MOST WONDERFUL: AN ADVENT CALENDAR
In the Advent calendar, customers will find a mix of original charts and reproduction sampler designs, as well as various needlework items. (***Please see note at the bottom of this e-mail for notes of interest.) Each day, stitchers can open the bag that has a tag on it corresponding to that day on the calendar (open the bag with tag #12 on it on December 12th, and so on). There is one package for every day from December 1st through December 25th.
Participants List:
1. Blackbird Designs***
2. Cross Stitch Antiques
3. The Gentle Art***
4. Lady Dot Creates
5. Samplers Not Forgotten
6. Heartstring Samplery
7. Hello from Liz Mathews
8. Dames of the Needle
9. Lila's Studio
10. Needlework Press
11. Plum Street Samplers
12. Reflets de Soie
13. Stacy Nash Primitives
14. Teresa Kogut
15. The Bee Company
16. The Primitive Hare
17. The Thread Gatherer
18. XJudesigns***
19. Bent Creek
20. The Blue Flower
21. Running with Needles & Scissors
22. Kathy Barrick
23. La-D-Da
24. The Scarlett House
25. Shakespeare's Peddler
Here's what you get in your shipment:
25 days of patterns and items related to cross stitch/stitching from 25 different companies. These come in a gorgeous custom-printed, full-color box that you can keep for years to store your Christmas goodies (that custom-printed box is being shipped in a regular-old cardboard box, so it won't have labels or scuffs on it). You also get Priority shipping through the USPS AND insurance. Price is $350 plus $5.00 shipping.
The price of the calendar reflects the cost of putting this project together and has not been artificially-inflated due to exclusivity and the limited nature of the release.
HOW LONG WILL THEY BE AVAILABLE?
I expect these to sell out very quickly, even though there are 800 sets (200 sets more than last time). In 2021, they sold out in 5 1/2 hours.All designers and makers have my permission to release their designs/products in a year's time, so if you have missed out, you will likely be able to pick up your favorite items in the future.
There is literally no way to release something like this in a way that is fair for every single person, and I cannot hope to prevent anybody from having technical issues or other problems or circumstances which prevent them getting a box. Again, please know that all decisions I make are done with great care, keeping in mind the happiness and satisfaction of my customers.
HELP KEEP THE SECRETS!
Of course you can open items on your own timeline, which includes all at once, while standing at the mailbox. But please do not post items early on social media. It spoils the surprise for everybody. Also realize that there is no way for me to police what people do with their items once they leave my care.
WHEN WILL MY BOX ARRIVE?
My plan is to get all boxes out by November 21, sent insured, US Priority. If you add other things to your order, that may slow your shipment down, as we are packing calendar-only orders first (to get the most packages out in the least amount of time). As always, each customer's tracking number will go out in an automated e-mail from my site when we fulfill your order by creating a label. We'll be doing things in batches, so you may see a tracking number pop up in your e-mail, but the box may not start "moving" for a day or two, depending on when the USPS pick-ups arrive. But you should get your box well in time for December 1st, barring storms or other unforeseen circumstances.
We cannot ship all 800 in one day; some people are going to get theirs first, and some people will get theirs last, but all should be received before December.
And, just because I am doing an Advent calendar this year does not mean I am doing one again in 2025. In fact, I know I'm not. This may be a once-in-a-while kind of thing, as its still consumes a lot of resources to put this together.
***Please note: Alma of Blackbird Designs has re-worked and included a delightful design that was originally offered generously as a free chart in a newsletter years ago. This chart never got the full Blackbird-treatment of her beautiful stitching, framing, photography, and charting. I know you'll love it, but if it looks vaguely-familiar, that's why. Also, Jucus from XJudesigns participated this time by dyeing an exclusive color in 36-count linen. I cannot do substitutions on the count/fabric. The package from The Gentle Art includes a limited edition floss color that will vary from box-to-box.
