Crafter of the Issue
 Angela Bourke, of Killmore, VIC,
writes
I was just looking through the March edition of Crafty Yarns and thought I would send you this letter. I am writing to thank you and your staff for a fantastic Catalogue and the ChatterFox website. It has opened up a whole new world for me!
;I was introduced to your Catalogue in June 2009, by a friend at work. I always thought that Cross Stitch was for older people, but fell in love with your range. I ordered the ‘Mystic Stitch Field of Dreams’ for my first piece. As I have done some embroidery in the past, I was not put off by the ‘E’ rating. I am yet to complete this, but I will!
“I love browsing through your catalogue when it arrives in the post. I purchase usually three times per Catalogue and have many future projects to look forward to. So many tempting choices!
“ChatterFox is the best site! I have learnt so much and met some fantastic people. It is great to have people that understand your addiction! I was blown away by the Editor's Blog and being able to be involved, in what we wanted to see in future Catalogues. Your answers to our suggestions made me feel like I had contributed something. Not just a number. I look forward in future to the "I MUST HAVE Accessories!" They sound great.
“I wish that this site was around when my girls were young. It offers so much to everyone. A non-judging network, friendship and handy tips. It is great to know if you have a question someone will know the answer to it! It is fantastic to be able to pick the brains of people that have been cross stitching and crafting for years. I have learnt some handy hints to make my life so much easier. There is always a friendly face to cheer people up in the chat rooms. I love the competitions, I hope they continue.
“Thank you so much, your efforts are greatly appreciated. Well done!”
If you would like to be a part of the ChatterFox community – along with Angela and hundreds of other like-minded crafters – please visit our website at www.chatterfox.com.au. See you there
Lisa Condy, of Tresco, VIC, writes;
My name is Lisa and I live in a small rural town in Victoria. My mum taught me to cross stitch 18 months ago. This is a picture of me and her together.
“For me cross stitching is very relaxing and although I work at a very slow pace I have so far completed two pieces of work – one being a tablecloth from your catalogue which I made for my son.
“My mum and my husband David say that they are ‘very proud of me’. Along with my visual impairment I also suffer from other health issues which I live with from day to day. I don’t let these things get in the way or stop me doing the things I love such as knitting and crocheting (which I do for charity), latch hooking and cross stitch.
“I will continue with my cross stitching until there comes a time when I can no longer see the charts and the work that I’m doing. Until then I will challenge myself everyday!
 “I am always eager to pass on the tips I’ve learnt that help me to be able to keep doing my crafts.
“The most important thing is to have a very bright light on a moveable arm. This allows me to situate the light right over my work. As I look very closely at the aida, the bright light is essential. I also don't use anything smaller than 14 count.
“When I get a new cross stitch design, I enlarge the chart pages to A3 size. I work small areas at a time and highlight every row after completing it.
“Currently I am working on two pieces, ‘In Harmony’ (pictured above) and ‘Wolf Wilderness’ – both from The Fox Collection.”
Donna Ritchie originally from Victoria, now living in Shanyang, China, Vic, writes;
 “I have been a Fox Collection customer for many years and since my husband was transferred to northern China for his work your catalogue has kept me sane. I know that you don’t send orders overseas but our children still live in Australia and they regularly send me ‘care packages’ of products. This is a photo of me in my first ever snowfall – taken in China.
“One of the craft activities that I have discovered over here is making Artist Trading Cards – and I now send them all over the world. 
“Artist Trading Cards are little pieces of art on cards 2 x 3 inches in size. Many of the items I buy from your catalogue show up on these cards! I have traded cards with people from the US, Germany, New Zealand, Italy, all parts of the UK, Canada, Singapore, South Africa and Finland.
“Sometimes it’s hard to find time to do my craft as I’m very active in the expat society here (I am the communications and membership committee member and co-run  the Library) but I find if I don’t manage a craft day each week I become VERY cranky. Everyone I know expects me to pull a small piece of cross stitch out of my handbag if ever there is a spare moment!
“The flying Pegasus trading card, pictured above, was made using Pergamano techniques from one of the kits I bought from you, finished with variegated 9mm quilling paper and brads.
“I make a lot of cross stitch cards like the ‘Catitude’ one here. I love using the different coloured Aida that you offer – and would be lost without the many stamps, inks, blending chalks and accessories that I have bought from you!
“I also knit, crochet, do Wasgij jigsaws and am currently making your latch hook mat ‘Monterey  Sunset’. I still hope to teach myself lace making using a number of the books and kits that I have ordered from your catalogues over the years.
“Thank you for Crafty Yarns as well. There have been a couple of times I have found something mentioned in the newsletter which has piqued my interest and I end up eventually purchasing.
“In fact, I ALWAYS find something in the catalogue to add to my wish list – and I hope they continue to arrive in my email for many years to come.
Why not write us a letter? We love to hear from you – and you will get a $40 voucher to spend on anything you like in our catalogue!
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Step-by-step: ‘Photo Pearls'
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'Photo Pearls' Starter Kit (Code: 29328
)
Warning!!! This craft is outrageously addictive! If you don’t have room in your life for another all-consuming passion, turn your eyes away  now!
How do I even begin to describe the fun we have all had using the ‘Photo Pearls’ Starter Kit (code 29328)? It doesn’t look like much at  first – a CD containing easy-to-use software, a palette of 30 colour-coded beads, two large adhesive sheets and four reusable pegboards. However, once you load the software onto your computer I can promise you, you’ll love this set!
 The idea of the ‘Photo Pearls’ is that you can import any digital picture you like into the program and it breaks the image down into into a combination of 30 colours. A chart is then printed out in sections, which you place under each of the transparent plastic pegboards. From there it is like painting by numbers except that you use beads. You simply place the colour bead indicated by the chart into the correct position – and before your eyes an image emerges from the page! It is quite unbelievable. When you’ve finished, you remove the pegboard and the adhesive  sheet secures the beads in place. It’s that simple – and you can see how incredible the end result is!
I plan to make a ’Photo Pearl’ of each of my kids and then move on to extended family/friends. I figure they’ll make amazing and quite unique gifts for any occasion. Just make sure you stock up on extra beads before you start, though, as there is nothing more frustrating than running out half way through a project... 10/10!!!
'Garden Bug Pancake Griddle' (Code: 29333
)
This is an incredibly simple yet enormously fun idea – as most of the best ones are – and is ideal to have on hand when youngsters come around for a meal.
The cast-iron, non-stick ‘Garden Bug Pancake Griddle’ (code 29333) makes the world’s grooviest pancakes! Whether it’s butterflies and friendly ants for ‘little miss’ or dangling spiders and wiggling worms for ‘master gruesome’, kids will love their breakfast or afternoon tea every time!
The griddle is really well made and is a surprisingly heavy piece of equipment (considering its compact size). I guess the idea is that the pan heats up slowly and evenly so your hot cakes don’t burn. Although it has a non-stick surface, I still placed a little butter on each insect so my pancakes would brown nicely and show up their designs more clearly.
My pancakes worked first time and the kids were rapt! They all spent as much time playing with their food as they did eating it, which made for smiles all around.
A real winner, this one. 9/10!.
We hope you enjoyed this online edition of Crafty Yarns Online. Why not Email us with your story and photos - and win yourself a voucher? Also, don't forget to come and visit our website!!! Also remember to check out our new online community at www.chatterfox.com.au/ and until next time... keep crafting!
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