Hello!

In my last three newsletters I have talked about the damage caused by hurricanes in Florida and along the eastern coast of the U.S. I have heard from so many newsletter readers about their damage and suffering, and I am sure that those newsletter readers who have suffered the most have not been able to, or taken the time to write.

An example is this email written by Becky N. of Lakeland, Florida. Becky says, "We moved from Oregon, the part the locals refer to as the "Garden of Eden," and rightly so. We were there for eight years, and still found the beauty of the countryside breathtaking. My husband's job moved him to the south side of Lakeland, Florida, so for the two months we have been here, we have been in the cross-hairs of three hurricanes, this last one (Jeanne) being the worst. (We don't count Ivan because it just dumped lots of rain on us). My husband and I decided we enjoyed blizzards more because you usually get to "keep" your electricity, and it does force the workaholics in this family to stay home and enjoy hobbies. And blizzards didn't make me feel like a nervous wreck.

My mom grew up south of Groton, SD, and from her descriptions of tornadoes, I feel a hurricane is like that, only the anxiety is prolonged. We lost most of the beautiful big oaks that line the street, and one in our yard. Hey, if you need a semi-load of beautiful, solid oak firewood, we've got it! Could you send some ice, please, in return?"

As I said, for the last six weeks we have sent our best wishes to all those suffering from the hurricanes. But somehow, those best wishes didn’t seem like enough. So we at Nordic Needle have developed a plan to provide some monetary help to the American Red Cross, specifically for hurricane relief. But we will need your help to make it work.

We are offering four products, two on sale and two at regular price. And we pledge that for all of those four products purchased from October 11 through October 22 (a twelve day period) Nordic Needle will donate 80% of the sales to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief. You can be a part of this project by purchasing one or more of the four special products listed below. But don’t delay – this is a limited, twelve day offer! I can hardly wait to see your response, and I can hardly wait to tell you how much money we can send to the American Red Cross! I will make the announcement in my next newsletter, October 25.

I hope you found something you need, or something you would like to give as a gift, or something you can re-sell at a church bazaar or craft show! Whatever your motivation for buying these items, I am so excited about the 80% donation we can send to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief!

Next, I am happy to share a recipe that was sent to me by Mary H. It is her mother, Pauline’s recipe, and it sounds delicious! I haven’t had time to try it myself, but I hope to make it for an upcoming staff meeting. So if you bake Pauline’s recipe, let me know what you think!

Now let me tell you about our featured sale products. Remember, the charitable items are the four listed above the recipe, but the featured sale products below are all fantastic bargains, on sale only while quantities last.

LumiRead is a miniature, battery-powered, clip-on "book light" with a 360 degree swivel head that directs its light just where you want it. Perfect for reading needlework charts in poorly lit hotel rooms, in the car, or in bed. Great for reading books, newspapers, and maps too. Clip it on your favorite book for reading anytime, anywhere, or use it as a personal desk lamp for writing or studying. It is compact and fits easily into purse or pocket.
6857 LumiRead clip-on swivel book light
$6.50 on sale for 4.88 Save 25%
learn more about this item!

• We sell many different brands and styles of lights and magnifiers
• Accessories on sale this week

This wooden Fringe or Tassel Maker turns like a rotating spit to wind thread or yarn around its two adjustable bars to make fringe or tassels of many lengths. Easily tie off fringe without bunching the strands together. Or take the yarn wrapped spinner section off the tool, place it under the presser foot of your sewing machine and stitch the top of your fringe together, eliminating another tie-off method.
6831. Fringe or Tassel Maker
$39.95 on sale for $23.97 Save 40%
learn more about this item!

• Check out our other cord and tassel makers
• How about books on finishing techniques?

This beautiful cross stitch thistle design in shades of purple, green and black can be worked on a white Anne cloth tabletopper (#8825), an ivory MCG tabletopper (#8838) or a lavender Anne cloth tabletopper (#8832). It is stitched with size #5 DMC pearl cotton and Kreinik #8 Heather hi lustre braid.
3930B Thistle Tabletopper leaflet (cross stitch)
$6.99 on sale for $5.24 Save 25%
learn more about this item!

• Shop other cross stitch tabletopper and table linen designs, plus tabletopper fabrics
• Fabric on sale this week

Are you a cat lover? Then you will love this Holly Gordon design! Two naughty black cats make a Christmess of the Christmas tree. The design is 7.5 by 10.75 inches when stitched on 14 or 28 count white fabric with ten colors of DMC floss.
4552. Merry Christmess leaflet (cross stitch)
$4.99 on sale for $3.99 Save 20%
learn more about this item!

• More cat designs
• Christmas designs in cross stitch
• Cross stitch designs on sale this week

Speaking of Christmas, how about these Christmas angels in goldwork? They are stitched on cream or ivory silk using couching, bullion knot, detached chain stitch, padded satin stitch, French knot, stem stitch, herringbone stitch and laid trellis. Instructions are provided. This project is for the intermediate to advanced stitcher who wants to try something new! The finished ornament is approximately 6 inches long.
1852. Christmas Angels in Goldwork leaflet
$10.99 on sale for $5.50 Save 50%
learn more about this item!

• All the specialty stitch designs on sale this week

How about a lovely stumpwork kit? Gorgeous shades of greens, mauves and burgundy threads, fabric and beads make this kit a joy to stitch. A padula is a flower without a name, but a beauty in itself. This light mauve padula with dark centers has puffy petals and a soft elegance. Basic stumpwork and embroidery stitches are used to make this 3.75" x 5.5" design. The kit is complete with fibers, fabric, needle, wire, beads, instructions and pattern.
K2255 Padula Stumpwork Kit
$33.95 on sale for $23.76 Save 30%
learn more about this item!

• Check out these beautiful stumpwork books
• How about stumpwork kits?

This beautiful, delicate needleroll says, "The joy of my heart is the work of my hands." The kit includes 28 count linen banding, Silk Mori, overdyed silk floss, ribbon, gold blending filament, pearl beads, needles, chart and instructions. The design uses cross stitch, backstitch and Rhodes butterfly stitch for a finished size of approximately 2.5" x 8".
K1815 Butterflies & Hearts Needleroll Kit
$16.95 on sale for $12.71 Save 25%
learn more about this item!

• More Lorri Birmingham cross stitch kits
• Kits on sale this week

Finally we will end with a quick Christmas cross stitch project. The finished size of this Santa with teddy bear and candy cane mini stocking on 18 count fabric is 3.5" x 6". The kit includes 18 count fabric, floss, jingle bells, blending filament, needle, chart and instructions. You can stitch this one up quickly, and it will make a wonderful gift!
K1764 Father Christmas Mini Stocking Kit (cross stitch)
$14.99 on sale for $11.24 Save 25%
learn more about this item!

• We carry cross stitch kits from many designers!