OK, OK, so I'll start off by apologising for the delay in getting this newsletter written. Sound familiar? Well I think you will like the reason for the gap between the last issue and this one. Its time for another stitch-along!

Remember the blackwork sampler we created issue by issue? Well this time its whitework. We will cover mainly pulled work with a little drawn thread as well, while stitching our white work band sampler.

If you read my blog you may have seen reference to this last month. Back then I was going to offer it as an paid e-course which would drop into your email inbox as pre-determined times. It wouldn't matter when you signed up, you would still get each band with the same amount of time between them.

But on second thoughts I decided to work the same way as before, linking to the relevant pages on the site from the newsletters, after all we had such fun last time didn't we?

I also didn't want to exclude anyone who couldn't pay for the lessons. However, the work involved in creating both the design, instructions and diagrams for a project like this is quite intensive. So I decided to ask you to kindly donate via paypal as a token gesture for my hard work. This is not obligatory, you make the choice, if you think its worth it and would like to see more samplers in this way, a small donation would encourage me to do it again and help me pay for the site so I can continue to share my love of needlework with you all. Thank you.

Now remember last time when we were close to 1000 subscribers? Well, Carole Sullivan was the lucky 1000th subscriber and chose a copy of my blackwork book as her prize. Congratulations Carole. We are now up to 1154 subscribers and still growing!

The site itself has been growing in the last couple of months. There is a new section on embroidery i.e. not counted thread work) and I am adding new stitches all the time.

One stitch that many people have problems with is bullion stitch I have taken step by step photographs showing an easy way to do bullion knots and also some ideas for what to do with them.

Another new page outlines the method of creating a cross stitch pattern from your photos using Easy Cross. I have already had some wonderful comments on this page, thank you.

I have to say a big thank you to Beverly who kindly submitted a page on an embroidery technique practised in New Mexico, where she lives. Colcha Embroidery is fascinating and the article is well worth a read.

If you have a local technique that you think other visitors may be interested in learning about why not write your own article and send it on over?

Not sure of how to take photos of your finished work? I have written an article giving tips to getting good results. But you won't find it on the needlework site! Instead I have uploaded it to my digital photography site, just follow this link to read it.

Remember I mentioned Kim's wonderful blackwork chess board last time? Well she has now added it to the Show and Tell pages. Wow, I wish my Dad would carve me such a great chess set to use on mine! It looks stunning Kim, thanks for sharing.

A project I have lined up for sometime during the next month is a crazy quilt block to send to a friend in the USA who is making a quilt to auction and raise money for Breast Cancer research. This one has to be all in cream and white with a theme of hearts. I'm looking forward to playing with all the bridal gown fabric and laces she has sent me. Keep an eye on my blog for details and photos as it progresses.

Just a quick note for anyone thinking of creating their own website using SBI (who host www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com along with my other two sites) pop over to my About Me page and follow the link about halfway down the page. For a limited time you can take advantage of the Summer Sandals offer and get a second site for just $100. Oh and while you are there follow the link to Elad's story. He created a series of websites on Cool kids parties which have proved so successful he even took a tour of Canada, meeting up with other SBI owners. Fantastic, when you realise he lives in Israel!

Well that just about wraps it up for this time . . . . Oh no! I nearly forgot the whitework sampler details didn't I? Sorry, just teasing.

Part 1 of the sampler is

here Have fun.

Lastly I would like to thank everyone of you for signing up for my newsletter. If you know anyone else that might like to receive it please let them know.

See you next month, thanks for reading this far.

Regards,