I’m writing this from my studio in Staunton with the sun shining through the windows and the sound of cattle mooing in the distance. This place is so peaceful and I love it. It’s been a tough journey to get here but The Patchwork Basket is still going and here I am – on a farm in Staunton!
This time last year, I admitted that my shop in Newent wasn’t working anymore. It had been trading for 15 years and it broke my heart to close it. We weren’t getting the footfall anymore, the cost of running a shop was going up and up, while income was going down. Although we all love to have a browse around the shops, our habits have changed and I knew that I needed to go with these changes. We all buy more items online, as it’s much easier to have them delivered than to head out on the road to negotiate roadworks, parking charges, traffic congestion just to visit our favourite shop. I totally understand that – I do it myself.
But I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to The Patchwork Basket altogether. I closed a shop but moved on to start a new cycle in the life of this business. So, here I am, starting over. It’s just me now, running the sales and teaching the classes. It’s a lot of tasks to keep on top of but I’m getting there. I’m so grateful to all the customers who have stayed with me since I left Newent – those who still come to classes and sit n’ sews and those who continue to shop with me.
I had originally thought that I would be an online-only shop. However, I quickly realised that there are still a lot of you who need to be with other people. You still like to feel the fabrics and see the colours before you buy. You like a bit of advice and a chance to discuss your latest project. You also still value the benefits of being in a class with other people, to share the highs and lows of life and quilting. I love to help customers and I love to teach. That is why I’m keeping The Patchwork Basket as both an online shop and a venue where you can take classes or shop in person.
I’ve also found that I’m out and about more than I was when I had the shop. Since my move to Staunton, I’ve taught on a cruise to Norway, given talks to groups every month and been booked to teach workshops with various local groups well into next year. Life is opening up lots of new opportunities and it’s very exciting.
I’m hoping that this website will keep you updated on what’s going on at The Patchwork Basket. I’m adding my products every day and you can buy from me in person or online. I’ll add my workshops as I plan them. I am focussing on this website for now but there will be workshops in the future – I’m always working on new ideas. I’ll keep you updated on upcoming exhibitions where I’ll be trading – in case you fancy visiting a show to get some quilty inspiration. I love the community that we had at the shop in Newent and I want to keep it going. Can we have a community online as well as in person? I don’t know yet but I’ll give it a go. For now, I just want to reassure everyone that The Patchwork Basket is still going and I’m bursting with ideas and plans. Please keep watching and let’s see where the next 15 years takes us….