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July/August 2009

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A note from Elizabeth

As I write this I’m looking out at the Pacific Ocean in Florence, Oregon. Jay and I are staying at a friend’s cottage and celebrating our twenty-seventh wedding anniversary. We met at a beach the summer of 1980, and it has become a tradition to celebrate our anniversary on a beach somewhere every year.

It is a Chamber of Commerce day here, and we have spent our hours together relaxing, walking on the beach, reading good books, enjoying a nice meal and of course, for me, finding some time to stitch.

As for many of you, needlepoint is my way to unwind and relax at the end of the day. As I stitch, I reflect on the day’s events and plan tomorrow. I choose my project based on how focused I feel. If it has been a hectic day, I tend to like mind candy to work on, perhaps a piece with an easy pattern and not too much compensation, maybe a painted canvas. If I feel relaxed and alert, I choose something more complicated to challenge my brain, maybe a counted design that uses many threads and lots of composite stitches. Then there are times like now. I’m so relaxed that I can hardly work up enough energy to stitch.That’s when fun threads and easy stitches on small pieces that I can hold in my hand are the project du jour.

So to accommodate the many faces of summer, this issue of the magazine has something for every mood. You will find a counted piece on silk gauze by Patricia Parra that is sure to be a challenge. Also featured is one of Melissa Shirley’s amazing purse canvases with a stitch guide by Wendy Harwood. This piece is more free form and allows for more creativity. For our small, relaxing piece we have Carole Lake and Toni Gerdes’ Puzzle Pieces. This totally delightful design can be made as small or as large, as basic or as complicated, as you like.
Response to the May/June issue of Needlepoint Now has been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to send us notes. As the new publisher it is reassuring to hear that you like what you see in the magazine. Thank you.

You’ll notice a new look for this issue, and with Eric Erno’s help the web site also has been freshened. A link to my blog has been added so you can read more about the behind-the-scenes process of running a magazine publishing business.

On my blog I discuss the decision I recently had to make about raising the cost of the magazine. Since Needlepoint Now was first published eleven years ago, there has not been a single price increase even though postage, paper, printing and employee salaries have all risen steadily. The latest round of postal increases pushed us to make the decision to raise the yearly subscription from $32 to $38, a 16% increase. Eleven years ago a first class stamp cost 32 cents, now it is 44 cents, an increased cost of almost 30%.

The economic downturn is causing all of us to look for the best value for our money. With that in mind we have increased the page count while staying in our same postal rate. As you noticed with the last issue, we are no longer mailing the magazine in a white envelope. Shrink-wrapping with an insert for your address is much more efficient and cost effective. It offers the added bonus of letting us communicate with you on the insert when your subscription is running out.

Our goal is to make Needlepoint Now worth every penny you spend for it. So we can continue to improve, I invite you to let me know how I can make it even more valuable to you. Your feedback is always welcome.

Elizabeth

As of July-August 2009 back issues of Needlepoint Now are available at a cost of $7.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling. All preceding back issues are $6.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling.

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