This month we have kits from Bothy Threads, Anchor and Heritage Crafts; patterns from Nora Corbett and Drin at Bella Filipina.
There's also news for customers in the EU.
Kits
Bothy Threads` Winter 2023 collection is now available. We're featuring the new Wrendale Designs, Birds by Madeleine Floyd and Bees by Eleanor Teasdale as well as embroideries. The new look kits come in cardboard boxes and are complete with wooden hoops.
Bothy have updated their Kings and Queens kit and have cleverly squeezed in King Charles III. They're running out of space now so we'll be interested to see what happens when William takes over the reins (or should that be reigns?)
Anchor have new four blackwork kits in two pairs, bee and moth, circles and triangles. These are all on 14 count Aida and two of them have French knots.
Winter Forest - cross stitch kit by Elaine Serenum
New introductions from Heritage Crafts are a lovely new Elegance lady by John Clayton and two exciting designs from the artwork of Elaine Serenum one of which is illustrated (we couldn't not have a Hare somewhere!).
Patterns
Nora Corbett has returned to flowers with her latest two patterns Orange Princess and Angelique Tulip. She also has added another Winter Greenhouse.
Some of her earliest Flower Fairy designs have been discontinued Poppy, Lilac and Rose so far. Hopefully that will be all for a while.
Drin of Bella Filipina's latest design is titled Phoenix Queen. We have all the required beads on order and hope to make up the bead pack when those come in. Unfortunately, Mill Hill are still very slow at despatching and their beads are still taking a month to arrive after ordering.
The Nashville Needlework Market is on from 3rd to 5th March, so there should be a flood of new designs available later this month and in April. Perhaps in next month's newsletter ...
New Book
It's been a while since we featured a proper hardback book so we're delighted to see they're still being produced!
We're sorry it's only available to our UK customers this is because it's so heavy and shipping overseas would be prohibitively expensive!
Needles
Our John James needle supplier has informed us that some sizes and types have been unavailable for months in particular tapestry size 24 which is the most popular for cross stitch. The problem seems to be with the packaging. Somewhere there must be a mountain of size 24 tapestry needles.
Prices
DMC floss wholesale prices are going up soon. We will hold our prices until April when unfortunately we will have to revise them.
Overseas shipping charges have been hiked several times recently (for the same reasons as your energy bill whatever those reasons might be) and that's why our prices have been going up.
EU Customers
Jim has been tearing his hair out for the past few months trying to find a solution to the problem of EU imports. We've seen all kinds of problems over the past year from our products being misclassified as dangerous goods by one EU country (!) to postal strikes to a collapse of Royal Mail's IT systems so we couldn't send overseas anyway.
We think we've now got over most of it and we'll be installing a new system for EU customers this weekend. Our shopping cart will calculate and collect tax at the time you purchase so you won't be charged extra when it gets to your country's Customs. We hope this will also speed the Customs clearance process. The tax our cart collects is sent to your own government and you should get an invoice/receipt by email.
One word of warning although we've tested it out its internals are hugely complicated and it could all go horribly wrong! We may have to withdraw it quickly if that happens. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
And Finally
Our title is from a poem of the same name by one of our favourites Emily Dickinson, the prolific American poet who lived from 1830 to 1886.
«Dear March - Come in
How glad I am
I hoped for you before
Put down your Hat
You must have walked
How out of Breath you are
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest
Did you leave Nature well
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me
I have so much to tell »
How ingenious to think of a month as a living person - and how pleasant it would have been to visit Emily and hear her stories.
Don't forget to visit someone you haven't seen for a while it's such a pick-me-up, especially for an older friend or relative.
In the meantime, enjoy your stitching and be happy as a March Hare.
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"I have received my chart I ordered yesterday ,what excellent service 24 hour from placing order to receiving the chart. I will certainly use your company again and pass your name on to like minded friends. Thank you" - VB, Yorks., United Kingdom
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