HeartStrings - Travel Plans, Announcements and Services November 27, 2007 Greetings - Hope you had a good Thanksgiving if you celebrate, or just had a good week!. :) I had more news to share last week when I sent out that short email, but the time got away from me. Rather than deferring the greetings for the holiday, I figured that a short email was best before the holiday had passed! Anyway, this more lengthy newsletter is to bring you quite a few updates on recent product promotionals and service offerings of interest to you from HeartStrings. However, I will be as brief as possible since I respect that you likely are getting into that very busy time of the year for holidays or whatever. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ TRAVEL ANNOUNCEMENT Do you feel like I often do, that time is just going by too fast ?! Just when I think I am catching up a bit, I am off again -- this time to teach a 7-day class titled "A Winter Wonderland in Beads & Knitted Lace" at John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. http://www.folkschool.org/index.php?section=class_detail&class_id=1252 Thus, there will be NO WHOLESALE SHIPMENTS Dec 1 - 10. You may still place orders by email, phone, fax or online and I will fill as soon as possible on or after Dec 11. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ JACKIE E-S DESIGNS IN OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS I continue to keep in mind ways that I can promote awareness of the HeartStrings knitting patterns brand on your behalf, be it paid ads, collaborations with other publishers and yarn companies, or just getting the name out there in new venues. Jean Moss features "Bells On My Toes Mini Holiday Sock" as one of top five knitted Christmas gifts in her Q&A column in the December issue of UK magazine Knitting. http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/a93.shtm The Knitter's Book of Yarn book by Clara Parkes has tons of information about yarn along with patterns to let your customers practice what they've just read. This could be a good general textbook on yarn for your staff to read, too, so they can more confidently direct shoppers to appropriate yarns for the projects they want to make - Clara discusses most common fibers you’d find in commercial yarns, where they come from, how they feel and wear and behave, how yarn is made, who makes it, how it gets to you, and what it longs to become.. "Raspberry Rhapsody" is a textured lace scarf pattern in Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace Pink Blossom that I designed and contributed to the book. http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/album/lornaslaces.html Knit 'N Style December 2007 My design for Skacel Collection, the Urban Silk Lace Stole, is featured as one of 50 Fantastic Projects in Knit 'N Style's 10th Anniversary Issue. See full-page photo on page 65 and instructions on page 112. http://www.knitnstyle.com/issues/dec07.shtml ~~~~~~~~~~~~ OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS and SERVICES Inventory/Order Spreadsheet I have always been happy to provide an importable listing of all HeartStrings publications to those who asked, but (duh!) recently thought to link that on the wholesale page. This is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file that I understand that can be saved and used as is, or saved in many popular formats such as csv (comma separated variable) and imported into your POS or programs of choice; I hope it is helpful. If you have other specific requests, don't hesitate to ask I and I try to help. http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/wholesale.shtm Monthly-themed Sock Patterns for clubs and classes If you sponsor Sock-of-the-Month Clubs or hold sock classes, The Sock Journal is a great book to use as a basis for your club or classes. There is a pattern for every month of the year, and the break-down in cost to your customer is very affordable. A yarn information matrix in the appendix helps match each pattern to yarns you stock. http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/tsc05.shtm Looking for something on the HeartStrings FiberArts website? Just a reminder that I have a SEARCH function in the upper right-hand corner of the web pages that could help you find what you are looking for. Type in the name or term you are searching for, and you will be given a list of links to pages on the HeartStrings website (the most likely given first). Don't hesitate to contact me though if you need help. I will respond as quickly as possible. http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/search.shtml Consignment Trunk Shows I now have details of HeartStrings trunk shows documented on the website. You can review offerings and terms starting at http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/trunk-shows.shtm #S03 Anklet Coronets pattern - republication and correction Total beads should be 472 with 236 per sock, not 480 with 240 per sock (i.e. had indicated to string 4 beads too many per sock). Applies to publication series numbers S03-001 to 5327. In republishing/correcting the publication going forward, I took the opportunity to upgrade with improved pictures. There is no additional cost or price increase. #H40 Thinking of You Scarf Although my test knitters and a number of knitters since then have seemed to be ok in making this scarf, I've started having a few reports from knitters running short with the indicated yardage. I've tried to verify gauge (and usually that is the problem), but in a couple instances it appears that knitter variation is causing a great deal more yarn to be consumed between the purl and yarn over stitches of the Wavy Eyelet Ribbing. Better to be sure to have enough yarn, so I advise increasing planned amount of yarn to 225 yards. This yardage increase is reflected in publications going forward effective series number H40-7315. New pattern releases Yep - they are a-coming! I have some great things in store and appreciate your patience. I'll have more on this after I get back from the Folk School. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Questions or comments? Contact me anytime and I will do my best to help. Thank you for your business and support. Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer jackie@HeartStringsFiberArts.com http://www.HeartStringsFiberArts.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HeartStrings FiberArts Jackie E-S Design Collections Specializing in patterns for knitted lace and beaded knitting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 53 Parlange Dr Destrehan LA 70047-2133 USA Toll-free wholesale inquiries and orders (phone or fax): 888-955-8094