October 25, 2020

 

Hi Fellow Stitchers!      

     Back from my mini-vacation with my sister Patsy up in Cheboygan!  Had a fabulous time, too short as usual, but so much fun!  Day shopping in Gaylord, in Indian River & Cheboygan (saw 3 other old friends) in Harbor Springs (with my niece Shelly) in Mackinaw City and St Ignace (with my oldest friend Sue - since age 5).  Dinner out a couple of times, wearing masks of course at restaurants that had totally socially distanced seating .. gotta be safe with the rising virus .. good meals and more fun.  Even though it rained ever single day I was there .. and even snowed!  Would have loved to have stayed longer (but my checkbook was running out of money with all that shopping!) and would have loved to have had sister Shirley with us (Shirley is now out of 2 week quarantine at the therapy rehab unit she's in and now will be able to be around others .. that should also help greatly with her recovery!).   Thinking positive .. Next YEAR Shirley, next year!!

   The Nashville Needlework Market has been rescheduled for May 21-23rd, 2021.

    And I am SO GLAD!  With COVID not going anywhere yet, I was very VERY uneasy with the idea of attending a Market the first weekend in March.  With only 2 days to shop and hotel rooms with up to 20 people standing and trying to move around to see/place orders ... there is absolutely no way we could socially distance and limiting room attendance to be safe means that most of us would only get through half of the show .. IF we were lucky. Some designers -those from Australia and Belgium and France and Italy not being able to attend, and those of us with health concerns, this was a real concern.  Am so happy the 'powers that be' rescheduled.

     I DO have dates scheduled with the Hotel For a March Camp Stitchalot, but those dates are in March.  We are still under limited social gathering and mask wearing here in Michigan .... and at this point in time, I honestly don't know IF there will be a Camp Stitchalot then.  That's why I have not yet announced dates and pricing and such.  I'm in a 'wait and see' here .... so stay tuned, keep your fingers crossed (but cross them loosely and don't hold your breath) and we'll see where COVID stands. 

    I also want to bring up the Postal System.  Some of you are getting your orders quickly still .. some of you are getting your orders a month after we send them.  This is NOT our fault .. once the mail is picked up and left our building, we have absolutely no control over it.  It's a postal issue: our local post office is working at under 60% employees due to the virus; our main distribution center for Michigan is in the Detroit area and it is still way under capacity due to the virus; the centers that your orders are sent to from Michigan are at under capacity.  We had a slew of orders that were sent out between Sept 7th and 12th that did not arrive at their destination until the first week in October.  Some of those orders were replaced and resent by us and those 2nd packages actually arrived the SAME DAY the original order arrived!  If you haven't received your order within a week, please be patient.  It Is NOT Us .. we ship the day we tell you and can supply you with the shipping label printing information.

   NOW .... packaging of your orders.  If it's a regular chart or just a smaller piece of fabric, it is sent as a flat - a large letter.  The USPS does not allow tracking on a flat large letter ... we can ONLY put tracking on something sent as a package (must be thicker than 3/4 inch to be a package) or as Priority mail.   If a chart is sent as a flat large letter, your shipping cost will be based on shipping weight for example 2oz is $1.75 or 4oz is $2.00.  IF we send that same chart as a PACKAGE with TRACKING, your postal cost will be $3.75 to $4.25.  We do NOT want to gauge you on shipping costs, so ... let us know IN COMMENTS or in an E-Mail IF YOU WANT YOUR ITEMS SENT WITH TRACKING AT THE EXTRA COST!    You/We can check it's progress that way.

So without further delay .. here's what has just arrived at Hoffman Distributing ...

SEE THEM HERE!

and ... click to see what's NEW at Yarn Tree and ... Wichet Imports

WHAT'S NEW IN THE SHOP

CROSS EYED CRICKET  --  Wickety  ... Addie's Angel

ERICA MICHAELS --  Reindeer Games  ... Hearthside Christmas ... Holiday Home Berries

IMAGINATING --  Boil & Bubble  ... Stay Calm & Stitch On

INK CIRCLES  -- Springtime Tapestry ... Royals  ... Comparatively Small Red Ship of Life  ...   Chartres Labyrinth ... Badgers From The Dawn Of Memes

KAY'S FRAMES  -- America 1776 ... Bad Decisions

LA D DA  --  Pumpkin Parade

THE PRAIRIE SCHOOLER --  Cats, Bats & Witches  ... Songs Of The Season

THE PRIMITIVE HARE -- Halloween This Way ... Tree Farm ... Wicked Fancy ... Fraktur Lady In White ... Black Cat Scissor Fob  ... Thread Keep - Kind Witch ... Linen, Dark Spell 30ct - new LARGE size ... Linen, Fancy Skulls 30ct

SHEPHERD'S BUSH  --  A Witching Season  ... Scare Ewe (limited ed kit or button w/chart)

STITCH N NEEDS  --  Fall Black Cat

SUE HILLIS DESIGNS -- Something Wicked - Box & Smalls  ... Something Wicked Too - Banner & Biscornu

TELLIN EMBLEM -- Tiny Tile - Adonis Blue ... Tiny Tile - Cairns Birdwing  ... Tiny Tile - Caper White ... Tiny Tile - Large Copper

TINY MODERNIST  --  Mouse's Halloween Stitching ... Fox Biscornu

WITH THY NEEDLE & THREAD  --  Winter Rose Manor  ... Mr. Marshmallow  ... When Santa's Away The Mice Will Play  ... Brr...It's Cold Outside