Shop Sale Update *1

The story so far…

I said in the previous email that I would keep you updated on the progress of the sale of High Street Quilting.

Well, it has been surprising to say the least.
It would seem that my property is very desirable to potential landlords and to other local businesses looking for a lovely shop in which to run their existing business.
For the first two weeks I was spinning with offers but they were not exactly what we all want – which is to keep HSQ as a lovely, cosy sewing shop. And so I have put these offers “on hold”.

And it’s a different story when it comes to selling the actual business.

If you have ever shopped at High Street Quilting, you will know how I am prone to talking you out of buying too much fabric. Well, it seems that I may be doing the same with the business.
I am always trying to “look out for you” – that’s just the way I am!

Two lovely ladies came to see me and tell me that they were interested in buying the whole caboodle and I think I may have put them off. I sincerely hope not.
I can’t believe myself sometimes.
But, when I started my business I started from scratch and I could go quite gently at first, finding my feet at the same time as finding suppliers and customers.
It may be very daunting to take on an existing business and “hit the ground running”.

So – if you are considering taking over HSQ,  I’ve made up a list of expenses that may be incurred in your first year of trading. I would also like to reassure any future owners that I will help you as much as I can to set you off on your adventure.

I’ll be more than happy to share all that I have learned in the past 13 years to help you to take High Street Quilting into a new and exciting future.

Please get in touch with me (0191 4100868) and we can arrange a time to talk privately and discuss all of your hopes and fears.

Best wishes,
Hilary x 

And in the meantime…..
Fabrics continue to arrive at High Street Quilting.
I’m trying to keep on top of the basic fabrics and notions so that the transition to a new owner will be ( fingers crossed ) seamless.

From top-left and clockwise;
“Holbrook” from Andover Fabrics
Tilda “Merry Little Christmas”
“Spice Market” by Jo Morton for Andover Fabrics.
“Selvedge Magic” from Ruby Star Fabrics

And many more.
Please visit our beautiful shop to explore our extensive collection for yourself.

Vouchers…

I’m sure that you will understand that we will
no longer be selling vouchers for High Street Quilting.
I urge you to spend any vouchers that you have been given,
before Christmas, if possible.

Thanks,
Hilary x

Please read right to the end…

Jayne and I have worked so hard recently and we have decided that we

deserve a little break.

High Street Quilting will be closed for 1 week while we gallivant, paint fences,

tidy our gardens and generally do all the things that we don’t usually have time

for.

Closed from – 4pm on Saturday 23rd August

Open again – 9.30am on Tuesday 2nd September

Are you ready for the Autumn Term?

Would you like to enjoy some of the events at High Street Quilting, pick

up some new skills and share the company of like-minded, creative

people?

Please read through our new workshops and if anything floats your

boat, get in touch to book a place by

phoning the shop on 0191 4100868

“Toy Making” – with Madison

In a one day workshop – creat your very own adorable squishy doll.

Saturday 27th September

10am – 4pm

£50 to include pattern, 2 fat quarters of fabric and stuffing.

You’ll need to be able to bring along and use your own sewing machine

And a packed lunch (of course).

“Let’s Make a Quilt”

A short course suitable for beginners.

Over 6 sessions you will learn to measure, cut, accurately sew and construct a

small patchwork quilt before layering up, quilting and binding your finished

masterpiece.

Tuesday mornings 9.30am – 12.30pm

14th, 21st, 28th October and

11th, 18th, 25th November.

£15/session

“Orbits” – A block – hand sewn using the American Piecing method.

This is a hand sewing project that will be taught over three afternoons

by Kay Grey.

Suitable for beginners or anyone who would like to learn this extremely

useful technique.

Wednesday afternoons 1.30pm – 3.30pm

1st, 15th, 29th October

£15/session

Felt – Decorated Baubles.

Why not make your very own special bauble in time for the big day?

In a friendly, supportive group – prepare to create..

Claire will bring along all the materials and equipment that you will need.

Just bring yourself and a “can do” attitude.

Wednesday 12th November

10am -12.30pm

£35

Felt – Bowls.

A pretty light is always welcome through the dark days of winter.

Why not make your own under the careful guidance of Claire Priestley?

Wednesday 12th November

1.30pm – 4pm

£35

All materials and equipment will be supplied.

Hand Quilted Cushion

Join Jayne and Louise in their Friday afternoon group

to make a hand patched and quilted cushion, over approximately 6 weeks.

Starting Friday 5th September

1.30pm-3.30pm

£15/session.

You will need to provide/buy fabrics in colours of your own choosing.

And now… The difficult bit….

After 12.5 years of happy times at High Street Quilting it is time for me to hand over this amazing business to someone with as much enthusiasm for our craft as me. (hopefully)
I have decided to put up for sale, the business and the property.
I know that you will understand and appreciate the time, the energy and the love that I have poured into making High Street Quilting the wonderful oasis of patchwork fabric and quilting hub that it is.
Birtley is such a wonderful site for our shop. HSQ has thrived here and has benefited in so many ways from the support of our neighbouring shopkeepers, our amazing customers and most of all –
Jayne – my right-arm.
It is my intention to retire by Easter next year. Until then, we will carry on as usual, with beautiful fabrics to sell and friendly classes to host. In the meantime I would be very grateful if you would pass on this news to anyone that you think may be interested in taking on this fantastic opportunity and direct them to the estate agent – Rook Matthews Sayer.
You can find details on their website and on Right move Commercial.

https://www.rookmatthewssayer.co.uk/property/high-street-quilting-27-harraton-terrace-durham-road-birtley/

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/165687293#/?channel=COM_BUY

My reasons for taking this decision are multiple and varied.  But I’m sure you will appreciate that it is a decision that I have not taken lightly.
Please spread the word near and far and hopefully, before too long, we’ll find someone who is excited to take on this amazing opportunity.

With love,
Hilary x

Spring/Summer 2025

****  Easter Holiday Dates ***

We’ll be taking a break and closing the shop for a whole week.
Closing:
Saturday 12th April @ 4pm
Opening again:
Tuesday 22nd April @ 9.30am

A special event for members of the Quilter’s Guild.
The Quilter’s Guild Region 15e
Thursday 22nd May
Friday 23rd May
Saturday 24th May
Alongside other quilting shops in the region, High Street Quilting will be participating in the Quilter’s Guild’s Shop Hop.

Although the Quilter’s Guild are promoting the Quilt Shop Hop among their members, our special offers will be available to all of our customers on these dates.
Please feel free to come along to see what is happening at High Street Quilting

New Workshops @ High Street Quilting
Summer Term 2025

please contact the shop to book a place on a workshop or course
0191 4100868

Saturday Stitch Group

2nd Saturday of each month
Next meeting Saturday 12th April, 10am-3pm
£10 (bring lunch) tea, coffee and biscuits provided.
This is an informal session where people who enjoy sewing can meet up and sew together.
The perfect solution to the trials of modern life.
Come and be absorbed, pick up tips and ideas. Share the fun with others.
If you’re interested -give us a quick call to check available spaces.
0191 4100868

Beginner’s Needleturn – A short course.

Over three afternoons you will learn the basics of the art of needle turn appliqué.
This course is a “must do” class if you are considering making a Baltimore Quilt.
Wednesday 14th May
Wednesday 28th May
Wednesday11th June
1.30 pm-3.30 pm
Jayne Kirkwood
£45

Free Motion Quilting

Wednesday 25th June 2025
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Hilary
£25

Bring along your sewing machine with a free-motion foot and we will set you off on your free-motion journey.
In a no-stress class you will learn how to set up your machine to sew a selection of free-motion patterns.

Half-Square-Triangles HSTs
Basic Beginners Patchwork

Can you sew in a straight line?
Do you want to begin to learn some patchwork skills?
This maybe the workshop for you.
You will learn to use a rotary cutter to cut squares of fabric.
You will make half-square-triangle blocks and we will construct a patchwork block with them.

Saturday 28th June 10am-2pm £35
Hilary

English Paper Piecing
EPP
A workshop for beginners.

A traditional patchwork technique that can be as varied as your imagination.
Join us to learn this simple skill and you’ll go on to make a myriad of incredible quilts.

Saturday 26th July
10am – 2pm
£35

What Shall I Bring to The Class?

Workshops and regular classes are great ways to meet other people and to share our experiences and our joys and troubles. In this age of TV and Internet we can find ourselves more lonely and isolated than ever before. Coming to a group may seem daunting and even frightening. The less we go out – the less able we feel to do so.
Let’s all try to be even more aware of the difficulties we all face from time to time and put on our brave faces, pack our open minds and our good humour in our sewing kits and help to make our own experience and that of those around us, a little more fun.

with love,
Hilary xx

Hope…

Christmas Closing times.

We’re having a break.
The shop will close on
Saturday 21st December 2024@ 4pm
and open again on
Saturday 4th January 2025 @ 9.30am

Isn’t this something else?
One of our very talented friends, Chris Hesp, has made this incredible quilt. It is the finest example of hand-sewing that we have ever seen. With the teaching and support of Eileen Swart, Chris has developed her skills over recent years. We are delighted to have Chris’ s quilt on display in our classroom. You must see it. You’ll be inspired.
All of the fabrics and threads are from High Street Quilting.

Winter/Spring 2025
Programme of Events @ High Street Quilting
Ring us 0191 4100868 or pop in to reserve a place on any of the events below.

Twenty’s Plenty.

A quick and easy quilt made with 20 fat quarters.
You’ll be amazed at how quickly the quilt will come together.
Hilary
Saturday 25th January
10am-3pm
£35
Please bring 20 fat quarters of fabric and you will need to have some experience of measuring, cutting and sewing with a quarter inch seam.

Call us on 0191 4100868 to reserve a place.

Hand Quilting

A block in 2 afternoons
Begin your hand-quilting journey in a “no-stress” group with
Kathryn Jones
Wednesday 26th March
and
Wednesday 9th April
1.30pm-3.30pm
£35
Please note – your block will not be as complex as this beautiful example by Eileen Swart.

Six Squared

A fun and addictive quilt block.
Eileen Cuthbertson
Saturday 22nd February 2025
£35
You will need some basic patchwork experience and be able to measure, cut and sew with a quarter inch seam.
Please bring 8 coordinating fat quarters.

Tanya Bentham
A talk on Medieval Embroidery.
This is the rearranged date –
Tuesday 25th February 2025

If you already have a ticket for the event that we recently cancelled, please let us know if you would like to attend the new date or if you would prefer a refund.

Simple Circles
Reverse appliqué method – you’ll never be daunted by circles again.
Mary Turner
Wednesday 12th March 2025
1.30-3.30pm
£20 to include materials
(Machine sewing)

Needle-Felting

Make your own Spring Bunny with
Madison Walsh
Saturday 22nd March 2025
10am-2pm
£30 materials included
Please bring a packed lunch.

Stumpwork Dragonfly

Following on from the stump work butterfly and bee, we are delighted that Kay will be teaching a dragonfly in stump work.
This workshop is suitable for confident embroiderers.
Kay Allan
Saturday 29th March 2025
10am-3pm
£35

A personal note….
Our son, Philip and his wife Emer are expecting their first baby in April. This will be our first grandchild and to say we are excited is a massive understatement.
I can’t quite explain how special this is to me. We have had no children in our family for ages and the truth is – we’ve become a bit stuffy.
What we all need is a breath of fresh air and a new dimension.
No pressure “little one”.
And it has made me think…
We hear people say…”Christmas is for the children”… but is it?
Children are certainly more excited for Christmas but this year it is the birth of a baby that I’m looking forward to and it gives me HOPE.
In a world full of greed and anger – the birth of a baby gives us hope for the future.
The innocence of a baby still lies in the core of each of us.
The reawakening of our inner child is what Christmas is all about.

Wishing you Joy at Christmas and a Peaceful and Happy New Year.

Hilary x

Slow down …

And so…. now that the holiday season is coming to an end, you may be ready to think about a new adventure. A workshop or a short course?
Please take a look below at the new courses we have planned for the autumn term at High Street Quilting.
Fingers crossed you’ll find something to interest you. And if you do, please call in to the shop or ring us to reserve a place. 0191 4100868

An Introduction to Free-Motion Quilting

In this 2 hour session you will learn all that you need to know to begin your free-motion quilting journey.                                                  
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Tuesday 20th August 2024
OR
Tuesday 29th October 2024
£25 –  all materials included.
Please bring your own sewing machine with a free-motion foot.

Design, Draw, & Stitch
Have you ever wanted to emulate the beautiful hand quilted, whole cloth quilts of old?
Kathryn Jones will lead two short sessions in which you will learn to draw your own pattern for a 20″ cushion and in the second session you will begin to hand quilt your design.
Wednesday afternoons
1.30pm-4pm
11th September 2024
25th September 2024
£50  – to include all fabrics and equipment

Stress-Free Sampler Quilt.
Begin your Patchwork and Quilting here and you’ll have a quilt in time for Christmas.
A weekly class running through the autumn term, beginning
Friday 20th September.
1.30pm – 4pm
£15/session
Jayne and Louise will gently teach you one block per week.
Bring along your sewing machine and you will learn to create a sampler quilt using lots of different techniques from start to finish.
Pop in or phone to reserve a place 0191 4100868

Mary’s Medallion Quilt.
A monthly class for the intermediate quilter. If you have done some patchwork and you have experience of both hand sewing and machine sewing – this may be the course for you. Mary Turner has a wealth of quilting experience and will guide you through all the processes involved in making this beautiful quilt.
The class will meet once each month on the 3rd Tuesday beginning…
Tuesday 17th September 2024
9.30am – 12.30 pm
£15/session.

“Inky Abstractions”
A Creative Textile Workshop with Deb Cooper

Saturday 28th September 2024
10am – 4pm
£50
Spend the morning mark making on fabric using ink and marking tools.
No drawing skill is required just be prepared to play!
Later in the day, using your personally created fabric, you will further explore mark making using traditional embroidery stitches and other embellishments.
The first part may get messy so please bring an apron and some gloves.
You will also need to bring a basic sewing kit, some black, stranded embroidery cotton and some masking tape.
All other materials will be provided.

Needleturn Hand Appliqué
A short course for beginners.
Jayne Kirkwood will teach this incredibly useful skill over three afternoons.

You will create a small piece of work that will involve sewing a number of different shapes.
3 Wednesday afternoons;
1.30pm – 3.30pm
23rd October 2024
6th November 2024
20th November 2024

£45

Zoe’s Taster Day
A workshop for anyone new to patchwork.
(you must have a sewing machine and be able to  use it)
Saturday 26th October 2024
10am – 4pm
£60 to include all fabrics

Make a cushion using the pattern “Disappearing 9-Patch” with an envelope back.
You will have time to select your own fabrics from our vast stock.
During the day you will be taught and supported through the skills of patchwork, quilting and construction of a cushion.
This would be a great way to “have a go” at patchwork and quilting.

Ring or pop in to book a place. 0191 4100868

I’m on a “go slow”.
Why?
Because SLOW IS GOOD.

Have you been stuck in the roadworks recently?
Yes, of course you have. We all have been. But thank goodness we don’t live in London, near the M25. At least our roadworks and hold-ups will come to an end – sooner or later.
But, I’ve been intrigued by the roadworks. The planning must be amazing. I’d love to see how the sequence of work is planned and coordinated. And, most of all, I wish that I had a drone so that I could watch a time-lapse video of how all the changes have been implemented. It is a Herculean task, indeed.

And all the time (20 minutes max) that I’ve been stuck in the traffic, I have day dreamed about all these things and more. Daydreaming is great too.

The slow pace of the traffic also allows me to look at the incredible wild flowers that are now growing alongside most of our roads. They are beautiful. And they change throughout the year. Starting with primroses and daffodils to ox-eye daisies, and on to geraniums and rosebay-willow herb and cow parsley and very soon will come one of my favourites – wild parsnip. It is everywhere in Washington. Apparently it is a madly invasive weed but despite that it is a beautiful umbelliferous plant with the most wonderful lime florets. I’ll post a picture below so that you know what to look for. And then you can enjoy it too.

Here at High Street Quilting, we don’t rush about. Partly because we like to pace ourselves but more importantly because we want our customers to make wise choices. We want them to be creative and purposeful, to bring along fabrics or projects to match up or to discuss and debate their projects and problems.
Very occasionally we find that our customers are in a rush and they want our attention immediately – if that is you – please let us know and we will stop what we are doing and try our best to help you.
In a world of advertising and “BUY NOW” mantras. We prefer a more measured  and considered pace.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The roadworks will take a few months more. and your creative project can take as long as it takes.
Let’s not be rushed and harassed. Let’s be cool, sophisticated and unfazed.
We’ll all get there in the end and, hopefully, we’ll all enjoy the journey.

With love,
Hilary x