Hello!
Writing today’s newsletter was a bittersweet experience for me, because it is the last Nordic Needle newsletter I will be writing. As of May 9, 2008, I have chosen to be “mostly” retired. Please know that you will still continue to receive an email newsletter from Nordic Needle every Monday morning. Roz will be in charge of writing to you every week, and she may occasionally get help with a portion of some newsletters from staff members.
What does “mostly” retired mean? Well, I will continue to work at Nordic Needle about one day a week choosing new products and seeking out special purchase items and great bargains for you! I will also remain half-owner of the company, so I will continue to be involved in large decisions about the future of the company. But I am pulling back from the day-to-day responsibilities.
I said this newsletter is bittersweet for me because on the one hand I am excited to have more free time to spend with my grandchildren and my parents. Visits to all of them involve a drive of three to ten hours, and it is difficult to do that very often with a full-time job. But for the past 33 years Roz and I have been growing Nordic Needle, and I will certainly miss our staff and you, our customers. Please indulge me while I take a little walk down memory lane.
On June 2, 1975, the doors opened to Nordic Needle for the first time, except it was called Crafts, Cloth & Collectables. The first store was one room in the old Bison Hotel in downtown Fargo. The intent of the building owners was to turn the old hotel into a building filled with charming boutique-type stores, but it never became a reality. We exchanged some janitorial responsibilities for free rent, and moved out after only 3 months.
September 1975. Our next location was in an old department store building in downtown Fargo which was also being converted to boutique-style stores. The building was called Block 6 and it still exists today, although much of it has been converted to condominiums. We started in a tiny space (probably less than 200 square feet) on third floor. As our business grew, we moved to larger and larger spaces, on second floor and finally on first floor. We also rented additional storage rooms on the upper levels of the building.
Our original intent was to offer a few Hardanger embroidery supplies (white and ivory 22 count Hardanger fabric and limited colors of pearl cotton in sizes #5, #8 and #12). The Hardanger group at Concordia College from which we learned the art had a terrible time finding these basic supplies, so we started this small hobby business to help them. We took turns running the shop, and didn’t quit our day jobs!
In 1977 Roz commented that there surely were not many books available to learn Hardanger embroidery if a person didn’t have a teacher nearby. There were two books from DMC and three from a Canadian designer. So we took it upon ourselves to publish a basic instruction manual for Hardanger embroidery. Roz’s sister-in-law Dawn was a graphic art student, so she did the graphic art work for us (all by hand - no computers!) and in the book we shared some designs from our teacher, Mrs. A.E. Hanson, as well as a few originals. That book, Hardanger Embroidery Favorites I is still in print today!
#0101 Hardanger Embroidery Favorite I book
As word of that first Hardanger book spread, we started to get requests for a catalog of some sort so we could mail supplies to people. Can you imagine! Our first “catalog” was a few mimeographed sheets of paper (if you know what “mimeographed” means, we know how old you are!). Little by little we were able to find sources for more colors of Hardanger fabric, and we added more colors of pearl cotton.
We also continued to publish Hardanger embroidery books. We published our own original designs, and we published for other designers, too. In 1979 I saw an advertisement for a quilt contest, and thought, “we should do that for original Hardanger embroidery designs”. Thus began the annual Hardanger embroidery design contest! Every year since 1979 we have published an Award-Winning Designs in Hardanger Embroidery book. Over the years it has become more and more international. In fact, Roz and I just judged the contest entries last week, and the 2008 book will have winners from Canada (2), Japan, Australia (2), Monaco, New Zealand, and four from the U.S. (Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Colorado and California). The original designs are so amazing and creative, it is our honor to promote these incredible needleworkers each year!
Since 1977 we have published 156 books and leaflets on Hardanger embroidery, as well as a number of Hardanger kits and chartpacks. We have also published a few books and kits on huck embroidery, but Hardanger remains our mainstay.
Around the time that we started publishing, we also started to sell products to other needlework stores. We offered the Hardanger books that we published, and also started to distribute products for other designers and manufacturers. We now sell to approximately 900 needlework stores around the world.
 
Our four daughters (this was the December that Laura cut her own hair!)
But I got a little ahead of myself in the story! We started the business in 1975, published our first Hardanger book in 1977, and 1977 was also the year that the first of our five children was born! Jim and I were thrilled with Heather’s birth in May of 1977. Then Roz and Harold’s Jessica was born in May of 1978, followed by their Alyssa in December of 1979 and our Laura in March of 1980. So in less than 3 years the two couples went from no children to four daughters! The only boy, Roz and Harold’s Taylor came a few years later.
It was during this period of amazing growth (by the families, if not by the business!) that we hired our first employee. Dorothy Dale started working for us in 1977 after Heather was born, and stayed with us for many years! She still does Hardanger, and we see her occasionally. As the business grew, we continued to add employees, and have consistently had about 25 employees in recent years.
As I said, the business continued to grow, expanding beyond Hardanger embroidery to other forms of embroidery, including counted cross stitch, blackwork, tatting, Brazilian embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, huck embroidery, embroidery on paper and more. Some techniques like chicken scratch and candlewicking were fairly short-lived. Others like Hardanger embroidery and cross stitch have always been strong for us.
We eventually outgrew our spaces in Block Six in downtown Fargo, and in 1982 decided it was time to build our own building. That was an exciting year for us – finding a plot of land, hiring a construction firm, developing the plans, and finally breaking ground in the fall of 1982. We built a 4500 square foot building with a full basement for a total of 9000 square feet of usable space. In the beginning we used the main floor of the building for almost all our operations – the retail store, classroom, lunchroom for staff, shipping, and office space for order entry, bookkeeping, customer service, inventory control and management. The basement was primarily used for storage, and in the beginning we even rented a portion of the basement space to another company.
As we grew, renovation of the building became necessary. In the first big renovation we moved the shipping department and inventory control to the lower level, adding windows and finishing office space. That allowed for additional office space upstairs as well as a more finished classroom/sale room space. Later smaller renovations also carved out additional office space.
 Pictured right:
Roz and Sue in about 1983
Our building has served us well, but there have been times we wish we could all just push on a wall and make the building bigger! In that same fantasy world, we would also like to magically create more parking space.
As I was looking through a photo album of 33 years at Nordic Needle, a few traditions became clear. Our staff likes to find reasons to celebrate (birthdays, potlucks, bridal and baby showers, anniversaries, Christmas, Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day – May 17), April Fool’s Day and any other possible excuse for a party! We also like to laugh, and with every gathering there is food!
In the tradition of celebrations, another landmark worth mentioning is the Nordic Needle Retreat that we started in 2003. We just completed the 6th annual retreat, and it is such a joy to meet needleworkers who come from all over the world to celebrate needlework with us! We spend at least 4 days (some come early, some stay late!) teaching and learning new techniques, eating, laughing, shopping and sharing a passion for needlework.
As I look back on 33 years of working with the Nordic Needle team, I am especially thankful for Roz. Many people over the years have been amazed that our partnership and friendship has survived and grown. I have always thought that Roz and I have different strengths, and that where one of us is weak, the other is strong. So thank you, Roz, for 33 years of making up for my weaknesses!
Thank you, too, to my precious daughters who always had to share me with Nordic Needle, and to my amazingly understanding husband, Jim. He has never been a paid employee, but over the years we have called on him to mow the lawn, change light bulbs, make sump pump repairs, help with heavy lifting, do touch-up painting, and many other chores. Thank you, Jim, for your never-ending willingness to help and for your positive attitude and support.
Pictured right:
Nordic Needle Staff – December 2007
I am also extremely grateful to all the amazing employees who have worked so hard and been so dedicated to our company, and to the needlework industry. Roz and I clearly could not have grown the business and sustained it without the help of many, many caring employees.
And, of course, I am grateful to you, our customers. Your encouragement over the years, whether by phone, letter, email or in person, have prompted us to continue growing Nordic Needle. Your passion about needlework, and your hunger for new products, new techniques, and new friendships with people who share the love of needlework…those are the reasons Nordic Needle exists.
Words can’t do my farewell justice, but I send a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of these 33 years. You have probably heard it said, “One simple word, one small kindness, can touch a life forever.” That is what many of you have done for me. Thank you.
Now in the tradition of Nordic Needle, we need to talk about food!!! Today’s recipe comes from my niece Renae. She and her sisters-in-law made this sandwich for a bridal shower, and she says it is the best recipe ever! Renae says it is easy to adjust, too. Make it on hoagie buns for a small family, on a loaf of French bread for a larger family, or several loaves for a larger gathering! She also says the secret to this recipe is to slice the peppers and the artichokes really thin, and then to wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap and let it sit refrigerated for at least one hour before slicing and serving!
Turkey Cream Cheese Sandwiches
- Loaf of French bread
- One half block of cream cheese, softened
- Dry Italian dressing, to taste
- Garlic, to taste
- Red bell pepper, sliced very thin
- Fresh spinach leaves
- Turkey breast, sliced
- Jar of marinated artichoke hearts, sliced very thin
Cut off top one-third of loaf. Scoop out bread from inside of the bottom part of the loaf. Spread cream cheese mixed with Italian seasoning and garlic on bottom of loaf. Layer spinach, turkey, pepper, artichoke hearts on the bottom of the loaf. Spread cheese cream mixture on top piece of bread. Close sandwich and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Unwrap, slice, and serve.
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Before we get to this week’s featured products, I have some newly discounted items to tell you about. All of them have limited quantities and are offered on sale “while quantities last”, so order quickly if you want them!
The first special item is a huck embroidery (Swedish weaving) kit that we are closing out at 68% savings! The Home Decor line of kits is unique because each kit contains a beautiful home decor item as well as the materials needed to create the embroidery piece. This kit includes a 3" x 3" x 3.5" frosted glass candle (assorted colors) with gold wire base, a 14" square of antique white Popcorn (7 count), three skeins of Anchor pearl cotton size #5, needle, huck embroidery instructions, chart and working instructions. This is an incredible value for all the different items included in the kit!
K1343 Frosted Candle Huck Embroidery Kit
$21.99 on sale for $6.99 Save 68%
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Next we are discounting a limited edition Hardanger embroidery kit! You will receive the beautiful ivory ceramic frame, 28 count antique white Cashel linen, size 24 tapestry needle, chart with design instructions, and basic Hardanger embroidery stitch instructions. Just add the thread! Roz says, "solid colors as well as overdyed threads would work well for this design". Work this small project to use up some size #8 pearl cotton you have in your "stash". It only requires 15 yards of size #8 thread. Design size is 3.75" x 3.75". Order this limited edition kit today – the supply is limited!
990-590-0011 Limited Edition Hardanger Kit – Ivory Square with Frame
$19.99 on sale for $13.99 Save 30%
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Do you need a gift basket for a needlework friend, or maybe to offer as a door prize for your stitching group? Here’s a perfect solution! Each of these beautifully-presented gift baskets contains an assortment of needlework-related products, and they are all discounted 30-50%! Very limited supply of these beautiful gift baskets. Order today!
955-590-0001 Aqua Gadget Gift Tote – Save 30%
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I also want to remind you of two excellent special purchase books that are running low in our warehouse. If you want them, today would be the day to buy these two books!
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