NaviStitch and Sail Loft News...
- Sam Luxford
- Feb 12
- 4 min read
There’s a lot happening at NaviStitch this week: Valentine’s Day, the final days of the Pre-Loved Art Sale, Spring Exhibition deadlines, and a new exhibition just around the corner.
And alongside all of that, I’m sharing something new I’ve been quietly working on…
💌 For Your Loved… and Pre-Loved
The Pre-Loved Art Sale continues in the Sail Loft Gallery until this Saturday.
It’s a beautifully varied exhibition - framed and unframed artwork, ceramics and unexpected finds - and it’s one of those shows where something new catches your eye each time you visit.
With Valentine’s Day falling on Saturday, it feels rather fitting: perhaps a pre-loved piece for your loved one? A thoughtful artwork can make a wonderfully personal gift - something chosen with care rather than picked in a rush.
The gallery is open tomorrow and Saturday, 10am–4pm, with Saturday marking the final day of the exhibition.
💝 Valentine’s Day - This Saturday
There’s still time to find something thoughtful.
The shop is full of:
• handmade cards
• beautiful wrapping paper
• local artwork
• Manningtree mementos
• stitched pieces
• carefully chosen handmade gifts
If you’re looking for something that feels personal and well made, rather than predictable, it’s a lovely time to browse quietly and choose something that truly suits the person you’re buying for.
🎨 Spring Exhibition – Applications Close Saturday
Saturday is also the final day for Spring Exhibition applications.
If you’re a local artist or maker who has been considering applying, this is your gentle reminder.
The Spring Exhibition always brings a wonderful shift in energy to the Sail Loft as the seasons change - fresh work, new voices and lighter days ahead.
🧵 Opening Next Week: The Art of Paper Embroidery
📅 From 18th–21st February, the Sail Loft Gallery will host The Art of Paper Embroidery - an exhibition centred entirely around stitched work on paper and all my own work.
These pieces explore paper as a surface to pierce, layer, mark and embroider - somewhere between drawing and textile. Some works are quiet and minimal; others more detailed and narrative-led - but all are rooted in slow, attentive making and an exploration of texture, line and rhythm.
This exhibition will also include something new…
🌍 The Wild Sewing Project
Most of us sew at home - at a table, in a familiar space. But paper embroidery is incredibly portable. Over the past months I’ve been taking my stitching out into less conventional places - sewing in bars and restaurants, outdoors, while travelling… and most recently, on a frozen lake (possibly my most extreme yet!).These pieces form part of what I’m calling the Wild Sewing Project.
Each finished piece will be on display during The Art of Paper Embroidery exhibition, and each one includes a QR code linking to a YouTube video showing where and how it was sewn “in the wild”. Some of you may have already seen snippets of this on social media - and while I may only have 19 TikTok followers (so far !), a few of the YouTube videos have already gathered unexpected views. Baby steps…
It’s been an exciting way to explore how stitched work lives beyond the studio - and I’m really looking forward to sharing the project properly in the gallery.
🐚 New Shell Pieces
I’ll also be displaying some of my shell-based pieces in the shop for the first time - I’ve been holding them back especially for this exhibition period, so it will be lovely to finally share them.
🌿 Continuing the Paper Embroidery Journey
If the exhibition sparks your curiosity, my April paper embroidery workshops are already open for booking:
🌿 Botanical - Wednesday 22nd April, 10am
🌊 Coastal - Friday 24th April, 10am
✂️ Coastal Collage - 29th April, 10am
You can also explore a wider view of my stitched work, publications and creative projects on my own website, where a 10% launch discount remains available until the end of February.
✨ Open Evening – Photovogue | 19 February
I’ll also be at The Gallery at Photovogue open evening on 19 February for their new exhibition, Confluence: a mixed exhibition of work by Chris Harvey, Carolyn Hinchliffe, Ray West and myself. I’ll be there with artwork and my books (very happy to sign copies if anyone would like one) - if you’re nearby it would be lovely to see you there.
🖼 Framing, Commissions & Fresh Ideas
Exhibitions and gift-giving moments often spark ideas - perhaps you’ve found something in the Pre-Loved Sale, or maybe there’s a piece at home that deserves the right frame.
Bespoke framing remains an important part of what I offer at NaviStitch.
Commissions are also where this whole journey began - translating places, memories and personal stories into stitched pieces. It’s still something I genuinely love doing. If you have an idea you’d like to explore, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
💌 Thank You
Whether you’re popping in for a Valentine’s card, browsing the final days of the Pre-Loved Sale, applying for Spring, visiting the exhibition, or following the Wild Sewing adventures - thank you for being part of this creative community.
There’s a lovely sense of movement at the moment, and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with you.
Calm waters and plain sailing,
Sam
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