In the Shop Window

By lizhaywood | June 30, 2025 |

Something very nice happened to me lately. Our local bookshop, Miss Gracie Taylors Pre-loved Books, has a sewing-themed window display this month, with my books in them.

You might recognise Nigelle-ann, the shop’s owner, from some of my patterns. She was the cover girl for the Xanthea top, culottes, and most of the things from the Year of Zero Waste Sewing book.

She asked some time ago if I would be interested in a sewing-themed window, and of course I said yes! I would dearly have loved to go and set up the window display, but long covid. So my younger teen took a box of sewing paraphernalia to the shop and did it on my behalf.

The book shop is on the main street and has two windows either side of a recessed front door.

One window has my books and a sewing machine.

The other has a curtain of sewing patterns with other sewing books from the shop.

I believe she’s had lots of enquiries if the sewing patterns are for sale!

The sewing patterns came from my not insignificant collection, which is stored in a chest used as a piano stool. I never use them but adore the cover art. The oldest pattern is nearly 100, however most are from the 1960s and 70s. Almost all were given to me and most have never been used, their pristine tissue still factory folded.

To make the curtain of patterns lighter in weight and avoid damage, I took the tissue and instructions sheets out, leaving only the envelopes. I have them in a box for when they come home. Lots of Vogues and Simplicitys!

I also got out some posters that the shop might be able to use, from the Zero Waste Sewing book.
There, scrolled up with one of them, was the library’s advertising posters from the book launch, back in March 2020. I had a semi-sad moment of reflection, as I was the last event the library held before world-wide lockdown. I recall being on the phone to the librarian, with a “will we? or won’t we?” conversation the week before, when all the city libraries had already shuttered.
The bookshop has the posters hanging from the top of the window.

The window display will be up for all of this month, so if you live in Clare South Australia, or are passing through on holidays, do stop and pop in. It’s on the main street, just north of the traffic lights. It’s a beaut shop for poking around for a good book, and my books (signed) are for sale there too.

Cheers!

PS: Booklovers, the shop also has a separate online bookshop. If you’re looking for a particular second hand title, you might find it here.

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2 Comments

  1. juliana bendandi on June 30, 2025 at 1:53 pm

    Dear Liz, I always look forward to your Monday morning posts and this was lovely to read! The display looks beautiful – I love the curtains of patterns especially!

    Reply
    • lizhaywood on June 30, 2025 at 4:31 pm

      Thank you! The curtain came out great.

      Reply

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