Spring workshops and the Return of the Independent Market

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Hi Hello to you all,

At last Spring is around the corner and we are beginning to see some sunshine here in Somerset. How about you?

We love Spring at the shop as we start to get deliveries of lovely new fabrics. This season has already seen the arrival of the new Merchant and Mills Linen/Cotton gingham fabrics as well as some lovely costal fabrics from Dashwood. Definitely feeling summer vibes and days at the coast with these.  We have just ordered some very exciting new rayons, cottons, linens and double gauze which should be here next month. These are perfect for dressmaking, especially the new Assembly Line patterns and the new Etta pattern from Merchant and Mills.

Buy here

 

Buy here

The Frome Independent market

Hooray it returns on 5th March. This amazing market takes place on the 1st Sunday of the month from March to December.  A great way to see the local talented artisans and there is always amazing food!

We are open 11-3pm on market Sundays

Workshops for Spring

Never used a sewing machine before? Want to be more sustainable and not add to the fast fashion? Maybe you need to find something to do with all those baby clothes you kept? We have a workshop for you

19th March – Teach me to machine sew, with Angela

21st march –  6 week garment making evening class, with Anna

23rd March – Piped cushion covers, with Becki

16th April  – stretch garment day, learn how to work with stretch fabrics and make a garment (pattern included), with Anna

30tjh April – Sashiko and darning workshops with Skye @slowstitchclub

21st May – beginners quilting and patchwork ,with Lucy @tuckitinquilts

For more information go to the website or Book here

We also offer 1-1 sessions, whether you need help with getting to grips with your overlocker, or just some dressmaking advice

Liberty shirt,Made on the last 6 week class by Stephen

Darning and Sashiko with Skye @slow stitch club

Quilting and Patchwork with Lucy @tuckitinquilts

 

Sewcial Club,

This monthly open shop night is designed to bring our lovely customers together over tea and cake, but also giving people a chance to use our space and machines that they may not have access to at home. Come regularly and chat, sew and share your tips with each other or just come and finish that little sewing job you’ve been unable to do before. We do ask you book in advance so there’s plenty of space and cake for everyone!

Time 5.30-7.30pm £6 per person on  2nd Thursday of every month.

next one will be 9th march  Book here 

 

 

Keep sewing and a big thanks, as always, for supporting our small independent business. Hopefully see you soon in the shop, at market, on a workshop or maybe at our Sewcial club,

Rachel and Becki xx

Your Invitation to our Christmas Party

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Well, we always enjoy a little party here at Millie Moon as you probably know, so we thought hey its Christmas, why not have a shop party and invite you all along too! (Any excuse to wear sparkly things!)

We will be in store from 5-7.30pm with tinsel in our hair and mulled wine in our Millie Moon mugs.

Come along and join us, have a mince pie, sing along to the Christmas songs and maybe browse the shelves whilst you are there.

We are offering you a *20% Discount on EVERYTHING in the store on the evening.

Also, as a very special treat there is *10% off all workshops and gift vouchers. We have never offered this before, but if you are stuck for a gift idea, this might be a winning solution!

*Offer is only available in store, this offer is not available online via Etsy or our website

 

 

We will also be holding a small raffle to raise funds for the local pet rescue charity “CornPop Critter Rescue”

Hope to see you there if not we will have to drink all the wine ourselves :)

Rachel and Becki

xxx

 

 

 

 

Workshops in Bath and Bradford on Avon!

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We are so excited to announce our new collaboration with JULIA DAVEY And CASSIA COLLECTIVE in Bath and Bradford on Avon!
Make a Merchant & Mills garment in a day with help from professional seamstress and dressmaking tutor Anna Vickery. Suitable for all levels of sewers, you will learn as you go with everything from measuring, laying out and cutting to constructing, altering and finishing your garment. This event is being held at both Cassias (different dates).

All bookings for these workshops should be made through eventbrite, and not through millie moon.   Please click on the link below for each location


About this event

Make a garment from a Merchant and Mills sewing pattern in day with help from professional seamstress and dressmaking tutor Anna Vickery.

Learn as you go, everything from measuring, laying out and cutting to constructing, altering and finishing your garment. Suitable for beginner and progressing dressmakers, please be confident using your sewing machine.

Choose a Merchant and Mills pattern (included) and bring your own fabric, notions, sewing machine and tools (Anna can be contacted with any questions) patterns are supplied via Millie Moon shop in Frome, we also suggest checking out their fabric selection.

Work at your own pace in a small group and let Anna guide you through the process with lots of helpful tips and advice along the way.

(*If you want to finish your garment we suggest choosing a beginner/intermediate pattern, such as The Dress Shirt, The Camber Set, The Trapeze, The Fielder, The Hattie and Ellis or The 101 Trousers, but all are available, www.milliemoonshop.co.uk)

BRADFORD ON AVON 

Saturday 23rd July 2022

Cassia Bradford on Avon

Kingston Road

Bradford on Avon

BA15 1AB

10-3pm

£75*

Book this event here 

*this does not include fabric and notions. You are welcome to purchase these from Millie Moon with a 10% discount. 

 

BATH

Saturday 13th August 2022

Cassia – Bath Riverside

Sovereign Point

Bath

BA2 3GJ

10-3pm

£75*

Book this event here 

*this does not include fabric and notions. You are welcome to purchase these from Millie Moon with a 10% discount. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sashiko and Visible mending Workshops with Skye from @Slowstitchclub

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We are really excited to have Skye from @slowstitchclub on board as a tutor at Millie Moon. We are keen to promote slow fashion and to save clothes from landfill. Repairing clothes in this creative way is a fantastic way to give old clothes new life!

 

 

Get started with visible mending:

Slow stitch club teaches the art of visible mending using simple sewing techniques to repair clothing in a creative, visible and intentional way.

In this two hour workshop we will look at the best ways to repair particular pieces of clothing and fabrics using techniques such as darning, patching and Sashiko and I will be on hand to share tips and tricks about the processes as we mend along together. 

This workshop is suitable for beginners and sewing enthusiasts alike.

All materials are provided: just bring your own item of clothing to mend or decorate.

⚠ It is recommended that you bring an item that has a small area to repair to start with or something that you are happy to practice on ⚠

      

 


About slow stitch club:

slow stitch club is all about making visible mending accessible for everyone.

Whether you’re a stitching wizard or have never picked up a needle and thread before, I want to share the skills you can use to extend the lives of your clothes and keep them from landfill.

After studying fashion design at university, I graduated with a very different view of the industry, and wanted to push against it. From that point on I continued to learn and educate myself; about the vast quantities of clothing that is sent to landfill, the devastating environmental impacts of textiles production as well as the horrifying truths about garment workers and their lack of rights.

The importance of caring for and extending the lives of the clothes that already exist in the world became hugely important to me, and I set out to help teach others about learning to fix their clothing through the practice of visible mending.

Mending is a hugely creative and intentionally slow and therapeutic skill, and the community surrounding it is super inspiring. I hope you’ll join us to learn a new skill and be a part of the change to fight against fast fashion whilst taking care of the clothes you love.

 

Skye

 

 

Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/slowstitchclub/

https://www.slowstitch.club/

 

The next workshop with Skye is Sunday 20th March 2022 11-1Pm  To book call the shop or pop in. Alternatively you can book on the website here

 

Capacity and pricing:

8 people per workshop, £35 each for a two hour workshop including your own Visible Mending starter kit.

 

 

 

 

                                                          

 

 

 

Introducing new sewing tutor Kelly from ButterflystudioUK

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Introducing our new sewing tutor Kelly. Kelly is joining Millie Moon in 2022 with Sunday sewing sessions.

Hi I’m Kelly, I am a forty something crafter who actually started out scared of pins!! I know, utter madness, but I have overcome my fear to develop a love of sewing and other crafty endeavours.

I learnt to sew in my late 20’s after a friend took me under her wing and showed me how to use her sewing machine and we made a small book bag. I was totally hooked!

Age 30 I was lucky enough to be given my own sewing machine by my husband as a birthday gift, huge number of husband points, as it’s hands down one of the best ever gifts he bought me. 

I then took sewing lessons, from a colleague at the time, who is also an amazing seamstress. The sewing bug took hold and my thirst for more knowledge grew.

Lots of crafty courses later (including lots at Millie Moon) here I am sharing my enthusiasm and passion with others just starting out on their journey.

I love to make all sorts of things including wallets, a variety of bags, zip pouches, curtains and blinds, Christmas decorations, memory blankets, pjs, jumpers and that’s just the sewing projects I am into. 

Personalisation by choosing your own fabrics or adding embellishments or initials to a project, to add your own twist can make it truly unique and just top it all off, like the icing on a cake!

I adore making things for my family, especially my nieces and nephews.

I am at my happiest when making something that I know someone wants or needs and I can help by making it for them. 

During the pandemic in 2020 I made 100’s of fabric face masks for the community, my family and friends raising over £1500 for local charity WE HEAR YOU. I didn’t realise how much of a need there was and this really spurred me on to keep making more alongside my full time job.

I also have a new found love for paper crafting too.

@Butterflystudiouk

 

2022 workshops with Kelly

 

9th January- Envelope Cushions

13th February – Drawstring bags

13th March – Lampshades

10th April – Zipped pouches

8th May – Tote bags

 

All workshops are 10.30-12.30pm £40

Suitable for beginners

For more information take a look on the website

Festive Linocut at Millie Moon

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Festive Linocut at Millie Moon

 

This autumnal Sunday took me to Millie Moon, Frome to teach some very talented ladies the art of linocut. For those of you who have tried their hand at carving and printing lino, you know all too well how time can run away from you and it does not help that you have a tutor (moi) who tries to squeeze in so much.

It can be overwhelming so I had to remind myself to strip back and pass on the basics; just the basics. The result was a deliciously beautiful class with much excitement and intrigue; some of you just could not get enough. Our  focus was on simple designs of line and shape alongside mastering the process of printing by hand; yes the trusty spoon made an appearance and once you were all warmed up there was no stopping you all. Thank you again for a great class, I am a tad bit tired but it is most definitely the happy, smile-to-yourself sort. 

I hope to run another linocut class in February. See you there, much love, Angela

 

 

 

Next Class with Angela is 27 February 2022 , book here 

Kids Craft Club is back!

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Its back! We are very excited to have new tutor Claire and her daughter Ammie  joining the Millie Moon team teaching our kids sewing club. Claire is a local teacher, author, beach cleaner and self confessed crafty mess maker!

The sessions will be held on 2nd MONDAY of every month

The kids will learn hand sewing, making a different project each month. This will help them gain confidence with sewing, using needles, pins and scissors as well as teaching them different sewing stitches and sewing skills such as how to sew on a button.

4.30-6.30 PM

Age 7+

refreshments provided

£15 per session or book 3 sessions for £36

Each session there will be a new project to make.

The first one on 8th November will be making a festive Nurdle

Book online or call the shop 01373 464437

 

 

   

 

Anyone with vouchers or booking credits from before the lockdowns please get in touch so we can sort your places for you!

 

Fiver Fest

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Fiver Fest is back!

For the third consecutive year, Fiver Fest is set to return to Frome’s streets on 22nd-24th October.

Part of the national Totally Locally campaign, Fiver Fest celebrates local businesses, often run by families or individuals, making a real contribution to our unique town.

2021 has continued to be a hugely challenging year for retailers and spending just £5 a week in local shops can have a big impact on our high streets, boosting the local economy, increasing employment and putting a smile on our shop keepers’ faces.

Explore shops you’ve never been into before and discover what makes Frome’s independents so special.

 

Pop over to www.discoverfrome.co.uk for the full list of particpating venues and shops! 

 

At Millie Moon we are introducing our new felt craft kits!  Say hello to George the gingerbread man and our Christmas stocking. These kits are usually £7.50 but we will be selling them for £5 during fiver fest on 22 and 23rd October. (whilst stocks last)

 

 

Our felt kits contain everything you need, but you will just need to add a needle and some scissors.  Suitable for ages 7+ with adult supervision.

Other felt kits available in the range are £7.50

The Great Global Nurdle Hunt

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The Great Global Nurdle Hunt

You may have seen the ‘nurdley awesome’ new window display drawn by the incredibly talented Jo Joof, with a wave, a big Blue Whale and a scattering of little colourful Nurdle characters.  Jo is the illustrator of Nurdle, the children’s book  written by local teacher Claire Vowell.  But why is it there?

The window is to celebrate October being the start of the Great Global Nurdle Hunt where people across the World are encouraged to pull on their wellies and hunt for nurdles in their nearest waterway.

Nurdles are tiny lentil sized microplastics that are melted down to make every plastic product we purchase.  As they are tiny, Nurdles escape from the factories and in transport, so end up being washed and blown into rivers, streams and the ocean.  From there they are eaten by animals, or break up still further and enter our foodchains.

All nurdles found during October can be recorded on the Hunt database www.nurdlehunt.org.uk  and this information is used to encourage governments around the world to make a difference and tackle our plastic problem.

 

But what happens if you don’t live near a beach or river, or you don’t find any nurdles?  Have no fear, there is lots you can do!

The Great Nurdle fact hunt

You can find out all about nurdles and share their story by taking part in the Great Nurdle fact hunt.

Hidden in 3 locations in Frome (Millie Moon shop, Jo Joof in the Black Swan Studios and Hunting Raven bookshop) you will find 24 pictures of nurdles, each one containing a different fact.  Locate and read all of the cards and share your 3 favourite facts with 3 friends and voila, you are sharing the story of microplastics and getting people talking!

You can also think about cutting down on single use plastics.  October is the perfect month for this.

Avoid the single use plastics filling the shops for Halloween and make your own costume and decorations.  Make some spooky bunting, create your own spooky spider pom poms or even some day of the dead flowers to hang round the house.

Make your own sweets, chocolates, cakes or biscuits to share with friends and get creative with a DIY outfit.

 

Copies of the 3 Nurdle stories that tell the story of ocean micro plastics can be found in store or buy online here as well as a make your own Nurdle kit, to create your very own nurdle character like the ones in the window – a great half term activity.

 

 

If you would like to talk nurdles and microplastics with Claire you can find her on her suitcase stall at the Frome Independent in October and November.

 

Patchwork and Quilting at Millie Moon

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Its that time of year when we start looking for that winter project. The one to do whilst we hibernate away until spring.

Now, not sure if this will be the same this year, as we have all been in a forced hibernation for too long, but if you are looking for the winter project, how about having a go at patchwork and quilting.

Caroline our patchwork tutor is back with a one day workshop in October. Perfect time to learn the basics and then carry on at home.  The one day workshop, “a quilt in day’ is exactly as it says.

 

 

You will learn how to cut, piece, join, boarder, layer and bind so you take away a finished simple quilt in a day. Plus Caroline will be on hand with lots of little hints and tips!

The finished quilt will be approximately 1mtr x 1mtr, a great little lap quilt. (Maybe the perfect Christmas gift for someone?)

£120

The workshop includes all the materials and lunch is provided.

Machine and equipment are available to use but if you prefer to bring your own please do.

The workshop is 10-4pm Sunday 24th October. You can book online or call into the shop.

 

If you don’t feel like signing up to a workshop but would like to have a go at home, we have lots of patchwork and quilt materials in stock including.

  • Pre-cuts charm packs, Jelly rolls and layer cakes from MODA
  • Wadding in 100% cotton and ‘supersoft’ polyester
  • 505 Spray
  • Rulers, rotary cutters and cutting mats
  • Cotton thread and Perle 8
  • Quilt clips, curved safety pins, quilt needles (machine and hand)
  • Quilt in a box kits

So why not have a go!

 

Book online here or pop into the shop for more details.