INDEPENDENT NEEDLEWORK NEWS

Through Sunday, December 16th, Snowy River Quilts is having a sale … All regularly priced books, fabrics, and patterns will be discounted 20% (you won’t see the discount on the website, but it will be processed manually).

And for all the stitchers, this is a great time to stock up on these fabrics from the Nell’s Flower Shop line:

~ Multi-color Sampler on Cream ~

~ Ginger Sampler ~

~ Rhubarb Sampler ~

~ Green Sampler ~

~ Multi-color Sampler on Cream (another view) ~

Or perhaps you’ll like the Madeira line better?

~ Aqua ~

~ Willow ~

~ Rose ~

~ Aqua on Cream ~

~ Willow on Cream ~

~ Rose on Cream ~

~ Brown on Cream ~

~ Sampler on Cream ~

Or maybe the Chelsea Boutique line instead?

~ Coffee on Willow ~

~ Coffee on Sage ~

~ Rose on Parchment ~

~ Willow on Parchment ~

~ Tonal Parchment ~

~ Sage on Parchment ~

It’s a really tough decision, isn’t it? I couldn’t decide myself, so I did what any good stitcher would do: I collected them all! I’m going to make a great big crazy quilt out of them! And yes, I am actually going to crazy quilt over the seams. I’d love for this to be the quilt for my bed, but I’m not sure that crazy quilting the seams would be such a good idea when I have anywhere from one to eight cats sleeping with me at a time. So perhaps I’ll end up hanging it on a wall, or maybe making curtains — but I AM going to crazy quilt all of these wonderful different fabrics together!

Technorati Tags: Snowy River Quilts, sale, quilt, fabric, crazy quilt, Nell’s Flower Shop, ginger sampler, multi, multi-color, sampler, rhubarb sampler, green sampler, Madeira, Chelsea Boutique, cross stitch,

The response to the LinaBear sale has been surprising, to say the least. Thank you so much to those who have sent in links!

Unfortunately, I’m a bit swamped, so while I do hope you’ll keep sending in the links you think should be on INN, responding to everyone individually with a sale code is taking more time than I expected.

Therefore, I’ve decided to post the sale code here (and perhaps change it weekly). So, for now, the code to get your 30% discount in the LinaBear store is INN7771.

Technorati Tags: LinaBear, Selina Merriman, INN, Independent Needlework News, gift, sale, Christmas, knit

One of my favorite designers, Selina Merriman of LinaBear Creations, (Blogroll) is extending a very special treat to all INN readers:

~ 30% off on ALL your LinaBear Store purchases through 8:00 a.m. Paris/Berlin time on
December 27, 2007 ~

(For anyone who needs a bit of assistance determining the time in Paris compared with yours to make sure you place your order soon enough, the World Clock is a handy tool.)

Now, you can not only finish your holiday shopping for the stitchers — and even the knitters, stuffed animal lovers, and dog lovers on your list, who are all sure to love Spartacus as much as I do (although I’m still holding out to adopt a knitted LinaBear Creations kitten from Selina ) at a great price, but you

can also spend any holiday money you receive in your stocking to pick up something(s) you’ve really been lusting after from Selina’s line of designs!

To get the code you’ll need to use in the LinaBear Store to obtain your 30% discount, please email me with the URL of a website you think should be added to the Blogroll. I will reply within 24 hours with your discount code! To get your 30% discount, you’ll need to enter code INN7771.

I know you’re going to enjoy this sale because Selina has added so many fabulous designs to her line. For instance, how can any stitcher resist Blue Elegance - A Stitcher’s Toy Set, which includes a box, a biscornu-shaped scissor fob, a pin cushion, and a measuring tape cover?

In fact, I think the easiest thing to do with all these wonderful hoices is to NOT choose … Instead, collect them all!

Technorati Tags: LinaBear, Selina Merriman, INN, Independent Needlework News, gift, Christmas, Spartacus, knit, dog, Blue Elegance, Stitcher’s Toy Set, biscornu

My friend, regular reader and commenter, and also a regular behind-the-scenes contributor to INN, crazy quilter Susan Nixon, has asked if I am aware of any stores offering ground fabric sales.

Spurred on by her request, I have located a store offering quite a bit of fabric on sale at this time: Stitching Bits and Bobs (Blogroll).

Not all fabric is on sale at Stitching Bits and Bobs, but here’s a list of fabric on sale at this time:

Crossed Wing Collection Fabric Hand Painted

Weeks Dye Works Hand Dyed Linen

Tokens and Trifles

Wichelt Hand Dyed Jobelan

Wichelt Hand Dyed Jobelan Aida

Wichelt Hand Dyed Linen

This sale is in effect through 10:00 a.m. eastern standard time on November 27th … and don’t forget to look around the rest of the store, as there is a lot more to see — most of which is on sale for 20 to 25% off — which is a terrific price.

Now, a warning is appropriate. My personal experience with Stitching Bits and Bobs has always been good; however, I am aware some stitchers find this particular shop frustrating to deal with.

Stitching Bits and Bobs regularly offers sales in the neighborhood of 25% off, but this also often means they are out of stock on a lot of items. Unlike many needlework stores, Stitching Bits and Bobs WILL honor sale prices on out of stock items … but that means you, the customer, must wait for back-ordered items to come back into stock before they can be shipped to you. When hand-dyed fibers and fabrics are involved, the wait can often be quite lengthy.

Stitching Bits and Bobs also has a policy of charging for your entire order at the time you place it, and then waiting to ship you your entire order when it is completely ready.

All of these things combined together may equate to a long wait if any items are back-ordered.

I have waited as much as several months for orders to arrive, but I was still a very satisfied customer since I saved a good deal of money in the process. I have even had more than one outstanding order at a time with this shop due to the way they handle their business — but I have always received my orders, I have always received exactly what I ordered, and I have never failed to be happy with saving 20 to 25% off my total order despite the wait.

What it comes down to is really common sense. Just as I would with any other needlework shop owner, if I need an item immediately, whether it is a chart, a piece of fabric, a length of fiber, an embellishment, or something else, I am perfectly comfortable with emailing or even calling Stitching Bits and Bobs’ owner Bobbie Sankatsing to find out if she has what I need in stock, and to request that she send all in stock items immediately, and then send out of stock items together later on for the cost of a second shipping charge — or to cancel out of stock items from my order. Bobbie has always been more than willing to accommodate my needs, and she’s always done her job keeping the lines of communication open. I have little doubt she is more than willing to do the same for any other stitcher worldwide who communicates his/her needs to her as I do.

Now, go forth, shop, and stitch!

Technorati Tags: Stitching Bits and Bobs, Bobbie Sankatsing, sale, cross stitch, fabric, Christmas, holiday, shopping, gift

Down Sunshine Lane (Blogroll) is also having a sale on in stock items only. The sale ends at midnight eastern standard time on Sunday, November 25th.

All charts and kits that do NOT have the word “NEW” in red by their titles are 25% off …

Also, don’t forget to check out the various sale pages … there are even 40% off sale pages!

Other than those mentioned above, items NOT included in the sale are: threads, fabrics, buttons, embellishment packs, accessories, special order items, and anything which is marked that it cannot be discounted. Sale prices also do not apply to special or pre-orders, gift certificates, or monthly Clubs.

You will not see your sale price in your shopping cart or from its auto-response system. However, Down Sunshine Lane will adjust your order when it is invoiced.

Due to an increase in orders during the sale, please allow additional response time for response to your orders from Down Sunshine Lane.

Don’t forget to add a special treat to your order for yourself. Add a Stitchaholic T-shirt to your order for half its usual cost on orders of $20 or more. See just over halfway down this page for further details on this special offer!

Technorati Tags: cross stitch, sale, Down Sunshine Lane, Christmas, holiday, shopping, gift

As you all know, Jenna Magee has been INN’s “technical support person” for many months now and has repeatedly proven herself an invaluable asset. So far, the best I’ve been able to come up with for her is an unwieldy title (in fact, I’ve decided to run a contest to select an appropriate title for Jenna regarding her INN contributions).

Therefore, it is always with great pleasure that I advertise anything on behalf of Jenna’s online needlework shop. Of course, I’m happy do the same for any and all needlework shops, designers, and so on — there just aren’t enough hours in the day, LOL — but without Jenna, I would not be able to bring INN to you, or at least, I would not be able to bring INN to you at the high standards I demand of myself.

It is One Star’s Light Needlework Supplies‘ first Black Friday, and in honor of that — and also to help ensure you don’t need to leave your house to do any holiday shopping — Jenna is having a big sale.

All orders placed today, Friday, November 23rd, will be 25% off !!! The sale continues until 11:59 p.m. eastern time and requires coupon code BlackFriday2007.

So, please take this opportunity to treat yourself to a few special things … and help congratulate Jenna on her first of many Black Fridays in business!

Technorati Tags: cross stitch, Jenna Magee, One Star’s Light Needlework Supplies, sale, Christmas, holiday, shopping, gift

You can get all your holiday shopping from home today instead … Handcrafts Online (Blogroll) is offering free shipping on all orders placed through Sunday, November 25th, so save on gas, avoid the hoards at the malls, and do your shopping from home!

Not everyone on your list is a stitcher? Well then, you still have options. You can stitch fast, made easier on you because Handcraft Online offers a complete or partial kitting service to its customers so you can get started right away.

Or your gift can be the promise of stitching lessons and time spent together with your loved one(s). You would be not only creating (a) new stitcher(s) and great memories by doing so, but you’d also be giving a gift which keeps on giving — for a lifetime.

Technorati Tags: eHandcrafts, cross stitch, Christmas, Black Friday, holiday, gift

Australia’s Dragonfly Dreams, is having a huge sale.

EVERYTHING — and I do mean EVERYTHING — in stock is on sale for anywhere between 10% and 50%! (Special orders and Back Orders are not on sale because they are not in stock.)

So hurry up and take a look … I’m certain there’s something you need!

Technorati Tags: cross stitch, needlework, sale, Dragonfly Dreams, Australia

Gay Ann Rogers has finished adding to the list of patterns, kits, and chartpacks she will be selling in her E-Merchandise Week, which officially began on October 15th.

Make sure you take a look and contact her by October 21st, because your payment will need to be postmarked no later than October 22nd in order to be eligible for this once-in-a-year opportunity to obtain patterns from Gay Ann Rogers’ very rare collection of designs.

The final list of patterns for sale for this year are these:

Redwork Cat Sampler
Flower Girl
Strawberry Girl
Acorn Girl
Snowflake Girl
Beaded Halloween Heart
Grinning Kitty Heart
Gifts of Christmas Heart
Christmas Mittens Heart
Tuxedo Heart
Wedding Dress Heart
Pink Quartz Hearts, Pale and Bright (these are the same design, different colors)
Frosted Heart
Bruised Heart
Flower Needlebook and Scissors Fob
Patriotic Needlebook and Scissors Fob
Jeweled Geometric for a Goddess
Diamond Roundabout
Pearls and Peridot
Emerald Prisms
Ruby Prisms
Four small Needlepoint Samplers
Four small Cross Stitch Samplers

Technorati Tags: Redwork Cat Sampler, Flower Girl, Strawberry Girl, Acorn Girl, Snowflake Girl, Beaded Halloween Heart, Grinning Kitty Heart, Gifts of Christmas Heart, Christmas Mittens Heart, Pink Quartz Hearts, Frosted Heart, Bruised Heart, Flower Needlebook and Scissors Fob, Patriotic Needlebook and Scissors Fob, Jeweled Geometric for a Goddess, Tuxedo Heart, Wedding Dress Heart, Diamond Roundabout, Pearls and Peridot, Emerald Prisms, Ruby Prisms, Gay Ann Rogers, Needlepoint Favorites, Cross Stitch Favorites, E-Merchandise Week

Hancock Fabrics (Blogroll) is already advertising 50% off all Halloween fabrics and free shipping on all orders through their website through October 31, 2007.

That means it’s a great time to stock up for those Halloween-styled crazy quilts, or on finishing fabrics for your cross stitched ornaments to put on your Halloween tree.

You are in Wonderful XS World’s (Blogroll) Halloween SAL, aren’t you? Well, if you’re not, it’s still a good time to stock up on finishing fabrics for next year’s wXSw SAL! With designers like Helga Mandl Designs (Blogroll), Periphaeria Designs (Blogroll), and Tam’s Creations (Blogroll) offering darling spooky designs like those below for the SAL this year, you know you won’t want to miss it the next time it rolls around!

Don’t feel too bad if you missed out on the Halloween SAL this year … I’ve heard from a crow or few that these designs and the rest they go with may one day be available for sale! … and I’m pretty sure you’ll first hear about that if it happens here on INN, too!

Just wait until you see the finishes this year’s contestants have put together — they are really terrific, and you can tell we all had a lot of fun with this SAL! Voting will begin right here on Independent Needlework News on October 17, 2007! INN is sponsoring a random voter prize, so you’ll definitely want to be here to vote!

Click to join wXSw

All this, and you don’t even have to leave your house!

Technorati Tags: Halloween, Hancock Fabrics, sale, wXSw, Wonderful XS World, contest, Helga Mandl, Periphaeria, Tam’s Creations, Independent Needlework News, Halloween SAL, fabric, cross stitch, needlework, crazy quilt