January 2004

In This Issue:

• Organize Your Supplies
• I Lost My Pattern
• New BCS Order Procedure
• Shop Spotlight:  Berlin Embroidery
• Free cross stitch chart

Order and Organization for 2004

I don't know about you, but it is always a challenge for me to keep my cross stitch kits and supplies organized so that I can easily find things while working.  Here are a few ideas if your New Year's resolution is to manage your supplies more efficiently:

•  Use a large binder with loose leaf floss insert pages (these may be purchased at any craft store) to manage your floss.  Start with the lowest DMC number and arrange all cards of floss by increasing number.
• When keeping floss on the skein, you can also purchase fabric pouches and organize them by color or by DMC floss number
• If you have numerous kits that were started by not finished (who doesn't??), keep all pictures and directions together (a file cabinet with hanging files works great) but lay the partially stitched fabric flat in a drawer
• Kit management -- Pull out all the colors you need for the current kit you are working on and use a plastic sectioned storage box only for the colors you need in that kit.  It's much quicker to find what you're looking for when stitching.
• Inventory your colors.  Keeping an ongoing shopping list of colors as you run out of them or periodically checking for floss colors that you run low on saves time in the end.  There is nothing worse than sitting down to stitch and realizing that you are missing necessary colors.
• Label, label, label!  Whether you buy your own supplies or purchase kits with floss included, label your remaining colors so next time you need that particular color, it will be clearly marked and at your fingertips.  Consider that different dye lots produce different shades of color.  Start with a new skein if you will use much of the same color.
• And my golden rule:  If it takes longer than a minute to untangle it, THROW IT AWAY and start fresh!

Oh No!  I Left My Pattern on the Plane!

Some of you have written to us in desperation, looking for missing DMC symbol charts left on a plane or pattern designs left behind at a vacation rental.  Don't worry--we keep electronic copies of every page of each kit we design and can reproduce them when requested.  Contact us at andrea@blackcatstudios.net and provide us with the following information:  Your name, current mailing address, kit name and missing kit page.

We will be happy to forward you the information necessary to complete your kit.

BCS New Order Process

You may search pre-designs by category, or just click into individual titles from the "Shop Our Online Store" link on the web page header http://www.blackcatstudios.net/cgi-bin/Store/Store.pl.

Pre-designed kits may be ordered in two ways:

• Pre-Designed Kit Only:  Includes design chart, DMC symbol key, DMC floss length chart, instructions and color copy of the final design image; or
• Pre-Designed Kit with Fabric and DMC Floss:  Includes design chart, DMC symbol key, DMC floss length chart, instructions, color copy of the final design image, fabric of your choice and color (Aida, linen or Evenweave) and all DMC floss needed.

To order a custom kit, click the "Order Custom Kit" link on the web page header http://www.blackcatstudios.net/cgi-bin/Orders/Order.cgi and follow the instructions to complete the online form.

• Select the type of order (either custom kit or gift certificate)
• Fill out the required contact and shipping fields
• Select the kit information pertinent to your design (e.g., include fabric, type, count size, design size)
• Select order options (how quickly you need the order, include floss/fabric and shipping options)

Once this information has been chosen, you must select how the image will be sent to us.  Lastly, you will view an order summary and choose your preferred payment method to complete your purchase.

Shop Spotlight:  Berlin Embroidery

Berlin Embroidery Designs offers an inspiring web site showcasing a number of original handwork designs for purchase.  Some styles offered are Blackwork, Canvas Work, White Work, Goldwork, Shadow Work, Needle Painting, Modern and Traditional Jacobean patterns.  Commissioned designs are also available.

Owner/designer Tanja Berlin studied at the Royal School of Needlework in London and has taught classes at numerous guilds and seminars in Canada.  Tanja offers classes covering the techniques she features on her web site and will travel if there are groups interested in classes.  Free critiques and feedback are offered with any online kit purchase.

Supplies may also be purchased online through Tanja's web site.  Specialty threads, embroidery tools, papers, fabrics, goldwork supplies and other items are available.

Tanja may be contacted at:

Berlin Embroidery Designs

4923 Nelson Road NW

Calgary, Alberta T2K 2M1

CANADA

Phone:  (403) 274-6293

E-mail:  tanja@berlinembroidery.com

Web:  www.berlinembroidery.com

Download This Kit for Free!

Check out this link and download FREE a printable cross stitch design and symbol chart of this Valentine's Day heart to stitch for a loved one: http://www.blackcatstudios.net/free/Love/Love.html. 23 DMC floss colors are used in the design and the final stitch area is 7” wide X 9.6” high on 14 count Aida/28 count linen or Evenweave fabric.

If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear them.  Send us an e-mail at andrea@blackcatstudios.net.

Thanks for reading!

Archived Newsletters:

October 2003 Newsletter

July 2003 Newsletter

April 2003 Newsletter

January 2003 Newsletter