Mail Order

Hey Blog Buddies,

Do you ever get your stitching supplies by mail order?  I use the term loosely, because sometimes the stuff comes by UPS or FedEx.  Maybe from one of the needlework stores which has a big on-line presence and a glitzy website?   I know I have, and you probably have, too.  And it's great fun surfing these sites, looking at the pretty photos of merchandise and putting an item or three into your virtual cart.  I have shopped at these sites in the past, and more than likely will continue to do so.

But let me tell you about my experience this past week--and I am going to name names.  A certain chart had caught my eye, and I also needed to price out some evenweave fabric for a class for next year.  So I called The House of Stitches.  I have gone to them before with funky requests, such as 30-count Onyx linen by WDW, and they have never not had the item in stock.  I prefer the telephone for two reasons:  I can instantly know whether or not they have the item I'm looking for and, quite frankly, their website is a wee bit clunky.  Within a minute of their answering the phone, I found out that they had:

...the chart that I was looking for...

...and they were able to kit it up for me...

...the called-for 36-count buttercream linen

and all the over-dyed floss

all wrapped up in a pretty ribbon.

They didn't have to do that.

But I was really impressed--

it's the little things...

...and I got a free chart!

I don't even get free charts when

I make a personal appearance

at my LNS...

...and the evenweave I was inquring about?

...they sent me samples

of all the different types

that they have in stock

(with pricing info) on a little card.

And yes, that's a handwritten

thank-you note next to it.

I get one of those

every time I place an order.

You don't get those

at the "big box" stores!

They usually ship the order

the same day that I call,

so I get my goodies

in 2 or 3 days, tops.

I have only one complaint

about the House of Stitches.

It's a 120-mile round-trip drive

from my house.

I'd love to go there

on a weekly basis

and be able to

fondle all their merchandise!

But this is the next best thing.

And they only add

the cost of the postage--

no "handling" charges.

And, no, I'm not related to the owner

or anyone who works there.

Now for a quick update on the

Laura J. Perin needlepoint ornament

that I started this week.

It's a quick and fun stitch.

Well, the metallic ribbon

does slow me down,

but it contributes a lot to the look.

If I were making an ornament

to hang on a tree, this would be a 

good stopping point because

it's a good size (about 3" x 3").

But I have other plans for it,

so I'll continue on and stitch the entire

4.5" x 4.5" ornament.

Hope you were able to stitch this weekend.

Thanks for visiting!