NaviStitch and Sail Loft News
- Sam Luxford
- May 7
- 3 min read
🎨 A new exhibition… and a different kind of atmosphere
The Sail Loft has changed again.
After the Wild Sewing exhibition - which was very much about process, storytelling and individual pieces - our space has shifted into something much more relaxed and open. The Affordable Art Show is now up and running, and already it feels quite different.
The idea is simple:
👉 everything in the exhibition is under £100
But what that seems to change is how people behave in the space. There’s less hesitation. People don’t hover quite so cautiously. They spend longer looking, and conversations tend to start more easily.
It becomes less about “how much is that?” and more about “do I like this?”
And that’s always a nice place to be.
🎨 The artists (and the mix)
This show brings together a small group of artists whose work sits really comfortably alongside one another - even though their styles are quite different.
There’s a real mix across the gallery - from painting and print to glass and wood - and that variety is what makes it feel interesting to walk around.
The artists taking part are:
Anne Plummer
Jem Gooding
Sophie Taplin
Marion Mann
Pete Haddock
Sharon Haddock
Veronica Farr
Lucy Harris
Karen Holmes
…and my own work alongside theirs
It’s one of those exhibitions where you’ll probably notice something different each time you look.
🌿 A gentle nudge (because it’s very nearly here…)
This Sunday’s Botanical Workshop (10th May, 10am) is coming up quite quickly - and there are still a few spaces left.
These sessions are always quite calm and focused, working slowly through the process, building up the stitched detail step by step.
If you’ve been thinking about trying paper embroidery, this is a really good place to begin. Find out more and book your space here.
⛵ If you’d rather start small…
The following Sunday (17 May), I’m running two Sew a Boat taster sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
They’re shorter, simpler workshops - and often where people begin before deciding whether they’d like to explore things further. It’s a nice way to get a feel for the process without committing to a full day. Find out more and book your space here
🌊 Something new: On the Shoreline
I’ve also added a new workshop to the programme:
🌊 On the Shoreline
📅 17 & 19 July
This one brings together quite a few different elements - so it’s more suited to those who’ve already done a little embroidery. It’s likely to be a piece that you finish at home, rather than completing in the session itself - but that’s part of what makes it a bit more exploratory.
Find out more and book your space here
🧵 Workshops (and how they fit together)
What’s been quite nice recently is seeing how the workshops are starting to connect.
Some people begin with a taster session, others go straight into something like Botanical or Coastal - and then build from there.
Over the next few weeks, there’s a nice mix coming up:
🌊 Coastal: 24 May
🌼 Flower Head Collage: 14 June
🌊 Coastal Collage: 28 June
🌿 Botanical: 8 July
🌊 Coastal: 12 July
All small groups, all quite relaxed, and all a chance to spend a bit of time doing something creative. Find out more and book your space here
🛍 Downstairs (and everything else that’s going on)
While the gallery changes upstairs, the shop continues much as it always does.
Cards, gifts, books, kits, stitched pieces - and quite often something people didn’t realise they were looking for.
The Sailing Boat kits are still heading out steadily too, which has been really lovely to see, especially from people who want to try things in their own time.
🖼 The things that start with a conversation…
A lot of what I do doesn’t begin with a plan, it starts with a conversation.
Someone has seen something upstairs, or has a place they’d like to capture, or a piece they’re not quite sure how to frame.
And from there, things gradually take shape.
So if something you’ve seen has sparked an idea, I’m always very happy to talk it through - whether that’s a commission or framing something you already have.
🌿 What’s coming next
The gallery keeps moving quite quickly over the summer:
🌿 Reclaim: Reborn (June): Part of the Manningtree Earth Festival - focusing on reclaimed and recycled materials
🖼 Art Trail Exhibition (July)
Each one brings a completely different feel to the space - which is part of what keeps it interesting.
💌 Thank You
Whether you’ve visited recently, booked onto a workshop, picked something up in the shop, or simply followed along - thank you.
There’s a really nice rhythm to things at the moment, and it’s always a pleasure to share it.
Calm waters and plain sailing,
Sam
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