Great reading for winter nights.

I can’t pay $100 +++ for the few wonderful rare books out there that cost that much.  If any of you ever want one, I will get it as a special order for you.

Books sales are strong right now, I have gotten a number of orders since Christmas.  I had an order today for 6 books including my 2 copies of Sherlee Lantz’s A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint.

It is going to cost me considerably more to replace them (fair warning).  I am also selling new books.  I seem to move a lot of the TNNA series of books on the basics of Needlepoint & Knitting.    I seem to sell less of the Embroidery book.  I have just ordered the Crochet book from this series.

I had a large backorder of Design Books pending from Search Press, they are finally on their way to me.

Here’s a surprise.  I think (I hope) the formerly discontinued A Perfect World in Ribbon Embroidery and Stumpwork by Di Van Niekerk is available again.  It was a frequent seller on NewNeedlepoint.com until they (so I was told) discontinued it.

I have ordered 5 copies, if they actually show up I will buy more before they disappear again.

I have some new book news.  Sandra Arthur’s 3rd book in her The Shapes of Needlepoint Series is at the publisher right now.  I have an order in to get a bunch.   Series 3 is Corners, Horizontals & Verticals.

Sharon G is also due to release her 2nd volume of her SENSE Series.  She says maybe March.  I think I will hold my breath (think that will work?)

I grew this lovely Amaryllis in my adorable bunny bowl.  I foreced it for the holidays but it only bloomed this week.  It is a pretty one but not a double.  

Want more news?   K is going to Houston for a job interview this coming week.  Yes, he promised me we would stay here.  Yes, I am getting too old to keep doing these moves every year or so (5 moves in 4 years)

The job is a good one, he would be directing a program and the pay offered is amazing.  Still,  do I want to live in (or outside Houston??)   The job is actually in Port Lacava, TX but the bosses recommend we live near Houston and he spends a day or 2 a week in Port Lacava.

I am pretty sure I agree with them, just from looking at it on Google Earth.

It is safe to say I am freaked out, bordering on hysterical.  K says he will not take it if I don’t want to go but I don’t see that as a path to future happiness either.

BUT (big but) it would mean 2 more moves,  to TX to a rental and then (maybe) to a house of our own.   They say is a permanent position but I know K.  I know K very well.

So, I will end this here,  just think of me as someone who has had the rug pulled out from under her…again.

Remember my excellent Thanksgiving plans with my son in Boston.  We never got there, despite leaving Tuesday rather then the usual Wednesday, we found the roads clogged with drivers in the pouring rain.

The road rage level was terrible (not to exclude my own husband’s tendency to get that way himself, when incited).  Ok, it took us 2.5 hours to get to Allentown, PA (usually 45 minutes or so) and K was *enraged*

So practical me suggested we stay in a hotel for the night, leave early am next day.  It was a very sensible idea (not to mention that the Sands casino in Allentown recently opened a hotel).

So, the next morning we get up 4 am and go.  It was still bad, pouring rain and heavy traffic.  We made it to the NJ border (much longer ride than it should have been) and gave up.  We came home.

We cooked a solitary turkey the next day (Thanksgiving) and my son and his GF went to her parents in CN.

OK,  We were coming up to Christmas.  So far, it was good and we were planning a small New Years Eve party with our regular group of Saturday night poker players etc when my Dad called early one mornng.

My Mom had fallen & broke her arm.  Now, I need to give you a little background on my Mom.  She is 82 (had me at 20) and has never been really sick, never been in pain.

Back then they put women to sleep to have babies (3) and she has had no illnesses.  The only pill she takes is bone density.

So, she tripped and fell on the tile kitchen floor.  MY Dad (87 and with a really bad back) could not lift her so they called the EMTs.  It turns out she broker her right arm, up very near the shoulder.

This is bad but it could have been worse.  She is left handed.  I guess they do not put a cast on a break there, just gave her a sling and told her not to move it.

She is in extraordinary pain.

My Dad took care of her the best he could but it was not (and never will be) right, he gets it all wrong (according to her).

My brother & his wife flew in from Switzerland (where they live) and stayed 5 days.  They did for her, cooked & cleaned etc.  (yes, my folks have cleaning help but my mother wants the beds made every day ..tucked in even with wool blankets, does anybody do that anymore?)

They could not stay, my sister-in-law is a teacher in Switzerland (my brother organizes & runs ski races).

So…I flew down.  It was good but hard.  My mother is not an easy patient or a good patient either but I did my best and made her more comfortable.

I took over all my Dad was doing and more.  I was glad to do it.

I received a number of good  NewNeedlepoint orders while I was in Florida (I know, you think FL in winter, not too bad…but still…..)

K packaged them (not too badly either I am told by a customer. I apologized in advance to everyone for his packing) and the few orders that needed me there I asked the buyers if they could wait.  Everybody was very nice about it and sent my Mom best wishes.

So, I am home now but not sure for how long.  The therapist told my Mom it will hurt for 4-7 more weeks.  She finds it hurts even more after therapy (oh dear).

So, that was my Holiday season.  New Years Eve I made my folks & me Mom’s recipe Macaroni & Cheese (she can’t cut anything she is eating) and went to bed at 10pm.

This cartoon pretty much describes it all

I am working listing new stuff. First I am finishing up the replacement books (the ones I have anyway, you all keep buying them and I never catch up).

No word yet on when or if I have to go back to my folks in FL.

K is installing the backsplash in the kitchen, finally. It is thin pieces of what I guess you call a porous marble with a polished finish. I was going to do one of those wonderful glass tile etc designs but they are or will be trendy, in the end.

I went with a neutral and then ordered some smashing (if I don’t say so myself) outlet & switch covers for above the counter.

Of course, I am reading. I was a reader & fan of Christopher Hitchens work. I was sad to hear of his death on December 15, 2011. Not that I had not been expecting it, he has written about his mortal illness as it went.

In his last article for Vanity Fair he argued against the old saying “anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. He had come to believe that was not true. I am in agreement with him (as usual) since I also think that cliche’ is not true.

I had been reading his books on my iPad.

Look for some (finally) new stuff to (finally) show up on NewNeedlepoint…finally

Happy New Year

And days go by.  I am handing you this philosopical (I know this is spelled wrong, I just can’t figure out why) pile of bull because it has been since before Thanksgiving since I wrote here.  Bad Dog.

The odd thing is I like writing here, for this…so why do I put it off?

Our big deal Thanksgiving trip to spend the holiday with my son & Polly was a washout, literally.

We left here Tuesday afternoon, around 1.  It was gray & raining.  We hoped to do the drive that night, get in 1-2am, had a hotel room waiting.

K likes night (or very early morning) driving, less dodderers & minivans.  It took us 2.5 hours to get to Allentown (should be 50 min to 1 hour).  OK, not good and K was having some anger issues at the terrible traffic.

I suggested we stay at a hotel and wait the rain & traffic out.  We did not really want to drive on the day before Thanksgiving but we figured to leave at 4am, get through NY early.  After that the Ma Pike is always (mostly) doable.

Ok, again.  We get up 4am and go.  Still raining and still very heavy traffic.  Takes us another 3 hours to get to the NJ state line.  K simmering, close to boiling over.

I said “enough” we turned around and went home.  Called son who was very upset, as were we.

Eric (son) made a quick change and they went to Polly’s family in CN.   That would have been a good solution, so they would not be alone however Eric had worked until 2am, closing the restaurant he works at (he is sous chef)the night before and was exhausted, it had been a very busy night.

He was nodding off driving to CN, fortunately Polly is a smart woman, she took no guff from him and she drove. Still, he was tied and draggy all day (he says).

We cooked a nice little turkey, had a fire and watched a movie.  Quiet OK day.

We did go up there the weekend after.  Easy drive.

NewNeedlepoint.com had a run on new books until a few days ago.  People with men’s names (oh gosh) were ordering many of the new books, even a few very rare used books.

I sold several copies A Perfect World in Ribbon Embroidery & Stumpwork by Di VanNiekerk.  I have just 1 left and then there are no more.  The stopped publishing this book and I believe I have bought up and sold most of the remaining new copies.

That keeps happening, as I have mentioned (ranted) about several times before.   A book get “moving” and people become aware of it and begin buying it, but it is too late and they stop printing the book (or the distributers stop carrying it….but when that happens I can usually find it elsewhere).

I have a question, or am soliciting opinions from my readers (all 2.5 of you).  I have a NewNeedlepoint.com dilemma.

For a long time now I have sold these very nice Mighty Bright L.E. D. Floor lights with Magnifers.

Each lamp has 4 groups of 3 lights (for a total of 12 LED lights) surrounding the magnifying area in the center.  The light can be used as just a magnifier, Just a light or both at once.  Versatile and at a good price.

I was asking $85.00 for it and a $10.00 shipping surcharge.  (Otherwise nn.com is free shipping but UPS ground for this is usually between 16 & 19 dollars).

I sold quite a few of them, once we got past the questions and complaints about the surcharge.  

According to my web site counters, this lamp was the second most looked at item on my web site.

Then UPS rates went up (as did USPS).  The last 2 Mighty Bright Lamps I sold cost me $24 and some change (I forget the exact amount and am too lazy to look through all my invoices).

At that amount of shipping I am not making enough to make it worth doing.  They are my only UPS ship item so it is a special trip & special packaging (I think I sold a lot of them because I sell them for less, DOH)

So, I have to either raise their price by $10.00, double the surcharge (from $10 to $20) or stop selling them permanently  (I am now out and have not yet ordered anymore).

I am not sure what to do.

Any ideas or advice?

Everything else is good, I love living in our new house, the renovation seems to be ok, no leaks or problems of course the main drain backed up but that was an delayed reaction, mostly from before us.  No harm or damage done.

I love the firplace but no one loves it as much as Jack The Cat does.  He is still right there anytime there is a fire.

I am still reading, reading, reading on my iPad.  I am mixing NewYork Times bestsellers & notable books with my regencies.  Re-visiting some of my Georgette Heyer (and buying them again for the iPad).

This is going to sound funny….I am pretty happy (more or less….is this enough qualifiers?)

Eric, because he is a Sous Chef and black friday is a big restaurant day too.  Polly, because she is “the new girl” and so, at the bottom of the holiday totem pole.

We are going to take Polly out to dinner Wednesday night at the restaurant where Eric works.  That should be fun.  He can come out and visit with us and make a big fuss over us.  

On Thanksgiving, none of us wanted them to cook a big dinner on their one day off so we are going to have Thanksgiving dinner at The Top Of The Hub.  It is a big deal restaurant in Boston.

Eric called his former head chef & mentor, Chef Bill who called a friend of his and we got a coveted 7pm reservation for 4.  

Eric & Polly are making a brunch Thursday morning (11ish, I love it).  I am bringing Perrier -Jouet champagne for Mimosas

This should be a terrific holiday.  

Thanksgiving is my favorite, it contains food, no gifts and is about being thankful and that I am.  It has been a ok year and I expect better next year.

Much Better…and the year after that maybe Grandchildren  (please).

This must be a big deal for me since I am leaving my brand new and spectacular Tempurpedic Electric Bed to do this.

Did I mention my bed not only has regular massage, it has something called “rolling massage”?    Sort of a nice wave like movement up & down the bed.

NewNeedlepoint.com had it’s first holiday sale today, that was fun.  I helped a woman find a book for a very experienced, very knowledgeable stitcher.   I suggested a few including my Margaret Boyles Bargello books but she chose  Di Van Nierkirk’s  A Perfect World in Ribbon Embroidery & Stumpwork.    A spectacular book made even more valuable by the fact it has been discontinued.  I have 2 copies left, they might be the last 2 copies anywhere.

They keep doing that, discontinuing books that sell well for me.

The Anna Crutchley Tassel Making books are gone and I can’t get anymore copies.  it was a good book and a fine seller.

I can only get Charted Monograms for Needlepoint & Cross-Stitch by Rita Weiss on the 2nd hand market now (and sadly, thinner “pamphlet type books” do not generally do well  2nd hand).  They are hard to find and I do not have any right now.

And this book,  The Complete Illustrated Stitch Encyclopedia.  This is an excellent stitch book.  When I learned they had discontinued it, I , right away, bought every copy I could find.  I have 5 new and 2 VG used copies of it .

I have ordered replacements for most of the Bargello & needlepoint books my Australian customer bought from me.  When I will get them listed is THE question.  I am slowly falling even further behind and I was already way, way behind.

I am pitiful.  

I just finished reading this years Man Booker Prize book The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.  A VG (haha, I am amusing myself) book.  Real.  I followed it up with Georgette Heyer’s  The Convenient Marriage.  It is not one of my very favorites but I thought it was due for a re-read in my amazing bed.  All good.

So, I wish everyone a lovely Thanksgiving.  Good food, company, feelings & comfort with no weight gain.  I will leave you with my picture of Jack The Cat mesmerized by the fireplace.  

I told you about the order from the lady in Australia, she all but cleaned out my Bargello books.   I do have replacements for some of them but they have to be photographed and the condition described, each book is individual and no 2 are in the exact same condition (having said that, I admit if a replacement book’s condition is close to that of the original, I will not re-photograph it, I will just list it, that does not often happen)

It was a huge order 22 rare/used books, 3 new books, 3 needleholders and 1 DMC travel roll (my last one, I am unsure if I should re-order them or not).  The shipping for the order came to $117, using Global Flat Rate Priority Mail.  I could not fit the last book, Shirlee Lantz’s famous A Pageant of Patterns for Needlepoint Canvas.  That book alone weighs 5 pounds and not only was there no room, there was a 20 pound per-box weight limit.  The USPS wanted $48 more to ship just that 1 book alone so I refunded her payment for that book.

I divided the shipping cost with her, as a token of my free shipping.  I paid about 25%, she paid the rest.

Among the books she bought were

The classic, famous & excellent Bargello: An Explosion in Color by Margaret Boyles

Also The Margaret Boyles Bargello Workbook

Dorothy Phelan’s UK version of her Bargello book called Florentine Canvaswork in Gift Quality condition.  The USA edition is called Traditional Bargello.

TrianglePoint by Shirlee Lantz,  despite it’s age, still a interesting & modern stitch similar to the basic bargello stitches

Barbara Muller’s Florentine Embroidery.  Originally published in German, this is a good translation of a great Bargello book.

Needlepoint & Pattern by Gloria Katzenberg, a steady seller here always

As well as Dorothy Kaestner’s Bargello Antics, 4 Way Bargello & her Bargello Needlepoint.  Both my Barbara Snook Bargello books, of course she bought Elsa William Bargello: Florentine Canvas Work and much more.

For new books she bought The Best Bargello Book by June McKnight

She bought Beautiful Bargello by Joyce Petschek and Bargello Revisited by Janet Perry.  I do not have more copies of either of those, right now.

She also bought both Sally Nicoletti books, Weaving Designs for Needlepoint & Japanese Motifs for Needlepoint, Janet Granger’s Miniature Needlepoint Carpets, Katherine Ireys The Encyclopedia of Needlepoint stitches and of course, Geometric Designs in Needlepoint by Mary Jaene Edmonds

This book is probably the most often sold book I list.

Anyway, I did all the customs forms & shipped them.  Since then I have been having something of a minor run on my remaining Bargello Needlepoint books.

My other copy of Florentine Embroidery by Barbara Muller.  Another 4 Way Bargello by Dorothy Kaestner to a lady in Maryland.   And then, yesterday, the surprise purchase.  

I have had Gigs Stevens’ Free Form Bargello for sale here almost from the very beginning of when I started selling books.  I thought it was (and it is) a fabulous book full of original ideas and contemporary ways to use Bargello.  In fact, I like this book so much I have a copy of it in my own collection.

I had despaired of anyone every buying it.  Bargello Books raced out of my web store constantly while this poor little book just sat there.  It was sad.

Then…TaDa…..a smart woman with great taste in stitchery from Los Angeles bought it.

So, now I have a bunch more replacements to re-list…as if I was not already behind enough.

It is my intention (here I fall over laughing at my own presumption) to begin listing some of the canvases & kits from the Baltimore show this week.  I know it is only Tuesday but I have hopes. However there might be a small problem with my getting anything done this week.

Of course, you don’t know this but I sleep on a wonderful Tempurpedic Memory foam mattress.  This is my 2nd one.  I love it so much that one the first one got funky (after years of use) I bought another.

Well, we were at the Mattress Store on Sunday buying a twin size mattress for the DayBed I set up in the guest room for a spare bed.  With all my photography equipment in there, there was no room for a bigger bed and I figured a day bed would do (more or less).

While I was paying, I saw a remote on the nice salesman’s desk.  It said Tempurpetic.  I grabbed it and asked, hope in my voice  ”does Tempurpedic make an adjustable electric bed now?”  

YES!  They do.

I bought it,  I did not even draw breath, I bought it (well, why not..my son is already through college & grad school…and I am getting older by the second).

So, they deliver & set it up today.  It is 5:53 am.  I have been awake for hours, too excited to sleep.  It may turn out that getting me out of my new fancy pants bed this week might be difficult.

Did I mention that it has head & foot lift, massage?  rolling waves massage?   Did I mention that I am old, old, old.

If you want me, I will be in bed.   Oh yes, I am reading Robert K Massie’s Biography of Catherine the Great.  Interesting book, not the slow slog I was afraid it might be.

Ok, so I will be reading in bed.

Whew.   Of course, she has cleaned out (almost) my Bargello categories.  I am going to have to find more of these books and list them (like I didn’t already have a mountain of books to list) but who’s complaining?   Not me.

Then I saw the bad news, the order was from someone in Australia.  Australia!. It is, as the nice lady at the Post Office explained to me, as far as anything can be from me in PA.  The erxact (almost) other side of the world.  This was right before I had to pay $32.00 to ship a $40 (my sale price) book to Australia.

So, what did I do.  I emailed her and asked if there was any possibility of anyone in the USA I could ship the books to.  Knowing that was hopeless, then they would have to pay the $200-$300 (or maybe more) it would cost to ship them.   I told her I would  refund her money, which I will when I hear back from her.

Below is what she bought. I have put in links, so you can see each of them in my web store, if you want to:

1 x Elsa Williams Bargello: Florentine Canvas Work ($25.00)    The classic Bargello book by the Master Teacher

1 x Bargello Antics by Dorothy Kaestner ($22.00)   An amazing 4-Way Bargello book, with patterns that could be followed (although maybe not be me).  Wonderful stuff.

1 x Bargello: An Explosion in Color by Margaret Boyles ($50.00)  Again, the classic Bargello book by THE Master Teacher & the book I used to teach myself Bargello

1 x First Printing: The New Needlepoint: Stitches and Designs by Margaret Boyles ($14.00)  Like me, she is clearly a fan of Margaret Boyles books.  This is more a Needlepoint book than a Bargello book

1 x The Margaret Boyles Bargello WorkBook ($18.00) Another Classic Bargello book, very easy to understand and use.  I did.

1 x The Best Bargello Book by June McKnight ($39.95)  A NEW BOOK   A June McKnight book is always a good book, this one is no exception

1 x 4 Way Bargello by Dorothy Kaestner, Revised Edition ($22.00)  Dorothy Kaestner is another major name in Bargello Needlepoint book, this is a book full of 4-ways I wish I could stitch (and I could if I was not always distracted & lazy)

1 x *Gift Quality* Bargello Needlepoint by Dorothy Kaestner ($25.00)  Again, Classic & terrific book

1 x Bargello Revisted by Janet Perry ($37.95)   NEW BOOK  interesting book my my friend, Janet Perry (who is famous)

1 x American Heirloom Bargello by Millie Hines ($18.00)  This book sell almost immediately when I have it in stock.  It is hard to find and harder to find in decent condition.  Navaho Rugs & American Quilt patterns.

1 x Needlepoint and Pattern by Gloria Katzenberg ($18.00) Another book I can’t keep in stock,.  Surprisingly, the designs are mostly Bargello based, a great book that is getting harder & harder to get.

1 x Bargello Magic by Pauline Fischer & Anabel Lasker ($18.00)  Not my favorite book but almost everyone else praises it.  I think I am too fussy, maybe

1 x Beautiful Bargello by Joyce Petschek ($24.95) NEW BOOK  Advanced Bargello patterns and an absolutely gorgeous Bargello book

1 x The New World of Needlepoint by Lisbeth Perrone ($18.00)  She Cancelled This One, Said She Already Had It.  Again, both Bargello & needlepoint written with Ms Perrone’s expertise

1 x Step by Step Bargello by Geraldine Consentino ($12.00)A real beginner’s book, impossible to find in good condition but I buy & sell it anyway in not so good condition, an important book for beginners

1 x *Gift Quality* Geometric Designs in Needlepoint by Mary Jaene Edmonds ($19.00)  This may be the most often sold book I have every listed.  It sells usually within a week of my re-listing it.  Getting more expensive each time I re-buy.  I love this book

1 x Mira Silverstein’s Guide to Upright Stitches ($16.00)  Useful Bargello stitch book, again almost always in lousy condition.  These are great books but they do not age well.

1 x Florentine Embroidery by Barbara Snook ($23.00)  Bargello from a good teacher

1 x The Craft of Florentine Embroidery by Barbara Snook ($16.00)  And again in a slightly different title, a different book

1 x *Gift Quality* Florentine Canvaswork by Dorothy Phelan ($20.00)  Another of my “core collection” of needlepoint book I used to learn it with and a member of my own collection of stitch books

1 x Trianglepoint by Sherlee Lantz ($24.00) This is a fascinating book, want to see some of my Triangle point?  This is one of my Bargello canvases

Remember when I had some email dialogue with Shirlee Lantz about the Trianglepoint corners.  It turns out she never went into that, so I fudged mine and it worked ok.

3 x DMC Needle Organizer ($2.75)  great tool, good price.  She bought 3

1 x DMC Travel Roll ($16.00)  Handy if you travel with your stitching (which I do)

1 x Japanese Motifs for Needlepoint by Sally Nicoletti ($18.00)  Very fine needlepoint design book

1 x Weaving Designs for Needlepoint by Sally Nicoletti ($13.00)   very interesting book, way before the current interest in Needle Weaving

1 x The Encyclopedia of Canvas Embroidery Stitches by Katharine Ireys ($20.00)  Extraordinary stitch book, even if dated.  it is all there.

1 x Miniature Needlepoint Carpets by Janet Granger ($14.00)  doll house size designs

1 x A Pageant of Pattern For Needlepoint Canvas by Sherlee Lantz ($20.00)   Many people consider this book to be (or have been) the Needlepoint Bible.  Wonderful book but weights 3 ounces short of 5 pounds.

Clearly my customer is interested in Bargello Needlepoint.  She  had all but cleaned me out of my current inventory of Bargello books, if I had been able to ship them. (I do have duplicates for some of the most popular ones but not all of them far from it).

She bought the 2 Sally Nicoletti Needlepoint books I stock, Weaving Designs & Japanese Motifs, both excellent books and a few small tools.

This is, no joke, is breaking my heart, I would love to fill this order but with the shipping to Australia, I would be losing considerable money on the books.

I think I will offer to ship them to her, with a surcharge.  I agree it should cost me some but not all, to send them.  I wonder if she will agree.

So, everything else is OK,  Jack the Cat thinks he needs slippers, the tile floors can be chilly but I love them.  I wish they made Uggs for cats, I wear pink Ugg slippers. I have been looking at pictures of kittens in the local shelter and I found an Abyssissian cat breeder in Kentucky.

K says we can’t get another cat, that Jack does not know he is a cat and that would traumatize him.

I sort of see what he means.  I am told that when my brother was born (I was 2) and they brought him home,  I rolled him out the front door and closed it.  They found him between the door and the screen door.  I am pretty sure I did not understand what they needed him for, they had me.

I suppose Jack might feel the same.

I am reading, of course.  Have I mentioned that I love Kindle books on my iPad.  If you are buying a present for a reader, I can’t recommend an iPad Or Kindle ( now down to $79) highly enough.

***Ooops, or buy them something on NewNeedlepoint.com******

I am reading Robert B Parker’s Jesse Stone books, in order alternating with Joan Smith romance novels, very good books and not tainted by impossible modern attitudes for the heroines (as many are)