Is winter over? Is it Spring?
I am really looking forward to Spring! So far this year has not been all that terrific (wind and snow) so I hope things start looking up soon. As you may know, we had to cancel The Great Yosemite Stamp Escape 2020 & 2021.....so we are now set for 2022! After moving April 2020 to October 2020, then to April 2021, and learning that we would most likely not be allowed to have our large group in April this year and possibly not even in the fall.....we bit the bullet and gave up on 2021 entirely. We are so happy that almost all of our ladies have moved to 2022, and as soon as we have reached absolutely everyone who has paid to attend, we will start taking people from our waiting list to fill any vacant spots. We are always happy to take the names of those who are interested in attending April 22, 23. and 24, 2022. As you can imagine this has been a frustrating experience. We know when we do get together, we will have more fun than ever!
Even though things are still a bit unusual in the retail world, I think everyone is trying to adjust. As I told you in a previous newsletter, we attended the virtual show with Spellbinders, Altenew, and Waffle Flower. The event was so successful that there is another one scheduled in June with Spellbinders, Altenew, Hero Arts, Echo Park, Pinkfresh, and Lawn Fawn! We are also gearing up for Virtual Creativation. In fact, tomorrow I will attend a Zoom meeting that will give attendees instructions on how to get the most from the event that will take place March 15-19. It is very different for us since we are in such a tactile business, but everyone is trying to make the best of things!
Speaking of the best of things, Melissa and I have both gotten our first and second Covid vaccines. We have been very fortunate that we have been healthy and as war as we know, our customers have stayed healthy, too. We wanted to get vaccinated as soon as we were allowed as our trip to Ireland was planned for the end of May. Well.....Ireland has extremely strict travel rules. Yesterday we received an email from the travel company saying they were cancelling all tours at least through May. Bummer! Of course, if we are travelling we want to see and do the things we had planned on so we want the country to be fully open. It doesn't sound like they expect that to happen for some time. It is very disappointing! No Stamp Escape in April, no Ireland in May!
I think things may be starting to improve in the shipping world, though. It seems we are having fewer "out of stock" items amd a bit quicker shipping. I don't want to get my hopes up but I can defintiely see a difference.
We really appreciate everyone who stops by or calls to order! You are the greatest! We hope that all businesses will soon be fully open and people will no longer feel isolated. Hang in there!

What's New?
New Easter dies from Spellbinders are here. We should have the Gllimmer machines some time this month. We will also have a variety of foils and Glimmer Plates to use with the machine.....lots of fun!
By the first of next week we will have the full line of the new Graphic 45 paper collection, "Elegance"! I think it might just be my favorite!
We received a large order from Lavinia prior to Robin's class. We sold through a lot of the stamps and stencils, bur have another order in the works. If you want anything from Lavinia be sure to let us know so we can get it added before they ship from Wales!
Our orders from Memory Box and Poppy Stamps have shipped. They had some GREAT dies in their new release. I see a class on the horizon!
Impression Obsession should be shipping any day, and we just sent a large order to Lawn Fawn that will include new stamps and dies as well as their new papers.
We are looking forward to stocking black watercolor cardstock from Hero Arts. It is scheduled to arrive later this month. I think it will be fun to work with watercolor techniques on a black background for dramatic effects.
As we participate in the upcoming virtual events, we will undoubtedly be seeing new products to share with you. We always love seeing what is new...or what was old and is new again (kind of funny some times).
Check out our class schedule, and LIKE us on Facebook!