It all started with a magazine…
Nearly 30 years ago, a simple idea for a national UK stitching magazine led to full time publishing careers for both Martin and I. After several magazine and book editing jobs, 50 books and with numerous projects published, we gave it all up to raise our family. It was an exciting time, and although we missed the buzz of working life, the buzz we got from being with our children was even greater. Now, with the last one in junior school, we feel able to start again…a new career, and a new challenge.
And then a website…
We started this blog at the end of 2013 through my love of making things…It all started when I was given a Sindy doll for my 8th birthday, and not being able to afford more clothes, I found a needle and thread and made them! I used to visit our local haderdashery shop, also a gentlemen’s and lady outfitter, that had embroidered hankerchiefs neatly folded and pressed in oak drawers under a seriously large glass counter…perhaps I was small and so the counter just seemed large. At the back of the shop along with Ladies Millinery, there were drawers of bright plastic buttons, thread, wool and some oddities like replacement garter belt clips! I would spend some of my pocket money there. The buttons were much too large for Sindy’s clothes, but that didn’t matter, as I had created something unique and that was all that mattered to me.
Today, my workroom cupboards groan under the weight of jars and baskets stuffed with ribbon, beads and buttons, and I know that a trip to a vintage fair or haberdashery shop will end up with me buying more. Charms, buttons and beads are small and precious in sentiment rather than in worth, so it’s hard to resist adding just one more to my ever growing collection.
And then a magazine again…
In 2015 we were approached by Dennis Publishing, who had recently bought the stitching magazines from Future Publishing. Subsequently in July we were once again doing the job that we loved, editing Cross Stitch titles. In February 2016 we had the opportunity to buy the sadly ailing Willow Fabrics, and have revived the business, always a well-known and respected supplier of quality needlework fabrics. At the end of 2019 CrossStitcher moved to Warner’s Group, just as we completed 60 issues on our ‘comeback’. The magazine continues to grow with a strong following and we are delighted to welcome readers old and new.