Hello stitching friends,

We're always looking for ways to make it easier to find that certain cross stitch pattern, and now you can browse patterns by subject! Just click on the Cross Stitch Patterns tab, then in the browse orders on the left side of the page, click Subject. Depending on how many patterns fit into a topic, there may be one or more subtopics. We hope this will make life easier when you have an idea of what you want to stitch but don't have a specific painting in mind.

Two of our new patterns this month were by suggestion! Alanna Wilson-Duff was the first to suggest Down on His Luck (shown below) and to prod us to get some Australian art! Ecstasy was also a suggestion and we are still trying to reach the winner of that pattern.

Some people like to use a Pako Needle Organizer to hold threaded needles as they stitch. (Here's a picture.) It's basically a strip of foam with slots labeled according to your floss colors. When you finish stitching a symbol, instead of taking the floss off the needle, you stick the threaded needle into the foam. The next time you need that color, you don't have to re-thread the needle. Pako is the brand name, but some people also make their own. You just need plenty of needles! If you use a needle organizer as well as bobbins or floss bags, remember when you order to get two sets of floss labels, one set for your bobbins or bags, and the other for the needle organizer.

Cathedral Peak, Lake O'Hara
J. E. H. McDonald

Ecstasy
Maxfield Parrish

Down on His Luck
Frederick McCubbin

Water Lilies
Claude Monet