NaviStitch and Sail Loft Christmas News

Here’s what’s happening in our creative space, the Sail Loft Gallery, the NaviStitch shop, and on Manningtree High Street as we head into Christmas - and a little look ahead to January too…

In the Sail Loft

The Christmas Pop-Up Shop continues...

The Sail Loft Gallery is still sparkling with festive creativity, filled with beautiful handmade art, gifts and decorations from 37 wonderful local artists and makers. With different makers hosting throughout December, every visit really does feel different - it’s been such a joy welcoming so many of you in.

Downstairs in the NaviStitch shop, you’ll also find:

✨ Gift vouchers (always a perfect choice)

✨ My nautical stitched art, books and paper embroidery kits

✨ Coastal-inspired gifts and stocking fillers

✨ Our Manningtree Christmas Card Competition winning designs (some still available) - plus a whole host of other greeting cards

If you haven’t popped in yet, there’s still plenty to discover before Christmas.

🌟 Christmas & Winter Opening Times

A quick reminder of our opening hours over the festive period:

• Friday, Saturday & Monday: 10am-5pm

• Sunday: 11am-3pm

• Christmas Eve: 10am-3pm

• Extra open day: Saturday 27 December, 10am–3pm

After that, we’ll be closed for our winter break and will reopen on Wednesday 21 January, with winter opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm

🧵 Workshops – New Dates & New Ideas for 2026

My paper embroidery workshops have been such a joy this year, and I’m delighted to share new additions to the 2026 schedule:

🌊 NEW: Coastal Collage Workshop

A more relaxed, beachy take on my coastal workshops - with less painting, more collage, and still some lovely embroidery elements.This session gives you freedom to choose your own composition and explore the techniques in your own way - not just boats, but beaches, textures and coastal stories.

💌 NEW: Valentine’s Card Paper Embroidery – Taster Session

A short, friendly 2-hour introduction to paper embroidery, perfect for beginners.You’ll learn the basics and leave with a handmade Valentine’s card ready to give to someone special.

• Morning and afternoon sessions available

• £15 per person

• Tools provided during the session (no toolkit to take home, but all tools available to buy)

🧵 2026 Paper Embroidery Workshops (already announced)

The Art of Paper Embroidery: Coastal

📅 Sat 14 February, 10am

📅 Fri 24 April, 10am

The Art of Paper Embroidery: Botanical

📅 Sun 15 February, 10am

📅 Wed 22 April, 10am

More workshop topics are in the works - keep up with all dates here

🎨 New for 2026: Pre-Loved Art Sale

I’m really excited to share that the Pre-Loved Art Sale is back for 2026 and is now live on the website.

📅 Exhibition dates: 21 January - 14 February

This exhibition gives people the chance to sell artwork they’ve loved and enjoyed, so it can find a new home and be appreciated again.

If you’d like to take part:

• Complete the submission form online

• Deliver artwork to NaviStitch on Wednesday 21 January, between 10am-4pm

It’s always a wonderful, eclectic exhibition - and a great way to give art a second life.

🎨 Out & About: Christmas Collective in Frinton

If you’re heading towards the coast in the run-up to Christmas, you can also find my work on show at The Gallery at Photovogue in Frinton, as part of the Christmas Collective exhibition.

This festive showcase 'brings together three wonderfully different artists'. Both other artists also feature in our own Christmas Pop-up Shop:

✨ Chris Harvey - beautifully crafted woodturning and resin pieces, full of skill and seasonal charm

✨ Sam Luxford - stitched nautical charts and mixed-media coastal artworks with delicate embroidery

✨ Carolyn Hinchliffe - nature-inspired textiles and botanical paintings, perfect for winter

The exhibition runs until 24 December and makes a lovely festive stop if you’re nearby.

🗓 1–24 December⏰ Mon–Fri 10am–5pm | Sat 10am–2pm

📍 The Gallery at Photovogue, Frinton

💌 A Christmas Thank You

As we head towards Christmas, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for all the visits, messages, purchases and support over the past few weeks. The Christmas Pop-Up Shop has been a joy, and it’s been so lovely meeting so many of you in person.

We’re open right up until Christmas Eve at 3pm, and again on Saturday 27 December, before closing for our winter break until 21 January.

If you can’t make it in, you can still browse online - any orders will be fulfilled after our return on 21st January.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas, a calm end to the year, and fair winds for 2026.

Thank you for supporting independent artists and handmade creativity - it truly means the world.

Calm waters and plain sailing,

Sam