January, 2025

             Happy New Year. I have been reflecting how our craft has changed over the years. When I opened my shop 41 years ago, there was very few colors of fabric - White, Antique White, Ivory, and Natural as well as not the array of counts. DMC was the floss of choice. Mill Hill beads were offered in tubes rather than blister packs. Zweigart and Charles Craft fabrics were the only fabric suppliers. Patterns were charted by hand. Over the years computer charting has became the norm, hand-dyed floss came on board, and now hand-dyed fabrics seem to be the fabric of choice for many designers. Even patterns changed with many not as detailed as offered in the past. Some designers are also offering PDF's - meaning you order the pattern and print on your own computer. What many stitchers do not realize is that most of the supplies we use in our craft now come from overseas - fabrics, floss, scissors, beads, kits, and more. Even many patterns now since overseas designers are selling their wares in the U.S. If you purchase something hand-dyed, most likely the fabric or floss as well as the dye comes from overseas. What changes have been made.

            Recently, we were notified that Cheryl Walker of Graphs by Barbara and Cheryl as well as CW Designs passed away on December 7th. Her family has elected to shut her business, so we placed counters on all of her patterns that we still have in stock. Many are lovely detailed historical buildings located in our southern states such as Rainbow Row located in Charleston, S.C.

             On our business front - nothing changed. Still Gloriana floss is slow in arriving, and The Gentle Art has found that some dye colors they use have been discontinued - meaning Garden Gate is going to possibly change once they combine dyes to make the color again. Mill Hill is still behind in sending restock kits due to perforated paper, beads, and button issues. Lakeside is slow. Kreinik is still working on getting up and running timely since the company was sold and spools will be phased out with floss colors arriving on cards. The only good I have to report is Picture This Plus is now only taking a few months for restocks to arrive. Many designers send fast, but there are those who do not. Same goes for distributors that restock timely while some do not. We keep a very good stock, but do sell out and then need restocks to arrive. Again, we only charge the day of shipping and only for what we send. If we know something was shipped to us, but taking longer than we like to a rive, then we charge for the whole order and send the back order once it arrives. We pay for the back order shipping. We hate delays, but this is the norm for now. We can only hope as the year progresses supplies will arrive more timely - only time will tell. With Winter comes ice and snow here and across the country. This will also impact our shipments. Just remember, always order in advance giving time for your order to arrive.

**Lastly - Mark your calendars - December Stitches Trunk Show will be on display in our shop in February - more info will be forth coming.**

     Now on to some of the new releases that arrived last month

(**signifies New Designer)

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VALENTINE'S DAY WORD TREE is from PRIMROSE COTTAGE STITCHES who also released Valentine's Day Quilt, Valentine's Day Alphabet, Home Sweet Home, Winter Forest, and a Home Sweet Home Needle Minder

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WINTER WISHES is by ERICA MICHAELS who also released Peace On Earth

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WINTER"S BLESSING is from WILDFLOWER STITCHING who also released

Peace Bauble

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RAVENS IN WINTER is from TWIN PEAK PRIMITIVES as well as a Caroling of Bunnies, and Frozen World Quaker

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THE CUPID SAMPLER is from CHERRY HILL STITCHERY who also released Luna

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A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES Is from MY BIG TOE DESIGNS who also released Strength and Portion, Quaker Wool and Flax, and Home

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WILD ROSE LANE - FEBRUARY BLOOMING ROOTS Is from STITCHING WITH THE HOUSEWIVES as well as Word Swap - Snowman,

and Let Us Adore Him

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HOT COCOA SEASON is presented by SHANNON CHRISTINE DESIGNS plus Season's Tweetings, Deer Mug, Dash of Cheer, Hot Cocoa Weather, Nutcracker Collection, Christmas Nest, Enchanting Deer, Enchanting Snowman, Enchanting Tree, Snowman Joy, Holly Wreath, and many more

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KIRALYN'S NEEDLEARTS released VALENTINE FARM as well as

Appliqued Hearts

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MARY ANN GROOM 1876 is presented by HANDS ACROSS THE SEA SAMPLERS plus Dorothy Bryant 1892

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WINTERY ENCOUNTER is by FABY RIELLY DESIGNS as well as Winter Floral Bunting

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ROSE LEJEUNE 1900 is by JAN HICKS plus A Really Good Day,

and CRS 1713- Part 4

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VALENTINE'S DAY GINGERBREAD HOUSE by from DIRTY ANNIE'S who also released November Gingerbread House

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CHRISTMAS - A TIME OF GIVING GNOME is by MARNIC DESIGNS as well as Merry Christmas Hat Gnome, and Christmas Tree Hat Gnome

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ALESSANDRA ADELAIDE presents FLOR DI STELLA as well as Respect, Wolf Portrait, and New Year is Coming

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HAPPY LIFE SET: CHRISTMAS SET #1 is by JEANETTE DOUGLAS DESIGNS

who also released Christmas Set #2

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