Bustle & Sew Newsletter: Pipers Piping, AI patterns and a Rhubarb Tart...

Published: Mon, 05/05/25

Updated: Mon, 05/05/25

Hi ,

Sorry I haven't been around for a while - everything seems to have exploded into life in the garden, whilst Rhubarb and Custard have had lots of bookings - which has all kept me rather too busy! Which is a shame as I really enjoy sharing all the goings-on here at Bustle & Sew HQ with you. Here I am now though, and please forgive me if this newsletter is a little on the long side - I feel as though I have a lot of catching up to do!.....

In the Garden

After a cold, grey and muddy winter, the weather here for the last month and a half has been extremely dry and relatively warm (though today the heat has dropped away and a cold north-easterly is blowing across the garden). I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever had to start watering my garden quite this early in the season, but the results so far have been worth it....the

I like to grow my herbs in an assortment of old containers - my grandma's old flour bin (with a rusty bottom), my washing up bowl from Coombe Leigh, my home in Devon which again had developed rusty patches and leaked - not good when you're trying to do the dishes, and a variety of old buckets and tubs. They all stand on some railway timbers which means the herbs are the perfect height for picking without having to bend down too far. I'm very proud of my rhubarb bed this year and recently baked a most delicious rhubarb tart.....

I h

Then

And here's the recipe if you'd like to try it for yourself. I haven't included the recipe for the pastry as it's just a standard sweet shortcrust pastry case..

Rhubarb Tart

Preheat your oven to 190C. Lightly beat 3 eggs and mix them with 275ml double (heavy) cream, 50g sugar, the grated zest of one orange and a few saffron strands. Cut 450g rhubarb into roughly 2.5cm (1") lengths and arrange them on your pastry base (I must admit I just randomly chucked my rhubarb chunks into the pastry case with almost no attempt at arranging them!). Pour over the custard mixture and bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 180C and continue to bake for about 10 minutes until the filling is firm with just a little wobble at the centre. Serve at room temperature. I found the custard was sufficient to fill two shallow 8" cases.

The March of AI in Embroidery Design

If you are a regular newsletter reader you may remember that I wrote about the use of AI (artificial intelligence) to create embroidery patterns just before Christmas. In the last six months however, the number of AI patterns available has grown exponentially. Indeed if you search for embroidery patterns on Etsy it's likely that the first three pages of your results will be AI patterns offered at ridiculously low prices. It's really hard for human designers to get a look in - our patterns simply aren't being seen and Bustle & Sew sales on Etsy have reduced by 70% this year - a massive decrease in a very short space of time.

I have recently come across an excellent video by Kylie of Saint Rogers Street, another Etsy hand embroidery seller in which she discusses the rise of AI, the threat to independent designers and the environment as well as offering lots of guidance on spotting AI patterns. If you're interested then please click on the link below to watch her video.

How to Spot AI Hand Embroidery so You DON'T Get Scammed

Rhu

The Twelve Days of Christmas

I thought you might like a quick update on my progress to date on my human-designed Twelve Days of Christmas project. So far I've completed six flags...

Which I have absolutely loved doing! Though I feel like the little grey cat on the last flag should be named Piper, and the title be Piper's Piping - it's amazing how my mind can wander when I'm in the stitching zone!

I'm still on target for pre-orders towards the end of this month, and will sending out printed panels during the early part of June, as well as listing the digital pattern around then, so leaving plenty of time for stitching before Christmas.

ABustle & Sew Magazine

Just to say that the May edition was published last week....

All subscribers should have received their copy by email. If you're a subscriber and you haven't received yours then please do let me know so I can see what's happened and make sure your magazine reaches you.

Until next time, best wishes and happy stitching!

Helen x

Unti

And

Looking for more inspiration? Have you thought about trying the Bustle & Sew Magazine? There's no advertising whatsoever, just lots of lovely pages of content celebrating life here in the English countryside - with sewing very much at its heart of course. If you’re looking for quirky, unusual and fun sewing projects and enjoy filling your home with beautiful ideas, then you’re sure to love the Bustle & Sew Magazine. I also include lots of other articles and features – seasonal recipes, nature notes, craft ideas, poetry corner and much more besides that combine to make this a totally unique publication!

And here's our guarantee.... if after you've tried our magazine you decide it isn't for you, then all you need to do is drop me a quick email to unsubscribe, there's no tie-in and no penalty at all. If you'd like to continue then you don't need to do anything, your subscription will continue until YOU decide to stop - it's completely up to you.

Click Here to find out more!

Alternatively, if you prefer to shop on Etsy, you can purchase a 12 months subscription from my Etsy shop..

Station House
West Cranmore
Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 4QP
UNITED KINGDOM

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options