What's on and coming up...

Here's what's happening in our creative space, the Sail Loft, the NaviStitch shop, and on Manningtree High Street over the coming weeks...

In the Sail Loft

Just 2 days left of our Autumn Exhibition! There are an incredible array of more than 40 artists' work in our Sail Loft Gallery and you've got until 4pm on Saturday to visit.

The range of work on display is incredible - from watercolour and acrylics to oils, sculpture, textiles, woodwork and ceramicists. So many different styles, themes and media in one exhibition - if you can make it to Manningtree, it'll absolutely be worth a visit.

Workshops update

There are still places on each of my paper embroidery workshops, including my Christmas Card November date:

📅 Botanical Paper Embroidery – Saturday 25th October

📅 Coastal Paper Embroidery – Sunday 26th October

📅 Christmas Card Paper Embroidery - Sunday 2nd November

All are available to book on my website now.

Christmas opportunities...

🎄Professionals

We’re on the lookout for beautiful, original pieces from talented creatives to fill the festive shelves in our pop-up shop this season.

📅 Deadline for applications: 19th October

📩 Take a look at more info, and how to apply here!

🎄Non-Professionals

We’re looking for festive Christmas Card designs that celebrate our beautiful little town - and there are amazing prizes to be won 🎁

📅 Closing date: 11th October, 4pm - just 2 days left to create your masterpiece.

📩 Download your entry form here

From 15th-18th October, our Sail Loft Gallery will be displaying all of your designs and our visitors will get to vote on the winners!

Next up...

Magical, Mystical Manningtree - our next Sail Loft Gallery Exhibition is a nod to the witchy history of Manningtree. From 22nd October to 8th November, we'll be paying homage to the history of our incredible town - take a look at a research project on women, superstition and the Essex Witch Trials from University of Essex. As they say: "Much of the narrative about the 1645 witch-hunt that started in Manningtree and spread to other communities in the Tendring Hundred centres around the witch-finders." We're the smallest town in England but we've got a lot of stories to tell... do you dare visit?

Dates for your diary...

📅 A quick note that, once our Autumn Exhibition closes, we'll revert back to our Winter opening times: Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm until our Christmas Pop-up Shop begins (and we'll then be open every single day through until Santa arrives!)

With our Christmas pop-up shop running from 15th November through to 24th December (with one extra day on 27th December), we're holding a preview evening on 14th November from 4pm-8pm and you're all invited.

An opportunity to meet many of the artists and makers that will be bringing you their fabulous wares to help you to get that Christmas shopping list ticked off, we'd love it if you're able to make it - get it in the diary!

Until next time...

As always, whatever's happening upstairs in the Sail Loft Gallery, we're here Wednesdays-Saturdays 10-4 for

🎁 Nautical-inspired gifts

💌 Beautiful greeting cards (many by local artists)

🖼️ Original stitched art by my own fair hand - as well as guest artists and our constantly rotating exhibitions.

If you're thinking about a bespoke gift for someone at Christmas, why not nip in and talk to me about my nautical stitched art? You choose the chart - somewhere that evokes a memory for your loved one, tell me your story and we'll decide upon a symbol or the sail plan of a ship, the colours and the type of frame that you'd like, and I'll set to work helping you to make something really memorable for someone's stocking! Watch the video to see where it all began!

Pop by and say hello, or drop me a line to chat about stitched commissions, about framing, about exhibiting in 2026 or anything else!

Until then, I wish you calm waters and plain sailing.

Sam