I visited Sewing matters in West Lauder as a detour on my way north from East Lothian.
I doesn't have the welcoming atmosphere of the Embroidery Shop in Edinburgh and I was the only customer there. A gentleman was in charge and I got the impression he was bored. It does have a good selection of thread for embroidery and I got the cotton perle I was looking for. When I asked about bobbin lace supplies I was told that they had no expertise in that area and would not be catering for it. They had about four books reduced to half price (and I now regret not buying them all in the hope of finding people to buy them off me) and a few bobbins remaining. When these are all sold (books and bobbins) that will be the end of bobbin lace supplies in that shop. I didn't ask to see the bobbins partly because I had been later than I planned in setting off and it seemed to take forever to get to West Calder and partly because I was depressed by what the Embroider Shop of Edinburgh had become. There didn't seem to be the same amount of stock - fewer books, cross stitch chart booklets and cross stitch kits. If anyone wants to visit the shop drive along the main road through the place until you see a sign for a car park (on the left if driving south from the Edinburgh direction). Use the car park (which also has a public toilet) and walk back onto the main road. The shop is virtually opposite the car park. West Calder is not a town/village you would want to visit for itself. On a brighter note for those in the north east of Scotland, the shop in Banchory, old name now escapes me, with the new name of Meg's Attic plans to have bobbin lace supplies in the future. The new owner is learning bobbin lace and hopes to stock supplies but is waiting to canvass lacemakers to find out what they want. She was lowish in stock generally when I visited but this is because the previous owner allowed the stock to drop during the selling process. And the new owner has spent some time amking it lighter and brighter than it used to be. She is continuing the tradition of holding classes on the premises. Patricia in Wales [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
