FEBRUARY, 2026

       Winter has arrived here in PA. We have had very cold days for weeks, then snow with ice on top. I can say many of us cannot wait for spring weather to arrive. It has never been so cold here for days on end, and it seems the same goes for all across the country. Who ever heard of Florida getting snow. It happened this year. I guess our weather is changing and we are going into a cold, ice time.

      Other changes have been happening on the business front. Mirabilia is re-releasing Lady of the Flag and Queen of Freedom for America's 250th Anniversary as many of you are aware. They had antisipated shipping the end of January, but now expect to ship in February. As we have stated for months, items coming from Europe are taking longer than usual due tariffs and high postage rates. The same goes for some designers from Italy and France sending their products to our county. Mill Hill has had bead issues for months, Kreinik has had issues as well in supplying their floss. Again, all of their products come from overseas. Our craft is based overseas with most, if not all products, manfactured overseas, except patterns by U.S. designers. Again, please order well in advance to avoid any disappointment. We order as soon as our stock runs low and then we are at their mercy to send restocks. This past holiday season, we had packages stuck all across the country, and as of today, we still are missing a package from December 3rd that was stuck in New Jersey. These things happen when weather conditions cause shipping delays. Everyone's patience is appreciated. Some delays are beyond our control - we cannnot change the weather.

       We are still adding patterns to our 1/2 Price sale as we continue doing inventory. Any item with a counter means once it sells out, it will

not return no matter if it is still available or not from other companies. We are trying to make room for new releases that will be coming from our Nashville Market in March. Also, if you take a look under our What's New tab, you will see some new fabric colors in 14 Ct. and 16 Ct. Aida, and 28 Ct. and 32 Ct. Linen. Remember Zweigart and Wichelt have an array of lovey colored fabrics - you do not always need a hand-dyed fabric even if a pattern states that is what the designer used. Sometimes think out of the box. If you ever look at our shop models, I don't always use what the designer recommends - in fact, sometimes as was the case with the monthly series from The Cricket Collection. I not only changed the background, but I also changed the monthly letter color. We know the price of products used in our craft is at times becoming cost effective. If need be, change a floss color  or fabric, no one cares. Counted cross stitch is a hobby for you to enjoy.

     Now on to some of the new releases that arrived last month

(**signifies New Designer)

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LES PETITES CROIX DE LUCIE released VALENTINE SHEEP , plus Balloons Bear, Lovers in the Rain, Steapunk Valentine, Romantic Couple,

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CUPID SPOOL is from CRAFTY BLUEBONNET DESIGNS who also released Heart with Stripes Spool, and Lovely

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS & NEEDLES released SNOW BUTTONS & PILLOW as well as Love & Hearts

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TEACHERS INSPIRE is by IMAGINATING who also released Sagittarius and Boo-Tastic Friends

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DIRTY ANNIES released LOVE NOTES plus Ace of Hearts, Valentine Tiny Tags, Hello Autumn, Hello Summer, Hello Spring, Hello Winter, St. Patrick's Tiny Tags, and Cat Tarot V - Wheel of Fortune

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PANSIES SEED PACK from IT'S SEW EMMA who also released The Quilted Farm Girl, and Silent Night

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SHAMROCK BISCORNU ORNAMENTS is presented by KITTY & ME who release Colorful Cats Jubilee, and Bible Bookmarks

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CROSS STITCHING ART released Nivara, Queen of the Frozen Quiet, plus Silent Night Loving Arms, Miriel, and Elira

12 MONTHS WITH ROMY & SANDY - FEBRUARY BISCORNU by FAIRY WOOL IN THE WOODS who also released Magical Year 2026 - February Gnome, Food Supervisor, and March Biscornu

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