INDEPENDENT NEEDLEWORK NEWS

In case you’ve been flummoxed by the mystery I posted about, Deborah Thorpe posted the answer on her blog …

Technorati Tags: Deborah Thorpe

Once again, it’s time to check Hoffman Distributing’s new releases for the week. It’s a light week for new releases, though, and I didn’t find anything new that tickled my fancy.

However, there is a sneak peek at what Raise the Roof’s Crabby July thru September will look like if you study the picture for Crabby April thru June!

Looks like July’s reason to be crabby is the heat. What do you think August’s reason is?

And Hoffman Distributing has started something new called the “Friday Feature.” Last week’s Friday Feature was the first one and was about Angie Kowalksy of Linen Flowers Designs. This week’s is on Raise the Roof’s Theresa Venette and Susan Rainer. I found both articles very interesting and think you will, too.

Technorati Tags: cross stitch, Hoffman Distributing, Friday Feature, Angie Kowalksy, Linen Flowers, Raise the Roof, Crabby July thru September, Crabby April thru June, Theresa Venette, Susan Rainer

Stitches ‘N Things in Davison, Michigan has announced they will be moving to Fenton, Michigan effective May 1st.

This move also means downsizing from floor space of 3200 square feet to 600 square feet … and we know what that means! To reduce inventory for the move, Stitches ‘N Things is having a huge SALE. There is already a Sale page (to which I’m guessing much more will be added, perhaps even throughout the month of April). But the really big news is that starting on April 1st (no joke), with the exception of Jill Rensel frames/mats and DMC floss, anything which is IN STOCK and NOT on the Sale page is 20% off.

The sad news which goes along with this announcement is that Stitches ‘N Things will become primarily an “ordering” needlework store because the decrease in floor space will limit how much they can keep in stock. Having been to the store a couple of times myself during trips to Michigan, I had rated Stitches ‘N Things as one of my top shops to visit due to the vast array of wonderful stitching things to see … I can easily imagine that for their regular in-person customers, this move will be an especially difficult transition, though I believe Stitches ‘N Things will continue to be one of my absolute favorite shops to order from because of the quality of their customer service — with which I have been impressed each of the many times I’ve ordered from them.

For more information, read the most recent Stitches ‘N Things newsletter. Then you can get busy making your list of what to order on April 1st!

Technorati Tags: Stitches ‘N Things, Davison, cross stitch, LNS, ONS, Deb Koch, sale, local needlework, online needlework

It seems like a long time now since Nashville market. One of this year’s big hits there was Raise the Roof’s Crabby January thru March.

Well, Silver Needle has the second release in this series, April thru June, up on their site already! And it’s another good one:

Technorati Tags: Raise the Roof, Crabby, January thru March, April thru June, Silver Needle, Nashville market, cross stitch

Am I the only one who thinks the thread resembles a worm in this picture?

You may have heard about this article already, but it contained much more detail than I’d seen in Cross Stitcher previously, so I wanted to share it with you.

While I’m not convinced Spike, the budgie, is actually able to follow a pattern and stitch it, I really enjoyed reading how Spike and his owner Sandra have managed to bond through stitching.

One reason I value my stitching time is because it’s also quality time spent with our cats, who are always thrilled to see me setting up for a few hours of cross stitching. They come running from all over the house, and I spend the first 15 to 30 minutes shooing away the ones actively trying to help. Then they settle into their usual positions on the arm rests, the back of the couch, and my lap, and watch intently for a while before nodding off to sleep.

Do you have a special animal who helps you stitch or otherwise adds to your stitching experience?

Technorati Tags: cross stitch, Spike, bird, budgie, Sandra Battye, Young Cross-Stitcher of the Year, cats

Yesterday was such a busy day for me that I didn’t have a chance to remind you to check out this week’s new releases at Hoffman Distributing.

My pick this week is Survivor by Bask Designs:

Here’s hoping Elizabeth Edwards and all other breast cancer survivors keep on winning.

Technorati Tags: Hoffman Distributing, Survivor, Bask Designs, cancer, breast cancer, new releases, Elizabeth Edwards

The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) is seeking your input. As a stitcher or crocheter or knitter, you are a customer of independent needlework stores who make up the TNNA. Please take approximately ten minutes of your time to answer this very relevant survey. You’ll be helping let all those independent needlework stores know exactly what you think and feel about your craft, and how they can best serve your needs and wants in pursuing that craft. It’s not often we customers have such a clear way of communicating these things to the people who provide the products needed for our art to us, so please take advantage of it.

Also, TNNA is donating $1 for the first 800 surveys completed to WIN Against Breast Cancer (whose website appears to be down at the moment, sorry) or the Helping Hands Foundation Needlearts Mentoring Program — and it’s your choice which charity will receive the $1 your survey answer earns. Either way, you’ll be doing more than one wonderful thing at a time.

The survey closes on April 20, 2007 … But go answer it now, while you’re thinking about it, so you can select the charity you want to receive $1 from TNNA.

Technorati Tags: TNNA, survey, National NeedleArts Association, breast cancer, WIN Against Breast Cancer, Women’s Information Network, WIN ABC, Helping Hands Foundation Needlearts Mentoring Program, State of Specialty Needlearts, cross stitch, crochet, knitter, needlepoint, needlearts, needlework, needle arts

I don’t have any nieces, and my nephews think stitching is “for GIRLS” (said with eyes rolling) … So I must hope for a niece with whom to share A Sampler View of Colonial Life by Mary Cobb someday. Just from the description of it at one of my favorite stores, the Silver Needle in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it sounds wonderful:

“This is a delightful 60-page softcover book aimed at a very young stitcher or stitcher-to-be! A basic sampler and school history of Colonial America, it talks about life in the colonies and how needlework fit into the daily lifestyle. There are no needlework projects provided, but several ‘exercises’ are included — like friendship books and the like.

“I think this book would be wonderful for a 4-8-yr old, who loves what Mom or Grandma creates with her needle! It features lots of colorful and neat illustrations, too!”

On Amazon, you can look through this book and get an even better idea of what it covers because the table of contents is available to view.

I sure would have loved this book as a change of pace when I studied colonial American history during grade school!

Technorati Tags: Silver Needle, gift, little girl, colonial America, cross stitch, Sampler View of Colonial Life, Mary Cobb, Jan Davey Ellis, needlework, sampler, Amazon

Deborah Thorpe of Midsummer Night Designs found two samplers stitched in the 1990s (one is dated 1993) while shopping at an antique mall. She is trying to identify the designers. Take a look at this picture, and if you recognize either sampler, please let us know whatever information you are able to determine.

Technorati Tags: Midsummer Night Designs, Deborah Thorpe

This is a really interesting idea: “teabags” which bloom into gorgeous bouquets during steeping. I’m not sure I’d choose to spend some of my stitching stash fund on an appropriate tea pot to go along with some of this tea for myself, but I would like to see this tea actually bloom — and find out how it tastes …

I wonder if blooming tea would distract the cats from my stitching?

Here’s an idea: Don’t we all know someone for whom one of the tea gift sets would make a great gift — you know, the “person who already has everything” type? Well, if you order something from Full Bloom Tea for that person, you can get back to your stitching!

Technorati Tags: Full Bloom Tea, tea, gift