2020 Deliveries & Stash Acquisitions

[Roland]

I ordered 2 yards of Aida from a store I never heard of before....but it’s so hard to find stuff. It’s a small place, I think just the owner and 2 or 3 employees. Since crafters are all home crafting, their business is booming. When I placed my order I was told it would be about 2 weeks before they would get to it. That was June 1. It shipped today, so within the 2 weeks.

Even more impressive, the woman called me before shipping it. She said the shipping option I selected would cost about $30, or she could send it Express Post for about $20. Express usually takes about a week, but Canada Post is overwhelmed, so if it takes 2, I’m OK. But what an awesome way to run a business.

So, if anyone is interested here’s their web site.

https://www.traditionalstitches.com/

[Mabel Figworthy]

Always good to hear of companies with great customer service - and I like supporting small independent businesses!

[wendywombat]

Fantastic! Good small businesses deserve recognition.
Thanks for the link...but I expect postage to France would be higher and slower!!

[Roland]

I would guess it is Wendy.

And I didn’t find all their prices very good. This material was a good price, comparative to anywhere else I found it. But, I didn’t order the thread because it was to pricey. If I only needed one or two I would have, but I’m going to need a lot.

[rcperryls]

Don't know how the shipping would be coming to the states, but probably less than to France. Still, keeping small shops open when we can seems important to me. And with good customer service. I've added them to my bookmark of suppliers (as if I needed another one? then again, never too many ) I find that is more to the extremes in our current environment. Either outstanding service or so poor that it is hard to believe it is just from overwork or just not caring. Fortunately, I've had more of the positive than the negative experiences.

Carole

[Squirrel]

Great to know about this great wee shop and I hope they continue to prosper.
I made the mistake of looking at some of the designers I know, especially Sweetheart Tree, but thankfully the price plus the exchange rate to downunder is far too much. I must stay away from Sweetheart Tree - - - I must stay away.

[Serinde]

Hard, isn't it? They do some gorgeous designs. I bought one 2nd-hand (charity shop, I think), but they no longer support the design with their special bags of bits and ribbons. However, I'll think of something, I guess, cuz it's lovely.

[Mabel Figworthy]

It's not stitching stash, I know - but as we have a "what's for dinner" thread as well as a pub, I hope it qualifies

Early anniversary present: a 30cm Le Creuset shallow cast-iron casserole

[richardandtracy]

My mum had a La Creuset set. I hated them. Always burnt my fingers & they were so heavy she could barely lift them - the food went on the floor more than once.

Regards,

Richard

[Roland]

I love that Mabel. Looks very similar to my favourite roasting pot, which is the same colour but a different brand. Can’t remember what brand.

[Squirrel]

I am sure it will provide excellent cookery times and yummy food. Love the colour.

[Serinde]

I love la Creuset -- yes heavy (I've never dropped one, but there's still time!). Does the job.

[wendywombat]

I have one of those!! Love it!
Yes it's heavy, but it is a fantastic pot. Goes oven to table as well and keeps the food hot. Especially useful when there's more than just us eating and friends come around.

I also have a fry pan and lidded oval casserole dish the lid of which can be used as a shallow dish. All in that Super ORANGE!

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'd have preferred a different colour (in spite of being Dutch ) but this one was on special offer and about £40 less expensive than the next colour up

[richardandtracy]

I do feel that La Creuset is needlessly injuring users. An elementary health & safety assessment of the handles on the lid or side of the pan would flag them up as items that can get hot, and they are designed to be held. This suggests someone, somewhere, will inevitably burn themselves (me included). Is there a material that can be used that will not conduct heat to fingers? Every other pan manufacturer can find one, and I can think of three after a few seconds thought (one of which is an ovenproof machinable engineering ceramic with such low conductivity that it can be held without burning when glowing red hot), so why can't they? I think they are opening themselves up to legitimate law suits for injuries due to avoidable design mistakes.

Regards,

Richard

[wendywombat]

I'd have preferred a different colour (in spite of being Dutch ) but this one was on special offer and about £40 less expensive than the next colour up

When I bought mine the orange was at the reduced price. As I had 2 other pans in that colour I was happy.
The Original Creuset Pots were All in that colour...no other choice.

I take Richards point about health and safety...But have to say that when operating an oven and cookware Heat is to be expected!!

In the UK Health and safety has become so that no one can do or enjoy anything without wearing a hard hat or a safety net!
In France we are expected to take responsibility for our own safety.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Having been reminded by the butterfly that there are some forms of stumpwork I do actually enjoy I decided to get some more paper-covered wire from Sarah Homfray. But the postage seemed a bit much for just two bags of wire so of course I had to add a few things... The soft string is for goldwork padding, and the reel is silver Jap for couching.

[Serinde]

You don't need to explain yourself to us, Mabel... Did you tell Sarah H. about your new butterfly? Hope so, as I'm sure she'd be delighted.

[richardandtracy]

...In the UK Health and safety has become so that no one can do or enjoy anything without wearing a hard hat or a safety net!
In France we are expected to take responsibility for our own safety.

Much of the H&S stuff is as a result of EU Directives applicable across the EU. It's just that some states choose to ignore what they don't like & others implement it even if they don't like it.



We have just received a package of thread & fabric for a project my wife wants to start. Our vicar is leaving in August to go to a job in her home town of Sunderland when she becomes a Team Rector. It has the advantage for her of being near her parents, Aunts, Uncles, Nephews, Nieces and any of the remaining tribe I haven't mentioned. One of her new Parishes is the one 'The Venerable Bede' spent most of his life in, and it is also the site where the oldest bit of Stained Glass in the UK has been found. So, in one of her moments the vicar sketched up a map of the 5 parishes as if it were stained glass. Tracy got me to convert it into a tiny (70 x 70) project with 11 colours and she wants to stitch it up before August as a little leaving present. Anyway, she ordered the bits and they came yesterday. I spent all evening gridding it for her so there are minimum chances of getting it wrong.

I have my doubts whether Tracy will manage it, and I suspect I'll have to finish it. The reason I doubt..? Tracy has been doing her first cross stitch project, a bookmark, for 9 years now and it's not quite finished. Admittedly most of it has been done since the start of lockdown, but 9 years for a bookmark...

Regards,

Richard

[Mabel Figworthy]

Ah, but she has a good incentive here - to get it done in time to say goodbye and thank you to a valued pastor!