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CATALOGUE |
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Do
you have a catalogue?: I
do not have a catalogue of my kits or merchandise as I am
continually adding to the supplies that I offer and it would be too
costly to update the catalogue on a continuos basis. All the products
that I carry are featured on my website. |
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ITEMS
ON MY WEBSITE |
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Do
you supply kits by other designers?: I only sell kits designed
and made by myself. |
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Do
you have any cross-stitch designs?: The only design I have in
cross stitch is the Assisi
Rabbits
on my Free
Designs Webpage. |
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Do
you carry a specific design?: If a design is not featured on my
website them I'm sorry I do not have it but if you would like a kit
made specifically with a design in mind I may be able to do this for
you in one of the embroidery techniques on my website. |
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Do
you offer
discounts?:
I offer a 10% discount on kit orders over $150.00 and 15% discount
on kit orders over $250.00. The discount does not apply to
merchandise, for further details please visit the Discount
Opportunities
page of my website. I also offer a 10% discount on metal
threads orders over $120.00 and 25% discount on metal threads orders
over $500.00. Discount
applies to combination of Bullions, Purls, Couched metal threads and
Coloured metal threads only
and not to be combined with metal thread samples, other merchandise
or kits, for
further details please visit the Discount
Opportunities
page of my website. |
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ABOUT
MY KITS |
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Can
I purchase just the instructions for the kit?: Yes
you can purchase the instructions on their own. Instructions for
each kit range from $15.00 Canadian to $25.00 Canadian depending on
the depth of information in the instructions. The only disadvantage
of purchasing the instructions alone is the design will not be hand
drawn onto the fabric by myself and the threads will not be organized
on to cardboard template and numbered. You can Email
Me with your request to purchase
the instruction booklet on its own. |
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Do
you offer any help or advice with the kits purchased?:
Yes if there are any questions about the kit you purchased, i.e. the
embroidery stitch that you are working on, or if you are concerned if
the embroidery is looking right you can email me with your questions
and email me pictures of your work as you are doing the embroidery
and I will answer all your queries. As I have embroidered each of the
designs featured on my website myself I have first hand knowledge on
how the embroidery should be worked and look, and I am more than
willing to share my expertise. |
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Do
you offer
discounts?:
I offer a 10% discount on kit orders over $150.00 and 15% discount on
kit orders over $250.00. The discount does not apply to merchandise,
for further details please visit the Discount
Opportunities
page of my website. |
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What
beginners kits do you have?:
I have beginner kits in each of my embroidery techniques, although
each kit comes with detailed instructions and free correspondence so
most stitchers will be comfortable working the intermediate or
advanced pieces as well.
Beginners
Kits Webpage
Blackwork: The
Blackwork
Etui Box and the Blackwork
Horses and the Blackwork Fuchsia
are the easiest of the four blackwork designs.
Goldwork: The
Honeysuckle
or the Harebell.
Hapsburg
Lace: The Bookmark and
Scissors Case.
Modern
Jacobean: All
the Modern Jacobean kits use the same type of embroidery stitches
but the Floral
Motif and the Leaf
Motif have the least amount of
stitching and the smallest variety of embroidery stitches.
Needle
Painting: Any
of the five Pansy
designs and the Wild
Rose are the best kits for beginners
to start with, when learning the needle painting technique.
Traditional
Jacobean: The
Jacobean
Tree with Snail has the least amount
of work but all four designs have the same type of stitches.
Shadow
Work: The
Angel Fish
and the Forest.
White
Work: The
Pear
and Magnolia. |
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METAL
THREAD (GOLDWORK) QUESTIONS |
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What
is the difference between Gold 2% WM and Gilt?: Gold
2% WM is the highest standard gold thread that can be purchased for
Goldwork. 2% gold is also known as Admiralty or Government standard
and are 2% gold plating on
white metal (WM) - silver plated copper.
Gold 2% is a brighter and truer in colour to real gold than the Gilt
metal threads.
Gilt
is about ½ % of Gold on silver plated copper. Gilt metal
threads are similar in appearance to the Gold 2% but Gilt tends to be
more yellow in colour and stretchier than the Gold 2%. |
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Can
I get pure gold embroidery threads?: I
do not have pure gold embroidery threads, I do not think there is a
company that makes pure gold embroidery threads as the gold would
probably be too soft to be made into embroidery threads and would
kink or break and would be very expensive, but if anyone knows of a
company that does please Email
Me
and I will post a link on my website. |
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Will
the metal threads tarnish?: Yes
the 2% gold, gilt, silver and copper embroidery threads will tarnish
if exposed to continued spells of direct sunlight and air as oxides
and/or sulfides in the air settle on the surface of the metal thread
and cause it to turn dark brown or black over a period of time.
The only
metal threads that I supply that do not tarnish are the Dark
Gold Standard Lurex Thread No. 371,
the No.
13 Passing Threads,
all of the Japanese
Threads
and the Kreinik
Cords
and Kreinik
#4 Braids
which are all synthetic threads.
If you are
beginning a new piece of embroidery the best way to decrease
tarnishing is to keep the embroidery wrapped in acid free tissue
paper or a sheet and stored in a dark place such as cupboard when you
are not working on the embroidery. The threads that are being used to
work the embroidery should also be stored in the same dark place as
the embroidery in acid free bags or tissue paper. This is to ensure
that that the metal threads will tarnish at a slower rather than in
direct sunlight or exposed to air and will tarnish at the same rate.
The finished embroidery should be mounted on acid free board and
displayed behind glass in a box frame so that the metal threads are
not touching the glass and displayed on a wall without direct
sunlight so that the threads will tarnish at a slower rate. All metal
threads will eventually tarnish. |
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Can I
clean metal threads?: I do not think there is an effective way to
clean the tarnish off the metal threads or to clean the fabric
without effecting the embroidery. If you are beginning a new piece of
embroidery then see "will the metal threads tarnish?" above
on how to decrease the rate of tarnishing. |
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Can
the metal threads be used for garments?:
The metal threads that I sell are designed for pictorial design and
for very occasional wear and re-enactment clothing (traditionally the
threads were used for coats of arms, Military parade garments and
ceremonial garments). The metal threads are not suitable for mass
producing on clothing as the threads will distort and crack and
tarnish when washed or worn on a regular basis. |
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Can the
metal threads be used for making jewellery?: The metal threads
are not strong enough to be used for making earrings, necklaces and
bracelets and most of the metal threads will tarnish when exposed to
direct sunlight and the oxides in the air. The Kreinik
Cords
and Kreinik
#4 Braids
may be suitable for stringing beads and the metal threads can be used
for making broaches. |
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Can
the metal threads be used with a sewing machine?: The
only threads that I carry that can be used with a sewing machine is
the Kreinik
gold or silver No. 1 Japan thread
or the Kreinik
silver and carnival cords
all the other metal threads are for hand embroidery. |
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Do
you give discounts for large quantities or sell wholesale?: I
give a 10% discount on metal thread orders over $120.00 Canadian
dollars. I give a 25% discount for orders over $500.00. Discount
applies to combination of Bullions, Purls, Couched metal threads and
Coloured metal threads only
and not to be combined with metal thread samples, other merchandise
or kits, for
further details please visit the Discount
Opportunities
page of my website. |
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Do you
carry a certain metal thread?: All
the metal threads that I have in stock are on my website. If you
require a different metal thread please Email
Me
and I will see if I can order it from the manufacturer. |
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PAYMENT
QUESTIONS |
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How
can I pay?:
You can pay by MasterCard or Visa card through my shopping cart or
the mail order order form, you will go to a separate secure page of
my website to fill out the credit card information. You can also pay
by PayPal, Money order or Cashiers Cheque in Canadian dollars, USA
and Canadian Customers can pay by personal cheque. Full details of
the different methods of payment can be read on the Purchase
Details
page of my website. |
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Is
credit card payment secure on your website?: Yes
you will fill out your credit card information on a secure page of
my website. You can tell that the payment page is a secure webpage as
the address bar is https:// rather than http:// and there is a yellow
padlock on the task bar which is above the start button at the bottom
right side of the page. All information is sent to me encrypted. |
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Will
you keep my credit card information on file?:
No I do not keep credit card information on file unless you
specifically requests that I do for future orders. I am the sole
proprietor of my embroidery business and am the only person who has
access to credit card information received in an order, once the
credit card transaction is complete the credit card information is deleted. |
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OTHER
QUESTIONS |
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Do
you have store outlets for your kits?: In
general I only sell my kits over the internet, at my classes and
from my home, this is to keep the cost of the kits down and because I
have first hand knowledge of each design if there are any questions
about the embroidery I can answer them directly rather than going
through a supplier. I do have four designs distributed by Nordic
Needle: Wild Rose Needle Painting Kit and 2 x Blackwork Butterfly
Kits and Blackwork Peacock Kit which may be available in your local
stitching store. |
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Do
you mail to my country?: I
will mail to any country in the world. On the  Shopping
Cart page is the mailing details
for three sections of the world, Canada, USA and then International
which encompasses all other countries. |
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Do
you have on-line classes or correspondence courses?: At
present I do not have on-line or correspondence courses but I will
be looking into it for the future, there will be an update on this
page of my website when I have organized classes. |
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Do
you do
machine embroidery?:
No
all my designs are worked by hand and I do not do any custom machine embroidery. |
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Do
you do
monogramming?:
I
do not do custom monogramming on clothing as it is very time
consuming by hand. The best option for monogramming on clothing is to
approach a machine embroiderer. Machine embroidery on clothing is
much more durable and inexpensive. |
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Do
you conserve or repair embroideries?: I
trained
in embroidery conservation and restoration at the Royal School of
Needlework but it has been several years since I actively worked in
this area. I recommend contacting a restoration center or museum in
your area who may have professionals who specialize in embroidery
conservation and restoration. |
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How
do I clean a piece of needlework?:
I give a very general cleaning method on my Embroidery
Tips webpage for needle painting
and cross-stitch, but if you are looking to clean vintage embroidery
or dimensional embroidery such as goldwork and stumpwork I would
strongly suggest contacting a needlework conservation center for
advice on cleaning. |
