast about Winter.

I could hug my friend for telling me about that podcast. Early the next morning, I made coffee, set up a painting table in our little holiday cottage and listened as I practised brushstrokes from the day before. The presenters talked about the necessity of resting in Winter. Taking downtime during the shorter days to recover from the busyness of Christmas but also to preserve energy and prepare for the longer days of Spring and Summer when we are naturally out and about, busy and having fun. It makes perfect sense to me. Living in alignment with the seasons.

The Slow Living movement has been on my radar for a long time now. I have been seduced, if I am honest, by the myriad of photographs on instagram showing hands cradling steaming cups of milky coffee amidst swathes of crumpled linen and piles of interesting books. I have tried to find words that resonate with me about living more intentionally but all of the articles I found seem to focus on spending less money, buying less things. Doing less.

The Living Experiment has brought everything into focus. I am a sensitive person (sometimes over-sensitive and upset easily I know) but that is why it makes absolute sense that my mood and wellbeing is sensitive to the weather, daylight and sunshine.

Talking to my yoga teacher (and all-round wellness guru) Lisa at a private class with her, I feel more comfortable with making decisions on how to have a life, and business, that suits me. I am starting to realise that I don’t need to follow the usual rules of business and, indeed, I don’t have to run my creative business in the same way that others do.

I will emerge for my own new year, henceforth, in March. With the daffodils. Next year I will actually PLAN to spend January and February at home; in my little cottage with a fire burning, my hands cradling a steaming cup of milky coffee whilst I surround myself with swathes of crumpled linen and piles of interesting books. And I won’t feel the least bit lazy, or guilty.

Nicki x

Mothering Sunday 31st March 2019

I love to buy gifts for my Mum and Mother in Law for Mother’s Day. Both Mums love flowers, gardening, perfume, body lotions and chocolates but they are also super talented women who really appreciate a handmade gift.

My Mum trained as a dressmaker in a top fashion house before I was born. She made lots of outfits for me (and matching dresses for my dollies) and went on to teach me how to sew, dressmake, cross stitch and knit. Filling my floral padded sewing box with new, brightly coloured embroidery floss was one of my earliest shopping pleasures with Mum. Way before I started to enjoy shopping in HMV and Tammy Girl!

My Mother in Law is a highly skilled shoemaker and was a college lecturer on the subject too. She has taught hundreds (maybe thousands) of people in Northamptonshire the artisan skill of shoemaking over the years and the shoes she has made or overseen have been sold by the fanciest establishments in London. The Elves and The Shoemaker was my favourite childhood book and the fact that my MIL can make a pair of shoes from scratch is amazing to me and a little bit magical.

Both women know their way around a sewing machine, blindfolded, yet they still seem to love the little gifts I make for them: small patchwork lap quilts, lavender cushions, hanging hearts and sponge bags. No matter how skilfully produced (or not), handmade gifts are always, always, best.

It isn’t too late to embroider and sew up a pretty little lavender cushion with a spring tree in blossom or a little heart garland. A little mindful sewing will mean that you can enjoy the process as much as your mum enjoys receiving your work.

Love

Nicki xx

Introducing: The Stitchery Mini Kits

Hello hello! I have been busily working away behind the scenes preparing for my spring workshops and the release of lots of lovely standalone kits. The February issue of my The Stitchery subscription goes out tomorrow and whilst the pattern and design was sent out in month one, each kit has an added little happy and relaxing surprise in; this month it is an extra little embroidery project and I am looking forward to seeing how my subscribers stitch it. Non-subscribers will be able to buy the extra little kit later in the month; I’ll let you know via the newsletter when they are available.

In the meantime, I’ve been putting together designs for a new range of mini kits. The first of which is this little watering can embroidery. The kits still contain full instructions, threads and a 10” square piece of antique linen but the design is smaller and easier/quicker to complete than my usual standalone kits. In line with the ‘mini’ theme, the packaging for these kits is also different to the usual standalone kits. Still beautiful, vintage-inspired and good for gifting they are in smaller envelopes with a simpler design.

I hope you like them as much as I do. The first kit is available as a pre-order here - pre-orders are really helpful for me as they enable me to make a more accurate estimate of how many kits I might need to produce. Please remember that anything you order at the same time as a pre-order will be despatched at the same time as the kit. If you need extra items more urgently please place a separate order.

You can order the watering can mini kit here.

The Stitchery Sampler: Our 2019 Subscription - FAQs

Last year’s subscription was so much fun that I knew very quickly that I would run another in 2019. I am so excited that the first kit is finally on its way to my lovely customers; it has felt like a long time coming. Mostly because it took me a while to decide on the right fabric for this project.

I most often stitch onto antique linen but I do love new fabric, if it’s the right quality. I pondered the benefits of both for this sampler for a long time and having trialled lots of potential fabrics I have decided on a beautiful white 100% linen which I have had professionally printed. The new linen has a lovely even weave but is still slightly slubby so it has a little texture. It presses nicely when you have finished stitching and the colour is a perfect base for the soft colours and stitches I have chosen this year. I will still use antique linens but for such a large piece of work aimed at beginners and advanced stitchers alike, it is important to have a good background that is easy to stitch into and that perfectly showcases the stitches.

I thought that I would write a quick post to answer some of the questions I’ve been receiving about the kit, whether you have subscribed or you are thinking about it, I hope the following information will be useful. Warning: it’s a long one!

I subscribed to last year’s Stitchery Journal. Will my subscription carry on for this year?

No, it’s a whole new payment process for just another 12 months. Your subscription for 2018 will have ended and no further payments will be taken. If you would like to join The Stitchery subscription this year, please do so by ordering the first kit here. (There is an option to buy the full kit up front, at a discount, if you prefer.)

I have only ordered month one. How do I pay for the other kits?

The first kit was a one-off purchase only to allow me to gauge appetite for a subscription this year. Your order has secured a place for you in the 2019 subscription, don’t worry. A subscriber button will be live here on the website next week to enable you to set up automated payments for the rest of the year. To ensure that you receive the February kit please complete the subscription before 10th February.

Why is the subscription in your shop cheaper than the paypal button?

The unit price for the kit is £25 plus £3.50 postage and packing. You will pay £28.50 per month (if you choose the instalments option) however you choose to pay; the shop listing just breaks down into unit and postage cost.

Do you ship overseas?

Yes, we ship everywhere and at a very competitive flat postage rate, however large your order.

I have never embroidered before, will I be able to do it?

Yes, yes, yes! The kits come with detailed step-by-step instructions and an annotated illustration. Subscribers also have access to my brand new channel over at Vimeo where I will upload regular tutorials and podcasts. Find me here. Be sure to follow me so that I can follow you back (we have to go through this process to enable access to content as my videos will be private). It is free to set up an account and you do not have to pay to view. I will still upload tutorials to my youtube channel and I am always happy to help via DM or email if you get really stuck.

How does it work on a monthly basis if I already have the whole pattern in month one?

You will be given the backing linen in month one, pre-printed with the entire alphabet that we will stitch this year. The pattern is vague, however, and whilst you can see where the various blooms or stems are placed you will not know until each month which colours and stitches we will use. The sampler is a riot of English Country Garden flowers in a soft, muted, but quite colourful palette.

Each quarter (March, June, September and December) you will receive bonus patterns and printed linen for a few small floral motifs that will complement the letter designs and enable you to build a collection of designs that you can use however you fancy. Those who have completed the full year will receive a detailed pattern for the lower case alphabet and numbers 0-9 with their December kits, giving a whole host of design opportunities for future gifts and decorative homewares.

What sewing tools do I need for the Alphabet Sampler? What size hoop do you recommend?

The kit comes with the linen and threads that you need to complete the stitchery. You will need a basic sewing kit to include a small pair of very sharp embroidery scissors, a selection of hand-sewing needles (I often use crewel needles because they have a larger than usual eye) and an embroidery hoop. I use wooden embroidery hoops with a screw but find one that suits you best. If you use a wooden hoop then, for a project of this size, I recommend wrapping both the inner and outer hoops with a natural coloured cotton tape. This helps to keep the fabric taut in your hoop and can prevent staining from the wood.

I always recommend the smallest hoop you can find. I prefer a 4” or 5'“ hoop; occasionally I will use a 6” hoop but any larger and I feel all fingers and thumbs. I also find that the fabric slackens very quickly. Embroidery hoops are inexpensive to buy and so it is worth having a selection to experiment with. The size of the sampler means that, whichever size hoop you use, you will need to move it around the fabric as you work. My favourite brand for quality sewing needles and scissors is Bohin. I keep a good stock of materials in my online haberdashery and at my studio in Castle Ashby if you are close enough to pop in.

If you have any questions please drop me a message and I’ll make sure I update this post. I am so looking forward to stitching with you this year!

Credits:

Thank you so much to Kate Nicole at Oyster Bridge & Co who has, as always, produced beautiful delicate calligraphy for my Sampler together with the Stitchery Logo suite. Lucy Hopcraft at Three Six Five pulled together the design, branding and managed print work. They are basically a dream team to work with.

The pattern designs, text, illustrations and watercolours throughout these monthly kits are all my own work.

All rights reserved. Copyright Nicki Franklin 2019.

A New Year with ice skating, tidy hair and ribbon embroidery

Happy happy new year! In all honesty I am still struggling to get into the swing of ‘normal’ life after a lovely Christmas break.

We worked our bottoms off up to Christmas and spent the festivities in a light fug of exhaustion. We did manage to escape for a delightful break in the Lake District where we walked, ate, read and knitted (well, I did) in a gorgeous little hotel my friend discovered earlier in the year within Beaxtrix Potter’s old stomping ground.

I remember eating lots of chocolates, binge watching Killing Eve (oh my gosh, LOVED it), reading lots of books and knitting several rows of my little cotton blanket. An entire bottle of violet gin may have been consumed too.

I did spend a lot of time thinking about the year that was and the new year ahead of me. I love this time of year for exactly that; filling out empty planners, diaries and calendars. Considering the things I’d love to achieve this year and how to go about it… So much possibility and opportunity, it’s dizzying.

Over the last few years I have tried to make my new resolutions happy ones, or I at least phrase them positively. So this year as well as eating more vegetables and protein, having tidy hair, learning to ice skate and mastering calligraphy I am going to conquer ribbon embroidery.

I have dabbled with ribbons, reasonably successfully, but never gave it the time and focus to develop any skill in it. Having found the loveliest teacher I am filled with enthusiasm and she is coming to The Stitchery Studio in February to run a beginners class. If you fancy joining in, you can book here too. All I am going to say is: ribbons. Beautiful silk ribbons.

You can check out Tanya’s work here and the pictures in this post show my floral heart garland design that Tanya converted to ribbon embroidery. So gorgeous, delicate and so textural. Hope you can join us.

In the event of another Beast from the East then the workshop will be re-arranged for a mutually convenient date so please don’t let the potential weather put you off. We will be cosy and warm in my light and bright studio for the day.

Christmas Embroidery Kits at The Stitchery

I have been watching Christmas films (well basically Little Women on repeat), singing Christmas hymns loudly (with lots of muffled mumbles when I don’t know the words) and I have had my first Christmas Costa cup (a hazelnut praline latte which was yummers). For my first Christmas at The Stitchery I have created two embroidery kits for you to stitch at home.

The Vintage Christmas Wreath is elegant and understated featuring a wreath of dark red roses and poinsettia flowers. Full instructions are given in the kit and a youtube tutorial will be published at the beginning of December. The wreath is finished with a white antique linen bow. It is my favourite handmade Christmas decoration this year.

The Carol Singers Embroidery Kit is a fun and easy piece to stitch using mostly split stitch. The colour palette is fresh and modern. I like this a lot, it was so enjoyable to stitch.

Festive embroideries are so lovely to work on when you need a little downtime over the busy holiday period. Whether you stitch the designs to decorate your home or as a gift for a loved one, taking the time to slow down and stitch helps you to savour the season and enjoy the little moments that make Christmas so special; things that are often overlooked when we rush through our to-do lists.

These embroideries are beautiful framed but could also be made into little cushions, lavender bags or used to adorn the front of a project or gift bag. I have used my embroideries to decorate journal covers and adorn apron pockets. There are so many possibilities! You can buy here via my online shop and I ship worldwide.

Nicki X

Festive Photographs, Peanut Butter with Jam and a Very Cross Lady

It is late Friday afternoon and dusk is falling. I have just got home from the studio and my first job was to set about the business of switching on the lamps, fairy lights and lighting candles. I am about to put a match to the fire too; it has turned really chilly today. Having made myself a coffee I found a couple of stashed (and forgotten) squares of milk chocolate in the fridge. So that’s a high note for the end of the week!

I have had the cosiest week. I have been feeling a little under the weather with what feels like the onset of a cold and it has really forced me to slow down. I’ve worked from home for most of the time, often next to the woodburner in the kitchen. There has been some online training, lots of stitching and lots of planning! I am pleased to have finalised my embroidery workshops for the Stitchery Retreat which is in just three weeks! We have five days in Cornwall; one day at the Cowslip Christmas fair, another out for Sunday lunch and three lovely hyggelig days of embroidery workshops. I have planned three exclusive kits for everyone and I am really looking forward to it.

I have also taken a few festive photographs this week. Loosely translated this means that I have tripped over fairy light wires more times than I care to mention, made countless cups of coffee in Father Christmas mugs and rummaged about in the garden in my nightdress and birkenstocks looking for Rosemary, Ivy and Holly and anything remotely ‘Christmassy’. (It did not yield much.)

So I thought I would share my photos with you here on the blog. My Christmas kits are in production and I have an anniversary kit coming out in mid-December to round up a year of The Stitchery Journal. I love the Gift Vouchers that I have produced with Three Six Five Design and Oyster Bridge & Co. So beautiful. You can buy them here.

In the spirit of a weekly round-up, this week I have also:

• Started my Christmas shopping. For myself. Haha. So far, Father Christmas will be delivering a beautiful pair of Victoriana lace-up ankle boots, a pale rose cashmere sweater and a festive set of gorgeous fine silk embroidery threads (don’t worry I got some thread for you too).

• Finished two books; The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes and The Woolly Hat Knitting Club. Both very cosy reads.

• Eaten three peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches. One of which was rustled up at the ungodly hour of 2am when I couldn’t sleep for my rumbling tum.

• Smothered my face nightly with an eye-wateringly expensive cream (Cult 51) which so far appears to be making no difference whatsoever.

• Tried to rescue a very cross lady who was knocked off her push bike by a DPD driver right outside the studio. (I think she was cross because she was knocked over. Who wouldn’t be. She was fine but her bike which “cost thousands of pounds and isn’t even my best bike” had a few scratches. I offered her a cup of tea and the use of my loo (which she crossly declined) and went inside for a cherry bakewell and a cup of tea to get over the shock. It is really scary to hear a van screech to a halt right by your window!

The weekend beckons and I have too many plans and not enough time. Lizzie is skipping about by my feet reminding me that it is her dinner time and Andrew will be home soon for a glass of wine and Killing Eve. What a lush day!

Have a great weekend, thanks for reading.

Love

Nicki xxx

Hips, Haws, Sloes and Blackberries

The Stitchery Studio Autumn Wreath

Such a beautiful time of year; September to New Year's Eve is my very favourite. 

So many cosy, lovely things to do and see.  Walking through the countryside at the moment is blissful.  The days are comfortably warm, the hedgerows and trees laden with fruit.  So much colour; beautiful muted pinks and greens of slowly ripening fruit contrasts with the vivid orangey red of rosehips and the jewel-like deep purples of blackberries and elderberries.

So much inspiration; for drawing, painting, stitching and applique.  I have been working on a few Autumnal pieces - a beautiful bramble wreath for a forthcoming workshop at the Rosehip Farmhouse and a more muted wreath of seedheads which will be released as a standalone kit very soon.  

I am enjoying the cooler weather at last, particularly at night time, but so appreciate the still-warm sunshine during the day.  Still perfect temperatures for taking a coffee outside, wearing sandals and sunglasses.

I always feel so inspired at this time of the year that I feel almost panicky that there aren't enough hours or days for me to get everything done.  I have dug out my Cali Cozy quilt kit from Alicia Paulson and plan to start piecing the top this weekend (after a little brocanting and brunching, of course).  I am trying to balance my desire to savour the present seasons with the necessity of planning for forthcoming seasons.  I have been working on Christmas plans for a few weeks now and whilst I am excited to launch Christmas workshops I am loath to move on too quickly and miss the onset of Autumn in all her glory.

The concept of new beginnings has been overused in social media but I am totally on board with the fresh start that September brings; squeaky new school shoes and all.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for reading. 

Nicki xx

PS if you can make it to Suffolk and would like to join us for a blissful day of wreath embroidery then you can book here.  There are still spaces available. These are my last workshops at the very special Rosehip Farmhouse as the family is moving next month.  Very exciting for them but I am sure tinged with a little sadness to be moving on. 

Watering Can Embroidery

This weekend I was due to teach a little embroidery class at the Dorset Brocante.  I had romantic plans to sit in a beautifully sunny garden underneath a pop-up gazebo (for shade) sipping tea and stitching with a group of lovely women.  Unfortunately the weather had other plans and it simply wasn't the weather for gazebo stitch parties.  

I had prepared a little embroidery kit for my stitchers in advance of the brocante; it was my last nod to summer... A tiny painted watering can planted with a waterfall of palest pink flowers sitting on a patch of late forget-me-nots...

I may make the design into an 'official' kit in the spring next year but I think it is nice for my workshop attendees to have something special all for themselves to stitch.

I spent my unexpected day off wisely. I haven't taken any time just to be at home for a long while and so I pottered around the house, drinking good coffee, reading (Close to Home by Cara Hunter; so far so good) and preparing to go back to art school next Friday.  I bought a new paint palette and spent an enjoyable hour choosing colours, putting them in order and squeezing them into their little wells. I labelled the wells and made a little chart to keep inside the palette too.  

I felt like painting a little something small and quick. When I was in Norfolk recently I bought myself a little book of blank watercolour postcards.  The perfect size to ward off 'the fear of the blank page' and so I had a little practise at painting my embroidery.  I often do little watercoloured sketches when I am coming up with design ideas but I haven't worked this way round before.  I feel inspired to try to paint watercolours of my other pieces; just for my journal.  Of course I will share them with you here too, since you're such a kind and supportive bunch! 

It was the loveliest day and I felt refreshed to start a busy week at work.  I have a Social Stitch group on Saturday here at the studio and I want to get the place ship shape before everyone arrives. 

Enjoy this last week of August and the last days of the school holidays. 

Love

Nicki x

Pixie Workshop at The Stitchery Studio

I am so excited; I have just listed the first 'guest tutor' workshop at The Stitchery, with Christina Hamilton (who you will know as Nina @ninalovesorange on instagram). 

Nina is the sweetest, most gentle lady, and so it is no surprise that the pixie peg dolls she creates are so delicate and ethereal.  It promises to be a super-relaxing day with like-minded individuals.  I will be on hand during the day to serve tea and help Nina; I will also be able to share some embroidery ideas for the dresses if you would like to include a rosebud here and there.  Our little pixies will be wearing linen dresses - perfect to embellish with vintage fabric, stamps, papers and tiny little stitches.  There is no experience necessary, beginners are welcome.  If you'd like to join us please book here. 

Lots of love

Nicki xx

Sunshine, Stitching and Swimming

Is this the longest summer ever? It certainly feels like it.  Having been born in the winter of 1976 following the last lengthy UK heatwave, I often joke that I was 'cooked' on a high temperature hence my penchant for hot weather.  However, now I'm not so sure.  It is taking me a million time longer (approx) to do anything, I cannot go anywhere without an electric fan switched on full and I am more short-tempered than I care to admit. 

There have been many more highs than lows to this summer: 

• Escaping to Center Parcs, the second that school broke up, with my gorgeous nieces.  We swam, ate ice cream and took long walks every single day.  It was bliss.  One of my favourite sounds is the laughter of my nieces and there was a lot of it that week (particularly when my husband emerged from the bathroom in my sister's skirted swimming costume).
• A happy Social Stitch day with some lovely Stitchery ladies.  We chatted, ate pavlova and scones and even managed a stitch or two! 
• Bike rides to the park.
• Tiny spools of antique embroidery silk in their original box. 
• Detours to collect Friday flowers on the way to work every week from a keen local gardener (made even more wonderful with a lovely little drive to pick them up).
• Raspberry gin with lots of ice.
• Peter Rabbit on DVD.  (I love Rose Byrne in Bridesmaids but as Beatrix Potter she is perfect.  Coveting her house and wardrobe.)
• Cold showers with rose-scented foam before bed.
• Homemade scones with clotted cream and rose petal jam.
• Mamma Mia HWGA at the cinema with sister and eldest niece.  
• Rediscovering the gentle Miss Read Fairacre novels. 
• Actually fancying salad.
• A unicorn paddling pool, two squealing girls and a bucket holding 250 water bombs.
• My calm, white, studio with air conditioning unit and delicious Deli millionaire shortbread on days when I need to catch up on writing jobs.
• Sleeping under a thin antique quilt to the relaxing whirr of an electric fan.
• Eating out almost daily because it is TOO HOT to cook.
• Golden Retriever play dates, crochet and watermelon feta salad with my bestie.
• My favourite Maxibon ice cream sandwiches in stock at our local supermarket.
• Spotify Summer playlists on repeat.
• Dinner, antiquing and happy chats with lovely new friends.
• Cool linen Son de Flor frocks, Saltwater sandals in candy colours and floppy Gil Fox sunhats.

A lot to be cheerful about, all in all! So good to reflect on the happy times this summer.

There a full pipeline for The Stitchery this August and heading into the Autumn.  I have just launched my Floral Heart Garland embroidery kit (pre-order here) and I am looking forward to attending the Dorset Brocante on bank holiday Monday.  I will be holding workshops in a pretty white gazebo in the gardens of West Dean, selling my kits and sewing supplies.  There are a few spaces left in the afternoon session if you fancy joining us (book here).  We will be stitching little floral wreaths to be made into lavender bags (or for you to frame if you don't like lavender). I can't wait; the Brocante is always so lovely. 

On Saturday 1st September I will have my first Social Stitch session (book here) .  The Social Stitch will happen generally on the first Saturday of every month and you can book your space now until the end of the year if you wish.  From 1st September I will also be opening my little studio for visitors on Tuesday to Friday each week.  If you live nearby and want to collect your order, stock up on sewing supplies then please come and say hello.  I'll be open from 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Thursday and 9am - 12pm on a Friday.  

I am going to be blogging much more frequently now (I promise) so please keep popping by for news, event updates and youtube tutorials.

See you soon, with lots of love.

Nicki xx

Catch-up on The Stitchery Journal

The Stitchery Journal is a year-long embroidery project, aimed at both beginners and advanced stitchers.  There are youtube tutorials here for all of the projects and each pattern is loosely designed according to the month in the UK.  

The year started with a dried hydrangea wreath and we've stitched floral hearts, daffodils, tulips and a little window box to name just a few.

The Stitchery Journal was always intended to be just a 12-month project and so the last kit will be sent (with a little extra surprise pattern!) on 12th December.  As we move into July, I'm starting to think about my designs for Christmas and the New Year and so it makes sense for me to have a break from compiling and sending Journal kits.  New subscribers will still be welcome throughout the year but the catch-up patterns for January-July will only be available to buy until the end of July here.  Use the drop-down box within the listing to add multiple months of stitchery patterns.

Journals will be a regular stock item well into the new year.  I think they are useful for all types of embroidery and mixed media work, but I want to make sure that they are still available for those people who joined the stitchery subscription but didn't initially want the accompanying journal. 

The Stitchery Journal subscription has attracted an incredible community on instagram - all of the participants are friendly and supportive.  We use a couple of hashtags to share our work (#thestitchery and #thestitcheryjournal) and so many people have made good friendships through their love of embroidery with other stitchers.  It has been so uplifting to witness.  I've made good friends of my own through the subscribers too.  

If you would like to have a go at stitching but don't fancy the commitments associated with a subscription kit, I have started to release a range of standalone kits which can be ordered here. All of the kits have the linen and thread required to complete the project and there are accompanying youtube tutorials to help you to stitch them too. 

I really hope to see you on our Stitchery journey and I'm looking forward to sharing my plans for the 2019 Stitchery subscription kits which will be another exciting and beautiful collaboration with Kate at Oyster Bridge & Co. 

Happy stitching!

Love

Nicki x

Embroidery Kits, Sunshine and Workshops

There is so much going on at The Stitchery at the moment that it is taking real effort to heed my own advice and slow down... 

The thing is, I have met SO many wonderful, like-minded, people through my work that it is hard not to be super enthusiastic and excited.  I have to set my alarm to remind myself to go home!  The studio is most definitely my happy place and Andrew (my husband) loves coming here too. 

(How lovely is this Castle Ashby map that Kate drew for me!  If you could see the scraps and sketches she was given to work from you'd be even more impressed.  Kate is an absolute creative genius and I want to be her when I grow up.)

We are working hard on collating the June subscription kits at the moment and they will despatch on Monday.  I am in love with the summer designs for the subscription kits; fresh, delicate florals with pretty colour palettes.  I am excited for people to receive them! 

I realise that not everyone likes the mystery and commitment of a subscription service so I've been working with brand designer Lucy Hopcraft and artist Kate Nicole to come up with some beautiful standalone kits that you can basically buy off the shelf.  Kate provides all of the lovely handmade folders for my embroidery workshops and I wanted the new kit design to incorporate that.  I'm really happy with the kits that we've put together and the first ones will be landing on doormats early next week.  You can order yours here.  Perfect little stitcheries for yourself to work on but I think they will also make the most lovely gifts.  I have a small range of my favourite haberdashery items for sale in the studio which will be available online soon, so maybe a one-stop shop for a present for that creative friend of yours? 

I have finalised my plans to attend the Dorset Brocante in Dean's Court on August Bank Holiday Monday and the Christmas Fair at the Larmer Tree Gardens on 30th November and 1st December.  I'll be selling my kits and haberdashery but also holding a few workshops too.  I so enjoyed my time at the Dorset Brocante last month so I am really looking forward to the next fairs.  Really hope you can come to see me.   If Dorset is a bit too far, I have published a couple of summer workshops here at the studio too - we will be stitching pretty floral heart garlands to make into lavender cushions (or frame if you're not keen on lavender).  Lots to look forward to.   If you fancy coming along to a workshop either at the studio or the Dorset Brocante then please book here. 

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week and enjoying the warm weather.  It feels like such a treat to have G&T in the sunshine after a long day, surrounded by the roses in the garden (which are so good this year!). 

Lots of love

Nicki xx

Calligraphy by Kate Nicole, Oyster Bridge & Co