Craft Focus - Feb/Mar (Issue 65)

craft focus 7 industry news A round-up of latest news from the crafting industry industry news ULSTER WEAVERS OPENS ITS FIRST STORE Ulster Weavers, the home textiles company based in Holyrood, Northern Ireland, has announced the opening of its first fully branded store at The OUTLET in Bainbridge. The new shop opened at the end of 2017 and will stock the company’s complete range of homeware and textiles, including well-known brands, Story Horse, LoveOlli, Spence Bryson and Moygashel. Ulster Weavers has produced textiles and homeware for more than 100 years, but this is the first time it has opened a shop under its own name. The branded premises will occupy 2,200 square feet and will become the company’s flagship store. “It’s always been my dream to get into retail and see the full Ulster Weavers offer display in a retail store,” says Kenneth Webb, managing director. “It’s so exciting that we have a chance to bring everything together in one place, including Story Horse, LoveOlli and our Irish fabrics, too.” Chris Nelmes, centre manager at The OUTLET, adds, “We’re delighted that a homegrown Northern Irish brand with a heritage that dates back to 1880 has decided to open its first ever store here. Ulster Weavers is going to fit in perfectly and we’re excited to be part of its history.” Visit ulsterweavers.com for information. EMMA BOYES JOINS KATY SUE DESIGNS Paper cut artist, Emma Boyes, has joined forces with award- winning craft brand, Katy Sue Designs, to develop her own range of papercraft products. The collection launched in late 2017 with Adventures in Paper Cutting, a craft pad full of ready-to- cut designs printed onto high quality FCE paper. The product increases in levels of skill from simple to more advanced art, and includes dreamcatchers, trees, flowers, birds and many other variations that are perfect for framing. The launch was picked up by the national press and described as ‘the new winter craft craze’, with the process of cutting considered to have a meditative quality, as the user becomes intricately aware of design, shape and process while they produce a stunning, handmade piece. Emma recently appeared on Channel 4 as part of Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas and is planning to release more from her range with Katy Sue Designs at the London Stationery Show this April. For details, go to katysuedesigns.com SEWING DIRECTORY TO OFFER FREE LISTINGS After eight years running The Sewing Directory, business partners Fiona Pullen and Julie Briggs have decided to offer a free listing option that allows all sewing-related businesses to be represented on the website, regardless of size or advertising budget. The new free option will be an abbreviated version of the site’s full listing, and will provide companies of all sizes with the chance to be found and contacted via the directory, enabling them to extend their reach across the website’s huge fanbase. Fiona and Julie hope the move will improve the scope for likeminded enthusiasts to find local sewing shops around the country. The directory currently has more than one million annual visitors and over 80,000 social media followers, making it one of the country’s biggest stitching resources. Visit sewingdirectory.co.uk for details.