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NEWSLETTER JULY 2010

Well summer is finally here and the county looks at its most spectacular best. Away for ten days, I returned to find my garden resembling more of a scene from Day of the Triffids than an English country garden and so suspect that in my absence a mixture of sun and showers had been the order of the day. I will naturally let you know if a dashing prince comes thrashing his way through the undergrowth to release the garden from its weeds and briars - in other words I wonder how much my children will charge for a day of digging and weeding?
The fairs and festivals season is upon us and villages up and down the county are groaning under a sea of cream teas and home-grown veg. Please can I alert you to just one event this weekend. The Heroes Festival is running throughout the week July 13th- 18th at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle and is a celebration in flowers and music of the work of our Armed Forces. A small part of the display will use the plaid and its connections with the Fusiliers and there will also be some interesting images of how the plaid was worn in the past. Incidentally , the plaid's military connections are still celebrated up to the present day and occasionally a length of the plaid is worn over jacket and trews by the regiment's pipers on formal occasions.
Please pop along to the exhibition if you are able!


APOLOGIES
Sometimes a life event just knocks you sideways and sadly back in November the death of someone very close did just that and so apologies to all for the lack of a newsletter in recent months. Now, with the final arrival of an albeit chilly spring, spirits have lifted and I am back in the newsletter mood!So here's a quick round up of recent news and events from here, in ( beautiful in any weather) north Northumberland.

CHECK IN AT NEWCASTLE'S NEWEST HOTEL!
I was thrilled to be asked several month's ago now to supply some of our cloth to the Hotel Du Vin for their newest hotel, The Hotel du Vin, Newcastle upon Tyne and last week I went to see how the soft furnishings looked in situ at the recently opened venue. The cloth looks wonderful and fits in so well with the natural earthy colour palette. Do visit and see what you think! For more details on the hotel, visit their website at www.hotelduvin.co.uk

AFTER THE FLOOD - THE CHANTRY REBORN
Please make a visit to the newly re-opened Chnatry Craft Centre in Morpeth. The old building looks even more beautiful than before the flooding, with a new, more open layout. Lovely new shelving sets off the products so please do come along and support all Aurora craftsmen and women and make this the best year ever for buying locally produced crafts.
Orders with The Northumberland Tartan Company can of course still be placed with us via mail order on 01665 712953 or via our website.


EXCITING NEW ADDITIONS TO OUR RANGE
Look out for additions to our range of chinaware in the shape of cute little mini and small milk jugs as well as small mugs with a modern twist on the tartan theme.

Whilst many of our customers choose to wear a bow tie with their formal kilted oufits, ruche ties are now a very fashionable alternative and can be used to match the bridesmaids' outfits and compliment the colour theme of the wedding or partnership ceremony. In the past we have provided a bespoke service for this, using the customer's own fabric. To add to this, we are now happy to provide ruche ties and matching garter flashes for adults and boys in a lovely selection of colours, both to hire and to buy. Nineteen colours are available, but the ones I would suggest best compliment the Northumberland tartan would be the rich jewel colours of purple, red or wine or the more subtle tones of silver, grey or black. Ruche ties in a wonderful shantung finish are available to hire for £5 each or to buy for £7.50. we are also able to make garters in matching fabric.

Love is in the Air

Our very busy wedding season continues with weddings and events north and south of the Border as well as on the high seas! Congratulations to all our brides and grooms with very best wishes for the weather as well as for their futures together!



Are you a member of a group always on the lookout for speakers?

I regularly give talks on the history of the Northumbrian plaid. Please telephone 01665 712953 for further details if you would like me to talk to your group.

IMPORTANT NEWS


After five very happy years at The Kirkharle Courtyard and over 120,000 miles of driving to and fro, I have made the hopefully "greener" decision to move to premises closer to home. Watch this space for news on our new retail outlet. In the meantime business continues apace and orders can be placed via our online shop, by telephone on 01665 712953 or by visiting outlets in Northumberland where a selected range of our goods is on sale. Please see our "stockists" page for details.