FIBERWORKS - THE FLYING NEEDLE
March 2007 319-352-5464 Vol. 14 No. 3
Out of local area use 1-800-307-4103, Fax# 319-352-4897, E-mail fiberworks@forbin.net
Hours: Tue - Fri 10:00 - 6:00 (Thurs till 8:00), Sat 9:00 – 5:00 www.myfiberworks.com

The Great Egg Hunt: This is a new Waverly merchant promotion. Come in to participating stores and find an egg for a surprise, bargains, or who knows what! This is coming immediately on Thurs – Sat – March 29-30. Look for in-store specials.

Blocks of the Month: It is never too late to jump in and join the Thimbleberries House and Garden club. The 4th mailing will go out next week to those club members from afar. We also have a couple of Blizzard Bunch kits available if you like adorable snowmen. Give us a call.

Love to Shop Hop Trail Coming: Please visit the six shops in our hop for our spring event. Dates are Thurs, April 19th – Sat, April 21st. Join us for 20% off quilting fabric and patterns, a mystery pattern, fun, and door prizes. Load up a van and hit the road!

Punch Needle Trunk Show: We will have models in the store from Lizzie Kate’s punched design collection. If you’ve wondered what this technique looks like, here’s your chance from April 13th – 28th. Choose your favorite piece and enter the drawing for a chance to win a free pattern.

On-line Needlework Show: If you’ve ever wanted to experience a taste of market this is your chance to see many products from many designers/vendors. Patterns, canvas, threads, kits, and fabric are some of the items that will be at needleworkshow.com. Mark your calendar to go on line and see if there is anything you’d like to have and let me know by noon on Monday, April 23rd. You can email or leave a message on the answering machine on the days we’re not open. While you can’t buy directly on the show, there is a visitors link and opportunity to sign up for door prizes. Begins the evening of April 18th. Look often.

Free patterns: Thanks to Erica Michaels and Dreams of Stitches for the second of a series of 5 called Homegrown Lessons. Total design size of combined patterns is 124 x 124.

Our Needles’ Work – Prairie Rose Chapter of E.G.A. Exhibition is on April 14 & 15 from 1:00-5:00. Admission $2.00. Community Center, 528 Main Street, Cedar Falls, IA.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY:
Shop owners who belong to our professional organization, TNNA, can use a chat group to ask for unusual or singles of items we don’t have in stock, discuss various issues of our trade, etc. My concern is based on the news that at least six stores have announced they are closing for various reasons in the last two months. We had a February with a Midwest ice storm that put many out of power for up to a week resulting in few customers coming in. It causes me to write this letter’s editorial. Each holiday I include a thank you to customers we have served through the year by saying “Without you, we would not be here.” I cannot emphasize this enough. Any LNS needs the support of those people close enough to come in and shop. I know many people don’t have access to a LNS and must use whatever method they can to get supplies (see our web site above ?). While we rely on orders from our on line shopping cart customers, I cannot tell you how many times people have come in and told me about what they have bought elsewhere. Some of these items we have had, some not. IF you want to keep a place where you can go to touch and feel, actually see colors up close and personal, get advice or help with stitching techniques, finishing, changing colors, adapting patterns, or talk to someone who can answer your questions, then please ask if your LNS can get things you want before ordering randomly online. I know how easy it is to click the “add to cart” button when you find something you like, but most items are not one-of–a-kinds that necessitate an immediate purchase. If you ask your shop to order for you, please realize they probably have a budget for purchases and you may need to wait a few weeks for your product to come in. Ask for an estimate of delivery time. All distributors and some direct order designers have a minimum order amount that must be meant to avoid an extra surcharge. Some vendors are slow to send their products after an order is placed. We may have just placed an order with the company you need. Sometimes things are not in stock at the source and need to be re-ordered, usually meaning another minimum order needs to be placed. (We don’t find out what is missing until the order is actually delivered.) Another factor that can affect delivery is freight costs. With ever escalating shipping costs, ordering one thing is not feasible, as the postage may be higher than the cost of the item. If you have patience, plan ahead, and give your LNS a flexible time frame within which to work, they can probably get most things in a reasonable amount of time. If your LNS cannot or chooses not to order an item, for whatever reason, they will let you know. This may sound like I’m venting, and maybe I am, but mostly it is a plea to those who have one, to support their LNS, if you want it to continue to be there for you.

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Class Schedule: One half of the class fee is required at the time of registration to hold your place. Please register at least two weeks in advance of scheduled dates to allow for ordering of supplies in time for class. All fees include supplies and instruction unless otherwise noted. Please add 7% tax to fee if you mail it in. There are no refunds for class fees once I have ordered supplies, but you may reschedule a makeup time at your convenience.

Sat. Apr 14th 10:00-12:00 – Beginning Stamped Heart: A very easy stamped design that will use cross stitch, lazy daisy, french knots and stem stitch on white. Your choice of floss colors in class. You can use this knowledge to progress to ribbon embroidery- great to add zip to clothing. Class Fee = $12.50. Bring a 4” or 5” hoop to class.

Thur. Apr 26th 9:30–12:00 or 6:00-8:30 P.M. – Beginning Hardanger: Starburst by Roz Watnemo is done on an 18 count Anne cloth square with overdyed Watercolour and Wildflower. This is a fun and easy to see piece to learn the basics of this lovely Norwegian cutwork technique. You will do satin blocks, cutting, weaving and filling stitches (choice of color at registration). Design will fit nicely in an 8” x 8” frame or can be used as a small doily. Class Fee = $20.00. Bring small embroidery scissors to class.

Sat. Apr 28th 9:00-12:00 – Flower Patch Runner: This runner from G. E. Designs is a quilt as you go piece. After assembling a few sets of three fabrics, you will actually be sewing them together on top of your batting and backing. When these are all sewn together your runner will be done except for the binding. An excellent beginner project. Kit includes top, backing and batting. Class Fee: $36.00. Bring sewing machine, rotary cutter, ruler and neutral thread to class. Finished size is 14 ½” x 43 ½”.

Thur. May 3rd 10:00-12:00 or 6:00-8:00 P.M. – Beaded Celtic Knot: This small piece is surface embroidery with beads to form a pretty little knot design. It is worked on Ultra Suede with seed beads and may be finished into a pin to wear. Choice of color combination in class. Class Fee = $16.00.

Sat. May 5th & May 12th 9:00-12:00 – Channa B Band Sampler: This is intermediate level design by Iona Dettelbach is done on 14 count canvas with a variety of threads from Rainbow Gallery. Silk, cashmere, velvet, over-dyed cotton, nylon filled with metallic threads are used to stitch this piece that is 6” x 16” finished size. There are eleven rows of different charted needlepoint stitches using these fun threads. Colors are beige and light greens with blue and burnt orange accents. If you want to use different colors you must come in at least two weeks before class to pick as it takes multiple cards of some.
Class Fee = $62.00. You will need either stretcher bars or a scroll frame. (Two session class.)

Thur. May 10th & May 17th & May 24th 6:00-8:30 P.M. – Log Cabin Sampler: This design by Carole Lake is done on easy to see 25 count Lugana stitched over two threads. It has a large variety of specialty stitches: long arm cross, vee, diamond ray, eyelet, trellis, griffin, monteregrin, symrna, waffle tied, feather and darning to mention a few. What a great learning piece to add to your stitch repertoire. Color choice of background and floss at registration. This uses four shades of two colors plus an accent and bead color.
Class Fee = $42.50. (Three session class.)

Sat. May 19th 9:00-12:00 – Tulip Bells Table Runner: Southwind brings a look of cathedral windows style in this design of three tulip bouquets. You choose three color and a background to match your décor. Finished size is 42 ½” x 15 ½”. Kit includes top, pattern and instruction. You will add your own batting and backing. Class Fee = $31.00

WHAT’S NEW! – Here’s a few:
Kits: Just Nan – pre-order now Lady Scarlet’s Secret Garden stitching accessory for May delivery (the first run is sold out); Heart in Hand – Pink Heart, 2007 Collector’s Heart; Sweetheart Tree – Lavender Radiance, F is for Friends and Flowers, Sparkling Shamrocks, Classical Roses; Mill Hill – Outside the Box series – Dad’s Day; Bent Creek – Autumn & Spring Ewe Zippers; Trilogy: Frightfully Fun, Flower Power, Egg Hunt; Lizzie Kate – Banner Year Spring Boxer; Shepherd’s Bush – Red Snowman, Snow For All, Flower Heart, Jingle, Ho Ho Ho, Live, Chill & Jingle Bags; M Designs – Checkered Love, Bunnies, Liberty, Halloween & Christmas; Hob Nobb – Doodles for leftover threads and fabric plus new Stitch ‘ems. Other stuff: Presencia sewing thread (nice), Crescent Colors silk; Delica seed beads, Novelty tape measures–chicken, cow +. Fabric: Baby Geniuses – two small quilts with brightly patterned squares already cut, easy to piece – bright colors stimulate baby’s learning; Maywood – He Loves Me II and Fuchsia – fabric and patterns.

QUILTING: Art to Heart: Winsome Baby; Thimbleberries: Sangria Splash, Making Your House a Home; Bear Paw: A Quilter’s Dozen (Runners), A Second Helping; J H Miller: French Braid Quilts; BH&G: Fabulous Fat Quarter Quilts; Leisure Arts: several.

CROSS STITCH: Mirabilia: Lady of the Mist, Crystal Symphony; Praiseworthy: Graduation Day; Homespun Elegance: Spring Rider, Delivering Snow; Eilzabeth’s Designs: Old Stone Church; Hillside Samplings: Party Pumpkin, Autumn Willow; La-D-Da: Tie that Binds; Calico Crossroads: St. Patty Kat, Funny Bunny; Sisters & Best Friends: Find My Keys, Noah; Blue Ribbon: Blue Velvet Inscription Sampler; Lizzie Kate: Flip It Bits Mar, Apr, May, Spring Crazy, Love Crazy; M Designs: America & Cherish Tree Ornaments; Stitcher’s Hands; Made in America, Bringing Easter Joy; Trilogy: Check It Out Ode to Snow; Sue Hillis: First Steps, Mother’s Apron; Glendon Place: Egg Elegance 1,2,3,4; Silver Lining: Grape Hyacinths; Full Circle: Posey Pocket with wool applique; Bent Creek: Red Thread Snappers; Waxing Moon: What Happens at Grandma’s; Val’s Stuff: Snowmen Short & Tall, Friends; Workbasket: IV Proverbs; With My Needle: Ackworth Friendship Book; Passione Ricamo: My Lady of the Snow; Long Dog: several French designed samplers including Paradigm Lost and Bristol Fashion.

OTHER: Hardanger: Loopy Lou – several elegant ones. Beading: Beaded Obsession I & III, Captivating Peyote, Art of Beadweaving; Jill Oxton – Beautiful Bracelets. Blackwork: Stitchin’spiration – Sisters Choice, Ordered Knots, All Twisted Up; Ink Circles – Blackstone Fantasy Garden. Other: Beginner’s Guide to Felting; 101 Ideas for Embroidery on Paper.

Happy Stitching!

 

Click on the spools to take you to the free pattern page!