January 15, 2010
Hi Fellow Stitchers ... Wow .. it seems like FOREVER since I last updated you. So perhaps an introduction is called for here: Hi .. my name is Deb Koch and have been the owner of Stitches N Things, Inc, a needlework shop in southern middle Michigan, since May of 1992. I carry primarily counted cross stitch, but also offer punch needle, knot work, some Hardanger, needle felting, and other counted needlework designs. And of course, all the fibers, embellishments and fabric to do them on, as well as all the stitching accessories you could ever need! And I absolutely love the needlearts, this industry, and the people that stitch in it!
Just got back to the shop yesterday after spending nearly a week in 'oh so wonderfully warm' Long Beach CA for the TNNA Winter Trade Show. If you have been following my blog, you'll find that I only had time to "talk" twice, but I've just posted anew today. Check it out if you've not been following and you'll get more of an update there! This particular Market is geared more to the knitters and needle pointers, but that didn't stop me from finding some really neat stuffs to order for the shop, and for you! Watch the What's New Page for the addition of 2 new styles of lap frames; 5 new styles of lights and lighted magnifiers; new Holographic metallic fibers; a few charts; a not to be missed wooden needlework accessory; bunches of embroidery scissors;new magnets and magnetic line markers, new colors of ThreadworX floss, a 'witchwork' kit; and some just for fun absolutely cool bags for 'going green' with!!! When will they arrive? When they get here .. this was an 'order only' market, so stuff will be arriving in bits & pieces, fits & stops! I took a Weaving Class while I was there ... just for something to do. I mean, if you're going to a Trade Show, you might just as well take some classes to have fun with the Needlearts! (I took a Felting class and also a class on Dying Yarn - both were fun!!). Anyway ... I had such a fantastic time in that Weaving class ... I didn't want to stop and go eat lunch! Ended up ... I ordered myself a Rigid Heddle LOOM and all the accoutrements ... wish it was here now! I can't wait! Am I going to offer weaving in the shop? Not at all, I don't have the room here and I won't sell product that I don't know how to use that well. But .. I'm going to have fun at home trying to make some stuff!
For those of you who may feel as helpless as I do watching the earthquake tragedy unfold in Haiti, you really CAN do something. Every little bit helps! Think about donating the cost of one specialty coffee or latte ... the cost of a Lizzie Kate flip-it chart ... the cost of a few buttons or a skein of over dyed cotton floss. Then click here, and do it! Organizations Working on Haiti Earthquake Relief
With that, it's time once again to give you your official Weekend notification about 'some' of the newest cross-stitch designs that have arrived this week AT Hoffman Distributing.
Click here to see the latest from NORDEN CRAFTS And here is where you can see the latest from WICHELT IMPORTS Don't forget that YARN TREE also has 'new' stuffs just in! We order from all of the above weekly, so whatever you see, just e-mail me so I can get it for you! BRITTERCUP DESIGNS -- Floral Decor ... Burst Into Blooms BY THE BAY -- The Tidal River #3 COUNTRY COTTAGE NEEDLEWORKS -- Spring Social-Pretty Pink House CROSS STITCH & NEEDLEWORK - March 2010
IMAGINATING -- Blue Snowman ... Winter Cottage ... Snowmen Are Kisses ... Winter Sentiments LEISURE ARTS -- The Best of Terrie Lee Steinmeyer ... Ornaments Galore Vol. 2 .... Spell It Out PASSIONE RICAMO -- Poinsettia Fay ... Holy Baby (Joyeux Noel) PINE MOUNTAIN DESIGNS -- Tie One On-February Expressions ... Whooo Loves You-Sm Pillow February ... February Blocks SAMPLER & ANTIQUE NEEDLEWORK QUARTERLY - Spring 2010
VAL'S STUFF -- Kitty Kalendar-February THE VICTORIA SAMPLER -- Bumblebee Lace Sampler ... Sweetheart Roses Biscornu & Scissors Fob .... Birds Of A Feather ... Windows Of My Heart X'S & OH'S -- The Stitcher ... In His Hands ... Time To Eat (Great White Shark) ... Blooming Pretty And of course, for hundreds and hundreds more chart titles than can be found in our online catalog, do some browsing on our SNT/MERCHANT MALL catalog ...
"Me And My House" is a gorgeous needlework adaptation of the famous Bible verse found in Joshua 24:15. The stitch count is 92w x 121h.
"Entwined Threads" is a beautiful design from Lavender Wings that we've had in the shop for several weeks now but that Hoffman Dist. just received! The stitch count is 59w x 114h - Linda does such lovely work!
"Love Always" is a nice little 70w x 98h design from Bobbie G Designs!
"If Nothing Ever Changed" is one of the latest from Designs By Lisa! This inspiring design has a stitch count of 98w x 126h. She has another new design this week too ... for all you fellow MOOSE Lovers out there ... "Moose Be Valentines Day". This whimsical 'sweetie' (pictured below) comes with the heart button used. Designs by Lisa is one of the SYHO 2010 Designers!
Grow older with a grin, like this whimsical "Aged Wine" pattern from is 44w x 140h. That's without the wine ... be warned, it may finish slightly larger if stitching with a few glasses of real "aged wine"! See more in our New Book Listings this week!
"Persuasion Pillow Pattern" is featured on our Friday Update this week from talented needle artist Tanya Marie Anderson. Finished size is approximately 4.4" x 4.8". See more from The Sampler Girl in our New Book Listings this week. designer in our Merchant Mall Catalog
Prices Will Be Increased As Of February 1st on:
ALERT - ALERT We've been notified that Handi Clamp is going out of business! I can't believe it .. these are MY most favorite scrolls ever and I know I sell more of this style than any other style of scroll frame out there!! I've got a bunch of these en route to me now, but supplies are limited! Click on this link and TYPE IN Handi to see what we have available. I've set the scrolls to 'disappear' as my stock is sold. You Need These Frames!!!
SNT Stitchers Attention Effective Jan 1 - due to Postage Rate increases, we have instituted a 'slight' increase in shipping. Most of you will not even notice this!! And, A Reminder - shipping costs shown on your order form are NOT the actual shipping costs!!
When we first went online with a shopping cart, we did not have the feature to show shipping costs. That software program has been upgraded, but .. in order to show the actual shipping charge, we have to go into each item in the catalog and do an edit .. weigh each item and put that info in and then update that item. SINCE there are over 16,000 items in the catalog, we cannot do this .. there are just not enough days in the year. And you can't just edit 'here and there'. SO .. our catalog system is set up to 'guesstimate' shipping at a 'high' end. When we are ready to process your order through to mail to you, we weigh your order with packaging and go by postal costs as determined by postal weight. In the vast majority of cases, that 'guesstimated' cost on your order form WILL be reduced! IF we should have to increase your shipping costs, we will email or call you with your postage/shipping options first. Certain items such as wooden boxes or frames, scroll rods, large lamps/magnifiers will actually have a shipping cost that WILL be more than the system's guesstimated shipping charge on your order form. This is due to the weight of that item(s). In this case, we will email or call you with your choice of postage costs/shipping options (such as USPS, Parcel Post, or UPS).
INTRODUCING You know that it's been proven that stitching actually reduces stress and promotes well-being. And we want you all to be healthy stitchers - so we 're offering you the opportunity to be "Busy Bees"! Anyone who finishes a project within 30 days of purchasing the raw materials (fabric & fibers & embellishments) needed for that project (from us!) will receive 10% off their next purchase order! It's easy!
and also let us know the order number on your receipt. We'll take it from there!
And the squirrel saga continues. Dave FINALLY put the trap out in the garage by the hole the bitty-beastie had chewed through the door. He baited it with a half of a corn cob and then he sat back to wait. Rather, he told me it was my job to watch the trap. The next morning, when I was leaving for work, I noticed the corn cob was gone ... and no squirrel was in the trap! He'd managed to get in, grab the corn and get back out again, all without springing it.
We Have Your JANUARY FREEBIES Of The Month:
How do you get these you ask? It's so easy .. when you place an order during the month of January you'll receive our offered freebies automatically included with your order. When you come into the shop, simply ask us for the 'Freebies Of The Month'. Or, you can send us a SASE (legal sized, 4 1/8" x 9 1/2" self-addressed stamped envelope) and we'll mail them right off to you!
.... COMING SOON .... From BLACKBIRD DESIGNS:
Blackbird was running behind on their 3 Stockings series, as you may already know. Well, they had told Norden Crafts that they didn't believe that November and December were going to be ready until close to the 1st of this new year, or maybe even slightly after. Then the day after Christmas when Norden came back from their holiday .. there the boxes of charts were! The fabric had not been ordered that far in advance as NC thought they had more time to work with. Since "WE" get both the fabric AND charts in the same shipment, and since Norden is awaiting delivery of just 'one more fabric', the Blackbird stockings have not yet arrived. Spoke with Katy at Norden this evening and she's hoping they'll be shipped next week. We are getting these .. they just aren't here yet!
From JUST ANOTHER BUTTON COMPANY: The " Teaspoon Collection", a 14 month long series with a special little teaspoon designed for each month, begins the 20th of this month with the January Teaspoon "shovel" design. The average "approximate" cost per month of each button pack is $8.75. The fibers needed for the entire series are as follow: WDW - Baked Apple, Chrysanthemum, Crimson, Eggplant, Guacamole, Kudzu, Molasses, Parchment (3 skeins), Straw (3 skeins) From LIZZIE KATE: "Cat Lessons For People" ... you're gonna love this one! Similar to the style of her ABC kits, this chart pak includes lots of fun cat-ty attributes that are fun for people, too! A lot of words combined with cute cat motifs add up to a really fun and different stitchery. ("Dog Lessons For People" will be released at the February Market) "Green Flips" are coming! Offered in the 'flip-it' small card format, each has a little 'go green' thought.
This is a 6 part Flip-it series, and the first 3 are coming all at once . Each design has its own saying and they are darling individually. But, combine all 6 of them with the FREE border and they are sensational. From SAMSARAH: The fibers needed for the entire series are all Crescent Colours and are as follow: Apple Fritter, Black Coffee (3), Blue Moon, Candy Corn, Clay Pot, Ginger Snap, Hickory Sticks, Joshua Tree (4), Magnolia Blossom (3), Muddle Puddle, Poblano Pepper, Purple Aster, Roasted Chestnut, Sassy Brass (2), Steamed Broccoli, Stepping Stones, Tufted Yellow, and 12 Grain.
A Life Worth Living by Glendon Place is the first design in a series of 12 for the SYHO Designer Encyclopedia. This design will be available the first Friday of February (February 5th, 2010) and will sell for $2.50. The 'sneak' preview of Cheryl’s fabulous SYHO design is shown to you at below left.
You can purchase these individually if you'd like, but ... when you join our Stitch Your Heart Out Club, you'll not only get each design as soon as it's released, you'll also receive the FREE instructions on how to assemble the 12 designs into a stitched designer encyclopedia! SYHO Stitch-A-Long Host: Loose Thread Stitchers Type: Meetings - Club/Group Meeting Network: Global Start Time: Monday, February 15, 2010 at 9:00am End Time: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 12:00pm Location: Online / Local Needlework Shop Come join other LTS members and stitch with us during the Stitch Your Heart Out (SYHO) Campaign.
I'd told you at the end of 'last year' that my resolution for the coming New Year was: Don't sweat the setbacks; persistence is the key. Well .. I've added one more, an important resolution! I am finally going to STOP my procrastinating! (I plan on beginning that resolution sometime in March or April.)
Ready for a 'mom' story? Mom is doing fine .. I'll be seeing her on Sunday when I take her out for lunch and grocery shopping. We were doing Inventory and the phone rings. Well, since we're doing Inventory, we don't answer the phone .. the machine is in charge of doing that. But .. Debbie was counting stuff right next to the phone and saw on Caller ID that it was my mom .. so I picked it up. Mom says "I have a little problem". I'm thinking oh no now I'm going to hear all about 'internal digestive issues' and I really hate that but, as the dutiful daughter that I am, I say "Oh, what?" "Well, I've been having nose bleeds. It's so dry in here and my nose has been bleeding". This is where I'm thinking 'oh no maybe her nose won't stop bleeding' .. when she says loudly "Come In". Then she says "someone is at the door and they came in and I don't know who they are". Told her to stay on the phone with me and go see what's going on. She's not used to a cell phone, and so she sets it down by her chair when she gets us. Off in the distance I hear a man's voice and them mom says "you'll have to wait, I'm on the phone with my daughter". She comes back to the phone and starts all over again about having this nose bleed. I interrupt her and ask WHO is in her apartment. "Oh, it's just the firemen". I must have said FIREMEN pretty loudly as LouAnne and Debbie bought shot to attention. Long story short. She's been having nose bleeds. It's dry in her apartment. She put a tea kettle of water on the stove and turned the burner on ... thought some steam would help the problem. THEN she went down to the activity room to do some Wii Bowling (she's on a league there), then when she came back up to her apartment, she was tired so she laid down. Tea kettle was melted completely; two burners had to be ripped out of her stove; back wall was scorched somewhat but did not catch fire. She doesn't know HOW she could have done that; she's never done anything like that before! aaaarrrggghhhhh Called Dave, so he went over that day to check things out and bought her a small humidifier that has an automatic turn off if the water gets too low. The Fire Department is on automatic speed dial if an alarm goes off. It's quite the show ... there will be two ladder trucks that come, a paramedic, 2 police cars and some other vehicle. And all the 'oldies' get to sit out in the stairwell so they're out of the main part of the building and not outside in the professional's way. Needless to say, she's in fine company there .. this happens often. DEEP SIGH
Someone emailed today to see if I was going to have a Superbowl Sale, and when would it be? Hummmm. good question. I had to google that since I just don't follow sports and I've just found out that Superbowl XLIV will be held on February 7th. So I guess the answer is ... YES, SNT will be holding a Superbowl Sale .. it will be held during Superbowl Weekend, but since that isn't until next month, I don't need to think that much about it right now. :) Well, I think that's it for this week. Dave called and told me the 'steak' is on and I should get home unless I want Nick to have a fine meal instead. Gotta love that man! So .. until next Friday and your regularly scheduled needlework update newsletter .... Stitch Happy! and ... you can also visit with Deb at Reading N Writing N Stitches N Things The following physical address is associated with this mailing list: Stitches N Things 14288 N. Fenton Rd. Fenton, MI 48430 Phone: 810-629-3333 TOLL FREE Orders only: 877-325-4060 (within the USA) Fax: 810-629-3313 Hours (Eastern): Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm Web Catalog: Open 24 hours a day-Every Day!! http://www.stitchesnthings.com/ And, of course, for hundreds & hundreds & hundreds more chart titles than can be found in our online catalog, do some browsing on our SNT/MERCHANT MALL catalog!
Please also visit Stitches N Things CLASSICS - Your #1 source for hundreds of Discounted overstocked OR "gently used" OR hard to find 'out of print' charts (OOP's).
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Bobbie G Designs! The stitch count 
Your Stash Requirements !!! 
The SNT "BUSY BEES" 
