Thor Foods Limited

Living Threads Textile Group

Portfolio of work by East Midlands based textile artists

Category: Newsletter

  • October

    As we move into October, we are all aware of the shortening days, the lengthening nights and the chillier start to the days. We are enjoying something of an Indian summer at the moment and that allows for more time to get the gardens ready for the winter. I love this transition between the seasons when there’s still some warmth in the sun and yet a freshness to the air which is quite energising.

    For me this is also a transition from spending time in the garden and returning to my sewing room to making a start on planning projects.
    Inevitably that means going through ‘the stash’, to search out suitable fabrics and threads and revisiting books and magazines to help move my ideas forward.  

    If, like me, you are searching for inspiration, then what better time to join us for the

    Sewing Room Sort Out Sale at Gotham Memorial Hall, Saturday October 10th from 10am – 1pm with free entry.

    This is a great time to catch up with friends and snap up fabrics and sewing notions at bargain prices, all ready for your autumn and winter sewing projects. This is a cash only event but there is a cash point close by in case you get carried away! Car parking is available on site and the venue is on the No 1 bus route from Nottingham to Loughborough. Delicious cakes coffee and tea will be available. We look forward to seeing you there!If you wish to have a table at this event, it’s still not too late to book. They are available for £15.00 to non-members, but hurry – they are on a first come basis. Please contact to reserve a table.

    Whilst I was thinking about threads and fibres, my attention was drawn to a new publication – Wild Nettles, from Foraging to Fibre by Brigitte Kaltenbacher. In this book Brigitte sets out to explore the history of this ancient wild fibre and brings it bang up to date with suggestions as to how to rediscover the unique properties of this unassuming plant, using the simplest of tools: sturdy gloves, secateurs and a blunt cutlery knife. Nettle plant fibre is enjoying renewed interest in the textile market, both for its fine quality and as a highly sustainable native plant which is widely available. Over centuries nettle fibre has been used for everything from heavy sailcloth to fine table linen. It is surprisingly fine and silky and was once traded as a luxury fibre – so far removed from the stinging plant in our gardens and hedgerows. Wild Nettles, from Foraging to Fibre is due to be published at the end of October.

    Whilst on the subject of foraging, the textile artist Alice Fox uses a lot of foraged materials and natural fibres in her work. In her recent blog she made recommendations for the following books, which may be of interest: –

    Foraged Basketry, working with wild and invasive plants by Delia Fian.  This book is about making functional baskets using a variety of different plant materials

    Off-Loom weaving (Lark and Bower) by Sarah Ward Podlesny. A book with appeal to both experienced weavers wishing to work away from the confines of a loom and to the non-weaver who wants to find a way into this craft.

    Wild Basketry by Ruby Taylor (Native Hands). Making baskets and cordage from foraged plants. Alice Fox has also written two books: Wild Textiles and Wild Weave, both available from her online shop. Alice will also be showing her body of work Flaxen at the Knit and Stitch show at the Alexandra Palace this month (details below) and will be doing a gallery tour on the 8th October at 11am – Booking required.

    The Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is holding its biennial exhibition ‘A Festival of Flora and Fauna’ October 1st – 29th at The Rose Patterson Gallery, Weston-Super-Mare Park, Weston-Under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8LE. www.wsd.org.uk
    Sarah Cooke will be showing several pieces of her work there so if you are in the area, or planning a day out, do go along and say hello to her.

    Some other activities to consider this month –

    Saturday 17th October – Clothes and Textile Repair Café, 1.30pm at The Museum of Making, Derby.  This is an opportunity to take items to mend, to learn practical mending skills or work on craft projects This event is free, with a suggested donation of £3.00 but advance booking is required.

    ArtSpace Loughborough present ‘About Time’ at the Sock Gallery Loughborough Town Hall, from 15th October to 19th November. With subjects as varied as nature, rocks, climate, family, inheritance, prolonged hospitalisation and Greek mythology, ArtSpace return to the Sock Gallery with a diverse show of new work. Free entry Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm and Sat 10am to 3pm.

    Major Exhibitions and Shows

    Ossie Clark /Celia Birtwell opens October 2 2026 to April 11th 2027 at the Fashion and Textile Museum, spotlighting the iconic 1960s and early 1970s rock and roll fashion prints and designs, Tuesdays-Saturdays 11am to 6pm. £12.65 https://fashiontextilemuseum.org

    The Knit and Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace in London from October 8th to 11th, offering over 200 craft exhibitors, textile galleries and live demonstrations, Tickets from https://www.knitandstitchshow.co.uk/london

    Schiaparelli: Fashion becomes Art until November 15th at the V&A, South Kensington, Weekdays £28.00 /weekends £30.00. Advance booking recommended. The UK’s first exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli spans the 1920s to the present day.

    Please remember to contact me to share details of your exhibitions, events, talks or workshops and reach out to a wide number of subscribers across the East Midlands and beyond. 

    And finally – the C word!! I saw my first offering of Mince pies in Sainsbury’s and the Co-op at the end of August and M&S have now opened their Christmas order line. Time for me to get those Brussel sprouts on the boil!!! Until next month, – happy stitching!

    Maggie

  • September

    Here we are again – September already and time to write another newsletter. It feels like the start of a new school year, with everything starting up again, holidays over and life slotting back into a more familiar routine. We met today at our monthly Living Threads meeting and it was so good to see everyone and catch up on news and lots of enthusiastic talk of new projects and exciting plans for the year ahead.

    The big event which everyone seems to be talking about is the exhibition of the Bayeaux Tapestry which opens on September 10th at the British Museum. For the first time since it was made nearly a thousand years ago, The Bayeaux Tapestry has returned to England. Following an historic agreement with France the 70 metre long tapestry, depicting events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, is being loaned to the British Museum until July 2027.

    This monumental embroidery tells the dramatic story of an event that changed England forever. 1066 is the last year England was successfully invaded and it is the year from which the modern monarchy dates itself. One of the wonders of the medieval world, the tapestry offers a vision of life in 11th century England before and after the Conquest. Made by English embroiderers using manuscript drawings from Canterbury, the tapestry is both a precious historical record and a remarkable work of art.

    Tickets from January 1st to 31st March 2027 will be on sale on October 21st 2026. If anyone is planning a group outing to the exhibition, please let me have details as I am sure there will be interest in such an opportunity.

    As I have only just got back from my holiday, Sarah and I are pulling out all the stops to get this newsletter out as there are events you may be interested in this coming weekend but before I put out that information, I want to say a big Thank You to Sarah who has been responsible for circulating the newsletter to you for the past couple of years. This will be the last time Sarah will be pressing all the right buttons to get this into your inbox as Sarah is handing over to Karen in October. It’s been great working with Sarah and I am looking forward to working with Karen in the months to come. Actually, Karen is one of two Living Threads members taking part in the Attenborough, Beeston and Chilwell Arts Trail which takes place this weekend, September 5th and 6th, from 11a.m. to 5p.m. Forty artists will be exhibiting in twenty venues, with a wide range of work on show, so do go along, meet the artists and say hello to Karen and to Jane Marrows. 

     More info – www.abcartstrail.co.uk

    The Stamford 15 Art Exhibition, part of Northants and Rutland Open Studios is currently at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s St. PE9 2DL from 2 to 24th September, Monday to Saturday 10am- 8pm. This exhibition showcases diverse visions, bold experimentation and contemporary expression. Also, part of Northants and Rutland Open Studios, from the beginning of September “’Bring Them All Flowers’, a display of work in the Oxfam Bookshop window, High St, Market Harborough, to celebrate Harborough in Bloom On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th from 10-4pm

    Aspects of Stitch, an exhibition of Embroidery and Textile Arts, 1st Market Harborough Scouts Hall, 31, Coventry Road, Market Harborough LE16 9AX. Visit www.nros.co.uk for more information on the above.

    An exhibition Lace through the Years, showing an extensive collection from over seven different countries and a range of techniques is being held at St Mary’s Church, Wymeswold, on Saturday September 12th, 10am to 4.30. This is the personal collection of Lorraine Ellison and Lorraine will be giving a talk ‘Lace Stories’ at 2pm on that day. The event is part of Heritage Days and is free. The exhibition will move to The Framework Knitters Museum at Ruddington from mid-November to early January 2027. Please check on line before going to Ruddington as other events may be taking place at the same time as the exhibition. /https://frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk/ /event/chapel-gallery-winter-exhibition-lace-through-the years

    Also, this month Melbourne Festival Art and Architecture Trail on Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th September. 150 artists, 70 venues, live music, fantastic food and lots of family fun in Melbourne, South Derbyshire DE73 8EJ.  www.melbournefestival.co.uk

    The Midlands Textile Forum has an exhibition ‘Fragments’ at Artery Studios, Worcester from 8th -13th September and then moves to Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery from 25th September to 7th November. The exhibition covers diverse techniques including weaving, embroidery, printed textiles, mixed media and sculpture. Their Instagram pages have examples to view on Midlands Textile Forum @ midlandstextileforum/Instagram

    Looking ahead to October – The Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is holding its biennial exhibition ‘A Festival of Flora and Fauna’, October 1st -29th at The Rose Patterson Gallery, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8LE.    www.wsd.org.uk Our member Sarah Cooke will be showing several pieces there so if you are in the area, or planning a day out, do go along and say hello to her.

    A book recommendation – Rags to Stitches by local lady, Jackie Cunningham. Jackie creates handmade fabric accessories designed to be practical and comfortable. During the pandemic Jackie began sewing facemasks. This led to specialist textile innovation and the development of a brain scanning cap now used widely in universities, research institutions and medical settings around the world. More info on sewjackie.com.

    Coming up in October, back by popular demand, we will be holding another Sewing Room Sort Out Day, at Gotham Memorial Hall, on Saturday October 10th from 10am -1pm with free entry. Delicious cakes with coffee and tea will be available. This is a great time to catch up with friends and snap up fabrics and sewing notions at bargain prices, all ready for your autumn and winter sewing projects. This is a cash only event but there is a cash point close by in case you get carried away! Car parking is available on site and the venue is on the No 1 bus route to Loughborough.
    If you wish to have a table at this event, they will be available for £15.00 to non-members, on a first come basis. Please contact Janet Humphrey to reserve a table. Email –

    And finally – we are currently offering the opportunity to join Living Threads Textile Group. Application for membership is now open until the 30th of September. Full details can be found on our website-     livingthreadstextileartists.co.uk and follow the link . We plan to invite potential new members to our November /December meetings to discuss membership and review work with a view to joining in January 2027.

    Wow, there certainly is a lot going on as we enter into autumn. I hope you have enjoyed catching up with everything that is on offer and even manage to get to see some of them. Thank you for joining me once again, and please send details of any events you have planned so that they can be shared with a wider audience Best wishes and stay stitching!                                                       

    Maggie

  • July 2026

    Flaming June has certainly exceeded all expectations as we continue to swelter in record breaking temperatures and sales of fans and suncream reach an all-time high. Alongside this are the very real concerns of the risks to vulnerable people with homes, and schools overheating and the inevitable hose pipe bans as water consumption soars. So, with this in mind, I was particularly interested in the lead article, Flow, in the current edition of Selvedge magazine. The article reflects that today water is so embedded into our daily lives that it largely goes unnoticed, fostering the illusion that natural resources will replenish themselves indefinitely.

    Water is such a fundamental element in textile making that we rarely stop to consider it, yet it is an essential ingredient at almost every stage of production – it softens silk cocoons, scours wool, rets flax, hemp and jute. It carries dye into cloth and washes it out again. Cloth is fulled, dyed, washed, worn and washed again, with each stage drawing on water resources. This contributes to the textile industry’s position as one of the world’s largest protagonists of water pollution. So as the summer heat rises, let’s stop for a moment to consider the impact of water on our lives, the clothes we buy and wear, the textiles in our homes, and the textiles we use creatively.

    Following on from the water theme, at Hastings Contemporary Gallery, Miquel Rothschild spends the summer reimagining the surface of the sea as something threaded and stitched. His exhibition ‘Undercurrents’ features a vast photographic cloth suspended above the gallery floor, rippling with light and movement.  Until 13 September.

    Janaina Tschape  – ‘Conversations with the Sea’, brings the swell of the English Channel and the immensity of the world’s oceans into the heart of Hastings Contemporary Gallery, reflecting time spent in a wet and stormy Hastings in the winter of 2025. The exhibition considers water as a force – as movement that folds, accelerates, disperses and returns. Until September 13th.

    Closer to home – Scratching the Surface’, an exhibition by Nolitex at the Stamford Arts Centre. Inspired by lines circles and graffiti, Scratching the Surface explore marks and uncovers stories embedded in the surface around us. These traces, whether literal or metaphorical, reveal narratives that are hidden, overlooked, forgotten or inspired. Tuesday, July 7th to Saturday, July 18th.

    In Leicester, ‘Soul of the Cloth’ – an exhibition of rare and historical textiles and clothing from Africa and Asia, recently donated to the De Montfort University by renowned collector Karun Thakar.  In the Hawthorn Building of De Montfort University, Leicester. Wednesday to Friday, 12pm- 4pm, open until 30th August.

    At Wollaton Hall – The Greensleeves Project: Tudor exhibition. Discover the ballad Greensleeves through the medium of period costume Almost 450 years after the song first caught the attention of the Elizabethan public, The Greensleeves project has brought historians, musicians and makers together to pose the question – who was Greensleeves? This exhibition engages a team of historians and practitioners to examine and recreate the items described in the song. The 18 verses of the song form the basis of this reconstruction of sixteenth century dress. There is so much more going on around this exhibition so if this pings your interest, please go to https//Wollatonhall.org.uk/exhibition-greensleeves Open weekends, school holidays and Bank holidays until Sunday 1st November.  Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2AE.  Please note there is a temporary closure on Wednesday 29th July.

    The Sock Gallery Open exhibition 2026 opens on August 1st, Loughborough Town Hall.

    There’s still time to catch –The Natural World by Leicestershire textile artists, Drawn2stitch at the Harborough Museum is showing work inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes, celebrating his centenary year. Harborough Museum, The Symington Building, Market Harborough LE16 7LT. Until Saturday 11th July.

    Before I close this month’s newsletter, I would like to say a huge Thank You, on behalf of all Living Threads members, to all you lovely people who came to the Gallery to see us at Folded, Frayed and Found, and also at our smaller exhibition at Canalside. It was a pleasure to meet and chat to so many of you and to share our love of textiles. As many of you will appreciate, putting on an exhibition of any size is a massive undertaking and demands a great commitment from all involved, but, with a great team pulling together somehow it all gets done and when we meet our visitors it is all worthwhile. So, again, thank you for coming and we will look forward to our various stitch pathways crossing in the very near future.

    I take a break during August, so our next letter will be the September edition, but in the meantime please send details of events you are holding in the late summer and early autumn or of any interesting books or exhibitions you would like to share with our readers. Have a great summer, be it at home or abroad, in the sun or in the shade, and, a final thought –

    “The word seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before:”                        Neil Gaiman

    Stay stitching!                        Maggie

  • June 2026

    May draws to a close with weeks of unprecedented weather, featuring intense heat, dramatic storms, flash floods and lightning strikes, and we are reminded that summer has not officially begun!! However, it is a time when thoughts often turn to travel, making journeys for days out, holidays away or visits to family and friends.

    With the prospect of more Mediterranean weather in our summer months, it seems that stay-cations are increasingly popular and there certainly seems to be plenty on offer to entertain and amuse, to suit a variety of interests.

    As someone who plans journeys around National Trust properties, because, to me they offer a very pleasant alternative to motorway service stations, I was very interested to read that this summer three exhibitions at historic houses will feature collections of global textiles. The textile collector, Karun Thakar is displaying exhibits illuminating respective journeys of craft, culture and connection.

    Journeys through Cloth is made up of three linked exhibitions, each shaped around the history and character of the host property. At Osterley Park in West London the focus is on Punjabi phulkari and bagh textiles, exploring how women stitch their family stories into cloth. At Blickling Estate in Norfolk, the exhibition brings together global textiles, from Japanese kimonos to Indian palampores and French toiles, highlighting the connection the house had with international trade and design. At Dyrham Park, near Bath, the spotlight turns to the vivid Asafo flags of Ghana, revealing their political, artistic and communal significance. Together the three exhibitions invite visitors to encounter the world through cloth, each offering a different route through Karun’s collection.

    The three exhibitions opened on May 22nd and run until November 1st at the above National Trust properties

    Shorter journeys closer to home also have a feast of textile treats to enjoy so here is a roundup of offerings for June: –

    Folded Frayed Found our own Living Threads main exhibition at the Nottingham Society for Artists Gallery on Friar Lane is open until Saturday June 6, daily from 10am until 4pm with free admission. We have been delighted to welcome so many visitors and look forwards to seeing you if you haven’t visited yet.

    About to open at the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington is an exhibition by Wymeswold Threads, ‘10 years and Still Stitching,’ a free exhibition celebrating Friendship and Embroidery.  
    From June 5 until July 2, Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. At Chapel Gallery, Framework Knitters Museum NG11 6HE
    It is advisable to ring ahead as the Gallery is also used as a community space.

    The Natural World by Leicestershire textile artists Drawn2stitch at the Harborough Museum is showing work inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes, celebrating his centenary year. At Harborough Museum, The Symington Building, Market Harborough LE16 7LT Until Saturday, July 11.

    If travelling is not on your agenda this month here are two book recommendations for summer reading in the garden –

    Threads of Life, A History of the World through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter, winner of the Saltaire First Book prize. This is a fascinating book by a textile artist, part history, part memoir, which explores and champions the diverse potencies of needle and thread. Opening with the Bayeaux Tapestry the chapters range through monarchs, prisoners of war and the current work by Fine Cell.

    This Golden Fleece: a journey through Britain’s Knitted History by Esther Rutter. A book about wool and sheep, following the journey over the course of a year to tell the story of wool’s long history. She unearths fascinating histories of communities shaped by wool, from mill workers to market towns, built on the profits of the wool trade and the highland communities cleared for sheep farming. Along the way she explores the rich culture of wool by knitting and crafting culturally significant garments from our history. This Golden Fleece is at once a meditation on the craft and history of knitting, and a fascinating exploration of wool’s influence on our landscape, our history and our culture.

    Something to watch out for – The Generator in Loughborough is now open. What started as a spark of an idea from local people who wanted a place where creativity could truly belong has now grown into a community led arts venue at the heart of the town, offering exhibitions, live music, performance and much more. The first exhibition has just finished but I will be watching for events of interest to share with you.

    Until next month, whatever the weather, wherever you may be, stay cool and stay stitching!

    Best wishes, Maggie  

     

  • May 2026

    It’s the merry month of May and the Morris Dancers were up at the crack of dawn to celebrate May Day. Many years ago, when I was working at a school in Leicestershire, one of the staff members was a very keen Morris Dancer. By some miraculous means he persuaded all the male staff members to learn a couple of dances and to join him in celebrating May Day. The rehearsals were a joy to behold, as some were new to any sort of dancing and had very little sense of rhythm or musicality but, credit to all of them, they were up on Borough Hill at dawn, complete with bells around their ankles, taking part in this very English tradition. On their return, ready to start a day in the classroom, we rewarded them with bacon sandwiches and, whenever May Day dawns this little happening brings a very happy smile to my face. Aside from that, I really love this time of year and feel there is so much to celebrate: – the gardens are bursting with colour, the trees and hedgerows are such a fresh and vibrant green, and everything is gearing up for summer.

    Of course, all this means that there is so much to do and so much to keep us busy. That is very much the case in the world of creative and artistic pursuits as so many groups are putting on exhibitions or opening their studios to share their creativity, so here is a roundup of what there is to do and see in the weeks ahead –

    Open now until 4 October 2026 – ‘Field to Fashion’ at the Museum of Making, the Silk Mill, Derby, exploring the journey of raw British fleece into fibre, including the history of local knitwear company, John Smedley and ground breaking work by students at de Monfort University, Leicester. More details and opening times –    www.derbymuseums.org

    Still running at the  Harborough Museum, Market Harborough ‘Strait laced and Stitched Up’ by the Second Turning Textile Group, celebrating the corset making tradition of the Symington company, in collaboration with Leicestershire museums. Until May 30th

    Also, at the Harborough Museum, ‘The Natural World’ an exhibition of work by Drawn2stitch, inspired by David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes, to celebrate his 100th birthday this month. From April 28th to July 11th. 
    Https://www.harboroughmuseum.org.uk
     

    ‘Trash to Treasure’ by the Second Turning Textile Group at the Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington shines a spotlight on re-use, repair and recycling – May 8th to May 28th.
    https://frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk/

    Please phone ahead to check opening times as the gallery area is also used by local groups.

    Canalside at Beeston is another local heritage museum and Living Threads Textile Group currently has a Pop-up exhibition – ‘In the Wild’, in the Weir Room, open now until the end of May.

    East Midlands Contemporary Textiles present ‘Storytelling’ from Tuesday May 5th to Sunday 10th May at the Nottingham Society for Artists Gallery, 71-73 Friar, Lane Nottingham, NG1 6 DH.
    Free admission daily from 10am to 4pm.

    May is Notts Open Studios time when 80 talented artists and makers open their studios and work spaces across the city and county to show their work and meet and greet you. There are numerous dates throughout the month and you can check these out on www.osnotts.co.uk

    Living Threads Textile Group are participating in NottsOpen Studios at the Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre and the following members will be there to share their work on the following dates – Saturday and Sunday May 9th and 10th – Denise Coupland, Hazel Green, Sarah Cooke and Karen Attwood.
    On Saturday May 16th and Sunday 17th come and meet Jane Marrows, Janet Humphrey and Chrissie Weeds. They will be joined by Sally Marsh on Saturday and Karen Attwood on Sunday.

    .. After a brief respite The Living Threads Textile Group will hold their main 2026 exhibition ‘Folded Frayed Found’           
    at the Nottingham Society for Artists Gallery, 71-73 Friar Lane, Nottingham, NG1 6DH with free admission daily from 10.30 am to 4pm.
    On Sunday May 31th we will be hosting a Meet the Artists Afternoon from 1.30pm to 3.30 pm. Do come along, we’d love to welcome you!

    Wow! As I said earlier, there is So Much Going On, and I already have notices about exhibitions to promote in the June newsletter, so Watch this Space!! Whatever you choose to do this month, I hope you manage to find time to celebrate the amazing creativity we have in our communities and also to enjoy and embrace your own creative pursuits. Remember – A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life. (Elizabeth Gilbert)

    Someone who lived her life in that amplified, bigger and happier way was one of the founder members of the Living Threads Textile Group – Pauline Barke. Many people reading this will have known Pauline and their creative lives will have been shaped and influenced by Pauline’s teaching and her creative knowledge and energy. Pauline passed away at the end of March and her funeral will be held at 1 pm on May 14th at Bramcote Crematorium, NG9 3GL.  Pauline will be sadly missed but her influence and legacy will live on.


    Carry on stitching, Maggie

  • April 2026

    I had already got plans in mind for the main feature of this April newsletter – I was going to focus on reporting on a much-anticipated visit to Bath for the Zandra Rhodes exhibition, A life in Colour. Tickets were booked and date in the diary – then life threw me a curveball and instead of Bath, I found myself admitted to the Leicester Royal Infirmary.  Fortunately, it was only a short stay and I’m now back home and recovering well.

    So, in a complete re-think I am going to focus on Repair and Renewal and, inspired by work one of my granddaughters is currently engaged in, I am going to focus in on Textile Conservation, and in particular, the work of one particular Textile Conservation Studio – Zenzie Tinker, based in Brighton.

    The professional team at the Zenzie Tinker Conservation Studio investigate, preserve and beautifully present modern, historic and contemporary textiles, tapestries and costumes and all things fibre, to the very highest standards. This is the hidden story behind many of the beautiful heirloom textiles we see in collections, museums and exhibitions up and down the country.  Over time these beautiful artifacts show wear and tear, or may be damaged by light, insects, dust, water or simply become more fragile with age and need to be conserved.

    I became aware, and subsequently fascinated by this work, when my granddaughter joined the team at Zenzie Tinker on a student placement from Lincoln University where she is studying for a BA in Conservation. During her placement she has cleaned, minimally repaired and lined a beautiful Miriam Sacks tapestry, conserved and prepared a ceremonial garter for mounting on a fabric covered board, made a mount for a Christian Dior hat and worked on site at the Royal Courts of Justice, vacuum cleaning exhibits in their display cases. Currently she is conserving a beautiful Welsh baby quilt which needs some patches replacing.



    Following on with this theme of repair and renewal, the next exhibition by The Second Turning Textile Group highlights the creative potential of re-use, repair and recycling. Trash to Treasure celebrates the beauty and possibilities inherent in materials that might otherwise be discarded. Materials used range from cleaning cloths used in print making, sweet wrappers, fabric scraps and old jeans. Quite literally stuff rescued from the bin is transformed, revealing the creative possibilities when limitations become opportunities.

    Trash to Treasure – May 8th to May 28th, Framework Knitters Museum,
    Chapel Street, Ruddington NG11 6HE.
    It is advisable to phone ahead of your visit 0115 9846914  as the Gallery area is also used, at times, by local community groups, there is an excellent café on site.


    Continuing on the re-cycling theme, Gedling Play Forum is having a one-day Spring Sale on Saturday, April 11th, 10am – 3pm. All welcome. Gedling Play Forum is a scrap-store, craft outlet that promotes recycling items donated by local businesses and individuals, which would otherwise be sent to landfill. There is a well stocked fabric room, plus yarns, threads, other haberdashery as well as many craft resources.
    Gedling Play Forum, Wollaton Avenue, Gedling NG4 4HX  www.gedlingplayforum.org

    The Second Turning group also have Strait-laced and Stitched up at the Symington Gallery, Market Harborough.  
    Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough LE16 7LT 
    Open now until 30th May, Tuesday to Friday 10am -6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm


    Growth by Design Nation is at the Sock Gallery, Loughborough. Having visited, I can thoroughly recommend this collaborative project by Design Nation Notts, a collective of designer /makers who, for over a year, have each explored what Growth has meant.
    It is currently at the Sock Gallery, Loughborough, followed by The Arts Centre in Stamford.
    The dates for your diary are – Loughborough until April 18th and Stamford May 11th -May 23rd 2026
    Please check opening hours with the venues.
    Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough LE11 3EB www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk
    Stamford Arts Centre ,27 St Marys St. PE9 2DL   www.stamfordartscentre.com

    When I was visiting the Symington Museum in Market Harborough, I bumped into Tessa Thompson of Visualise, who are based in Welford in Northamptonshire and Tessa has sent me details of their next exhibition, Visualise – an Exhibition of Contemporary Stitched Art Textiles, at Sulgrave Manor Nr Banbury. 
    May 3rd to 5th July, Manor Rd Sulgrave , BanburyOX 17 2SD Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 10.30am – 4pm.
    Artworks, accessories, gifts and cards to inspire and buy.

    Jo Beattie has a solo exhibition, Memories in Time and Place, an exhibition exploring cherished memories that shape our sense of self, the works on display are intimate moments where pattern and imagery evoke personal and collective pasts.
    At the Broad Works Gallery, 56b Old Broad Street, London EC2M 1RX, from April 7th until April 15th.  The gallery is a two-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station.

    Advance notice – tickets for The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, will go on sale on July 1st with further ticket release in September and January. Visitors are advised to sign up to the British Museum newsletter to receive ticket updates.

    And Last, but by no means Least –

    Folded Frayed Found

    The Living Threads Textile Group 2026 exhibition will open at The Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery, opening on Tuesday May 26th until Saturday June 6th.
    The Theme of this exhibition reflects some of the myriad approaches used by textile artists in their work – think fabric manipulation, tucking, pleating and gathering, think shibori, patchwork and applique, think fabric distressing and the use of found objects, from nature from charity shops or just from a rummage through that familiar friend – the Stash.  In the hands of a textile artist there are no bounds, the only limitation is imagination.
    Everyday objects are transformed, re-imagined, re-loved and emerge as covetable and desirable works of Art

    Remember, creative people don’t have a mess, they just have ideas lying around everywhere!
    On that positive note I am going to my room full of ideas to do some stitching!  Have good month everyone and don’t forget to get in touch to share your news, event or exhibitions
    Happy Stitching,
    Maggie

  • March 2026

    As the Chinese year of the Snake slithers out of our lives, we welcome the year of the Horse, symbolizing freedom, strength, energy and vitality. This year is extra special because it’s a Fire Horse Year, created by the pairing of the Horse with the element of Fire and it’s the first time this has happened since 1966, so Happy Chinese New Year to you all.


    When we were faced with a distribution issue for February, I thought I would enjoy the break but in actual fact I missed settling down to gather thoughts and ideas for a newsletter and to research creative offerings for the month to come, so it’s good to be back with you once again. However, the break did provide the opportunity to be a total couch potato, absolutely rivetted to the whole Winter Olympic coverage.  The snowy landscapes were breathtaking but, oh my goodness, the bravery of the Young Olympians soaring through the air and racing down the icy slopes, the nerve-wracking skill of the skeleton racers and speed skaters and the grace of the ice dancers plus the nail-biting excitement of the Curling events.

    It has certainly dispelled the grey and gloom of a very wet and dismal February. There have been no opportunities to get out into the garden, which is totally waterlogged but what a pleasure to see the snowdrops putting on a brave face and the cheerful nodding heads of the hellebores and primroses. The glorious splash of sunshine provided by the yellow Witch Hazel is over now but the fat buds of the white camellias are ready to burst open and the fragrance of the Daphne and the Winter Box certainly lift the spirits on a grey day. Actually, as I write this the sunshine is pouring through the window and my cat has found a sunny patch on the carpet to stretch out and enjoy the warmth. Spring has to be around the corner.

    One of our Living Threads members is also looking forward to springtime, so let me introduce Kate Follows who has written the following piece for our newsletter :
     
    I am writing this counting down to spring when I can stitch in bright daylight and not wonder if my colour choice is right. I work as an illustrator for product placement…greetings cards, fabrics etc with very loose briefs but always with other clients in mind for turnover. I have a degree in Fashion and worked as a clothing designer.
    I love the range and versatility of textiles and use ready dyed fabrics which I piece mainly by hand, with hand stitched embellishment.
    Some of my designs are a bit quirky and I tend to use similar imagery in my designs and it’s amazing how many permutations are possible.
    I have a special liking for palm trees and exotic settings. Maybe because it always creates a feeling of warmth and is possibly why I love Moroccan design.
    I use the same acrylic paints on fabric as on paper and overstitch by hand, using mostly a single thread. Sometimes I pop a few tiny beads on.
    I have been very lucky to make a living doing something I enjoy.
    Kate 🌷
    PS…..32 days to spring.

    Thank you, Kate, for sharing this with us, some of you will have met Kate on of our workshops where she is always happy to share her enthusiasm and creativity. Kate was also a major contributor to the Guru Nanak project described last year. Not only is she an amazing textile artist but she is an absolute dab hand at DIY projects, including levelling out her back garden, digging in tons of sharp sand and then laying a lawn!  
    Quick note – ten minutes ago the sun was shining and now the rain is battering down the window pane!  Those 32 days can’t pass soon enough.

    Things to do and see in the coming months, never mind the weather!

    Strait Laced and Stitched Up by the Second Turning Textile Group at the Symington Gallery, Market Harborough.
    This exciting collaboration connects historic items from the Leicestershire Museum collection with the contemporary artworks they have inspired. Housed in the actual building where the original corsets were manufactured, The Symington building offers not only the opportunity to visit this exhibition but also has a coffee bar and museum galleries.
    Well worth a visit and it’s free (well, not the coffee and cake!). Ample parking nearby.
    Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough LE16 7LT
     Open now until 30th May, Tuesday to Friday 10am -6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm

    ‘Growth’ by Design Nation  at the Sock Gallery, Loughborough
    This is a collaborative project by Design Nation Notts, a collective of designer /makers who, for over a year, have each explored what Growth has meant, through a new body of work, culminating in exhibitions at the Sock Gallery, Loughborough, followed by The Arts Centre in Stamford. The dates for your diary are:
    Loughborough March 5th – April 18th and Stamford May 11th -May 23rd 2026
    Please check opening hours with the venues.
    Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough LE11 3EB www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk
    Stamford Arts Centre ,27 St Marys St. PE9 2DL   www.stamfordartscentre.com  

    Creative Craft Show, including The Fashion and Embroidery Show and Sewing for Pleasure is at the NEC from March 12th to 15th.  Tickets and details from   www. creativecraftshow.co.uk/birmingham-march-2026

    Further afield
    Now open Zandra Rhodes – ‘A life in Print’ at the Holbourne Museum, Bath, showcasing a spectacular array of Dame Zandra Rhodes vibrant screen-printed garments from the 60’s, 70’s and 8o’s displayed on vintage mannequins. Closes 10th May 2026.

    Vivienne Westwood: Rebel- Storyteller -Visionary, at The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
    26th March to 6th September 2026, a multi-gallery exhibition honouring one of fashion’s most provocative British designers, the show charts Westwood’s extraordinary journey from the rebellious energy of punk to her reinvention of historical dress and couture in the 80s and 90s. The Bowes Museum, built in the style of a French chateau is set within landscaped parkland, and houses world class collections.  www.thebowesmusem.co.uk

    Advance notice – tickets for The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, will go on sale on July 1st with further ticket release in September and January. Visitors are advised to sign up to the British Museum newsletter to receive ticket updates.

    I started this on a grey damp day and I’m finishing it on another grey damp day – but it’s warmer, so spring must be just around the corner. Whatever the weather, whatever you do, stay creative, stay stitching! 

    Maggie   
    Contributions for the next newsletter to

  • January 2026

    Happy New Year everyone! It’s a crystal clear, bitterly cold January day, there’s no snow here but I guess many of you are looking out on a wintry landscape. All the Christmas excesses have been eaten; the decorations are back in the loft and new resolutions made (and maybe even broken!)

    Time to plan ahead for a new year, and the first thing need to flag up is that there will not be a newsletter in February. Our lovely Sarah, who manages the distribution of this newsletter (and, believe me, we have a massive circulation so its a major undertaking) is off on her travels from mid-January to mid-February so we need to lapse our offering until the March newsletter. Hopefully I will still be getting information from our readers so we aim to make the March edition a bumper one, so keep the notices rolling in, please

    A really happy notice landed in my in- box just before Christmas which I will share with you. Sometime last year I posted a request from reader Helen for help with making a beautiful piece of needlepoint into a cushion. Immediately I had an offer of help from Living Threads member Pam and was able to put the two in touch The cushion was completed in time for Christmas and here it is, looking absolutely stunning. What a brilliant outcome and I am so pleased that this came about through the newsletter.

    Book tokens are a popular Christmas gift and LTTG member, Sally, was browsing in Waterstones recently and spotted this book which may be just right for new year inspiration.

    –Abstract Textiles by Anne Kelly, Batsford Books   £25.00

    This is an exploration of abstract textile work with practical tips on how to progress from the realistic to the abstract. In this fascinating book, Anne Kelly shows how to make personal responses to themes. Illustrated with beautiful artworks by the author and other exciting contemporary artists and makers such as Sarah Z Short, Lorna Crane, Iain Perry ad Helen Banzhaf.
    Based in Tunbridge Wells Anne Kelly has exhibited widely and has work in private collections in the UK and abroad, including the Vatican collection in Rome, and the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto. Anne has also published several books, including co-authoring Connected Cloth with Cas Holmes.

    If you have a good book recommendation, please contact me to share with other readers.

    Diary dates for the coming months…..

    Beneath the Surface: Material and Meaning by Design Nation

    The exhibition runs from 6th December 2025 to 15th March 2026 at The Hub, Sleaford Navigation Wharf, NG34 7TW.

    More information about the exhibition can be found at:

    www.hub-sleaford.org.uk

    Mary Linwood, Art, Stitch and Life will continue at Leicester Museum and Galleries until February 2026.

    Stitchuation, a group exhibition by Traverse at The Sock Gallery, Loughborough Town Hall, January 15th to February 28th

    Playful, provocative and thought provoking, using stitch as both medium and message, this collaborative show traverses personal, emotional and imagined landscapes through thread, texture colour and form.

    NB Jan 31st and Feb 14th – limited access due to workshops

    www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk/sockgallery

    Newark Quilting Show 16th and 17th January 2026 at the Newark Showground NG24 2NY Friday 10am – 4pm sat 9.30 am – 3.30 pm

    Made in the Middle Craftspace, a touring exhibition of contemporary crafts made in the East and West Midlands

    Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham 14th February-  April 11th.

    Straitlaced and Stitched Up – A Collaborative exhibition with the Second Turning Textile Group and Leicestershire Museums Archive, Harborough Museum, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough LE16 7LT.
    February 7th to May 30th, Tues to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10am to 4pm.

    Following an exhibition of the same name at the Framework Knitters Museum last year, Second Turning members were invited by the Leicestershire Museums Service to collaborate in an expanded exhibition to show contemporary textiles and mixed media interpretations inspired by the Symington Corset Collection. Curated by Sarah Nichol, of Leicestershire Museums Service, the featured works will be shown alongside the archive items that provided the initial inspiration, and fittingly, in the very building where these garments were first produced.

    The Market Harborough company, R and WH Symington began by crafting corsets for Victorian women and grew into an international success, with its Liberty Bodice becoming one of its iconic products.  This exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to see a contemporary response to some of the amazing items which are part of the vast museum archive.

    A very big Thank you to everyone who has sent in news, notices, reviews and recommendations to be shared via this newsletter. it is a joy to hear about all the creative activities happening across the East and West midlands, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. Please keep them coming in. A final reminder that there is a break until our March newsletter.
    Until then, Happy Stitching, Maggie                 

  • December 2025

    It’s that time of the year again and I guess I’m not alone in thinking ‘where did the last twelve months go to?’ I was in London yesterday to see the Marie Antoinette exhibition at the V&A and everywhere was very Christmassy. Walking back through The Coals Drop Yard area behind Kings Cross there were lots of twinkly lights and sparkling Christmas trees and a really festive feeling.

    Quite often, when I’m chatting to people at exhibitions, I’m asked about the background to Living Threads, so I’m going to take this opportunity to reflect on those early beginnings and to thank a founder member, Dorothy Griffin, for giving me some background information.

    Way back in the early 1980’s, staff at the Sandiacre Adult Education Centre were asked for ideas for an exhibition at Elvaston Castle near Derby. It was decided to hold a day course at the castle during which participants would take photographs of the Castle and its grounds, and then use these to produce a piece of work in any craft media for the proposed exhibition. This idea was then extended to all craft teachers in Derbyshire by inviting them to attend as an In-Service Training Day and participate in this venture. At this point a committee was formed, workshops were held and Living Threads came into being.

    The first exhibition at Elvaston Castle was very successful and was followed by a second exhibition in 1983. Sponsors were found and more members were invited to join. Following the sale of Elvaston Castle a new venue had to be found and Trent College in Long Eaton became the venue for bi-annual exhibitions by the Living Threads Textile Group in subsequent years. Alongside the exhibitions, which continued to be highly successful, Living Threads ran an ambitious and exciting programme of workshops and summer schools, based in Risley, where many of the group members shared their expertise and helped develop the creativity of other textile enthusiasts.

    I am sure many readers will remember those days with great affection and will share with me in giving thanks and recognition to the many dedicated members who ran those workshops and, through them, contributed to raising the profile of Living Threads across the East Midlands. We owe so much to them for their hard work, enthusiasm and creativity.

    The Covid Pandemic has become a marker in time for all of us and for The Living Threads Group it also marked a time of great change and readjustment.
    As we emerged from periods of isolation during lockdown, many of the founder members, who had contributed so much, decided to take a step back and so a new era began. Whilst the numbers of active members has reduced, the long-established commitment to creating textile art of high quality and individuality remains at the fore front of our work together. We continue to hold exhibitions every two years, now based at the Society for Artists on Friar Lane, in the city, and recently held a mini- exhibition at Canalside in Beeston.
    Our next exhibition, Folded, Frayed, Found, is in May 2026.

    Spotlight on Member: Denise Coupland

    This is a good point to shine a spotlight on our current chairperson, and introduce you to Denise Coupland.

    Denise is an artist with a passion for textiles, mark-making using hand stitch, and natural dyes. She studied as a mature student at Nottingham Trent University, earning a First-Class BA Hons degree in Decorative Art in 2018. Denise now works from her home studio in Nottinghamshire.

    Working on her own naturally dyed handmade fibre paper, Denise responds intuitively to the textural surface and fragility of the material. She adds hand-stitched details to highlight, enrich, and add depth to selected areas. The resulting work has a delicate, ethereal quality that draws the viewer in, inviting close inspection to discover the intricate stitch detail. Each piece is unique.

    Denise joined the Living Threads textile group in 2023 and became Chair in 2025. She is also a member of Design Nation, a national network and curated portfolio that supports Britain’s leading designers and makers. Denise was accepted as a professional member in 2025.
    Her work ‘Do you see what I see ‘ has been selected for “Beneath the Surface: Material and Meaning,” an exhibition marking 25 years of Design Nation championing excellence in British craft and design.
    The exhibition runs from 6th December 2025 to 15th March 2026 at The Hub, Sleaford Navigation Wharf, NG34 7TW.
    More information about the exhibition can be found at:

    Follow Denise on Instagram: @m.d.coupland or find more information about her practice at 
    www.denisecoupland.com

    Put a date in the diary for an exhibition at the Loughborough Sock Gallery, in the Town Hall for Stitchuation, a group exhibition by Traverse. Playful, provocative and thought provoking, using stitch as both medium and message, this collaborative show traverses personal, emotional and imagined landscapes through thread, texture colour and form.
    From Thursday January 15th to Saturday 28th February 2026. NB Jan 31st and Feb 14th – limited access due to workshops.
    www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk/sockgallery

    Currently at the Djanogly Gallery Lakeside at Nottingham University is a solo exhibition of Sculptures by Kate Mccgwire, open until Jan 4th 2026.

    A future date for the Diary – Second Turning, in association with Leicestershire Museums Archives will present Strait-Laced and Stitched up at the Market Harborough Museum from February 7th to May 30th 2026. Originally shown earlier this year at the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington this enlarged exhibition will feature new pieces of work inspired by items from the Leicestershire Museum Archive.

    I look forward to hearing news about your groups, so please get in touch

    It’s the beginning of December so I’d better put the Christmas sprouts on to boil, dig out the baubles for the Christmas tree and wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
    Thank you for joining me on my monthly meanderings .
    Happy Stitching, Maggie

  • November 2025

    The dog days of October are with us once more and the clocks have just gone back, so we’re into that time of short days with early twilight and long dark nights. I know many people find this prospect quite depressing and perhaps that’s why we have festivals and celebrations like Diwali, which features light to brighten the dark days. In Scandinavian countries windows are filled with lighted candles to chase away the darkness and we can look forward to Hallowe’en and Bonfire night and shops already full of offerings for the Christmas season.

    In ancient times the Celts divided their year into two seasons – the light and the dark, with Beltane on 1st May and Samhain, on November eve, the night of October 31st. This marked the first day of winter, when cattle were brought in and all harvesting had to completed . With the rise of Christianity, Samhain became Hallowmas, or All Saints Day, to celebrate the saints in heaven, and so the night before became Hallowe’en. Over recent years more American customs have added Trick or Treating to the mix.

    Chasing the last days of summer sunshine, I have just arrived back from Sardinia, where I had the opportunity to visit the workshop of two talented sisters, Giuseppina and Assuntina Pes  – I Sorelle Pes.  Giuseppina and Assuntina, along with Chiara Vigo are, I understand, the only people in the world to weave a very rare and unusual material – Bissi or Seasilk . Bissi are the very fine filaments secreted by a large bi- valve mollusc, Pina Nobilis. The filaments are used to anchor the mollusc to the seabed and are highly prized for their lustrous and delicate qualities. Sadly, once harvested the filaments will not regrow so, over time, supplies were rapidly depleted. Subsequently, collecting more sea silk was banned. However, by extraordinary coincidence and good fortune, these three ladies, based in Sant’ Antioco in Sardinia still have access to a previously well-guarded supply. This has enabled them to continue using sea silk in carefully selected commissions, mostly for religious purposes, including work for the Sistine Chapel.  The sisters spoke with such pride and passion for their work and for the history of sea silk weavers in Sardinia and for their enthusiasm to encourage the tradition to continue. Sadly, they did not want their work to be photographed, as they are highly protective of the regional designs they reproduce but I was able to photograph the sisters working their loom in tandem in their home.

    They work mostly on a base of very fine linen with traditional designs hand worked in wool, which is mostly dyed naturally. Sea silk is incorporated in small quantities to highlight the designs and to add its own characteristic luminescence. I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity and hope you enjoy hearing about this most unusual fibre.

    However, you don’t have to travel far to find some interesting textile exhibitions in the area this month, so here is a roundup of what’s on offer –

    Mary Linwood; Art, Stitch and Life at Leicester Museums and Galleries, running until 22 February 2026

    A retrospective of the Leicester textile artist, Mary Linwood. A celebrated artist in the early 1800’s, Mary Linwood has been largely forgotten. Using a technique known as needle painting, Mary created detailed versions of famous British paintings. A talented artist, innovator and entrepreneur, Mary Linwood ran a successful school for young ladies, exhibited widely and was the first woman to open a gallery in London. Clearly, a woman well ahead of her time.

    This retrospective exhibition features 14 embroidered works from the Museum collection and new textile pieces by local textile artist, Ruth Singer. This exhibition will be of significant interest to textile enthusiasts and anyone interested in Leicester’s rich but often forgotten historical legacy.  


    Retford Textile Group are holding their first ever Exhibition and Sale at the Retford Library from November 3rd to December 19th. Normal library opening hours as advertised online, with free admission.

    In addition, during the week November 22 to 29th, St Saviour’s Church, opposite the library, will feature A Festival of Christmas trees from various groups in the Retford area, including a Dream catchers Tree from Retford Textile Group. Likewise, The Hub, a small cooperative regional Arts Centre, just two doors away from the library will also have work for sale in the six weeks leading up to Christmas.  With so much on offer a trip to Retford sounds very appealing.  


    Mixing it up, a Group exhibition by Eclectica is currently running at the Sock Gallery in Loughborough Town Hall until Thursday November 20th. Free Admission. 
    This vibrant and exciting exhibition features diverse approaches to contemporary art. Creativity and individuality are expressed through mixed media, quilting, traditional practices and quirky innovations, so be prepared to expect the unexpected! Please note that half the gallery will be closed on Saturday November the 8th due to a workshop.


    Ruddington Framework Knitters Museum – Through the Frame, an artistic exploration of an Industrial past by Jenny Stevenson – until November 15th – free admission.
    An exhibition of mixed media collages inspired by Ruddington’s historic framework knitting industry. The works explore stories of making, material and place, reflecting both the architecture of the cottages and the lives shaped by the industry and offers a contemporary response to this important part of Nottinghamshire’s heritage. www.frameworkknittersmuseum.org.uk
    With all this creative inspiration around, its inevitable that you will need some beautiful fabrics and threads to work with and you will find these in abundance at our 

    Living Threads Sewing Room Sort Out
    where you will find fabrics, including beautiful silk, yarn, lace, beads, books and much, much more, all at very reasonable prices. Come and join us for tea, coffee and cake.

    Please bring cash for your purchases.

    The venue is Gotham Memorial Hall, Nottingham Rd, Gotham, NG11 OHE. It has recently been rebuilt after a disastrous fire two years ago. There is plenty of parking and a very frequent bus service from Nottingham We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday, November 1st, from 10am to 1pm.

    Thank you to the people who have contacted me with information about their club activities. I’m always happy to share your news and also pleased to report that a request last month for help with a project yielded an immediate response and hopefully that is now progressing – great result!    Whatever you are doing to fill these early winter days, stay well, stay in touch and stay stitching, With best wishes, Maggie
    email –