Without going into details that would bore any but the most devoted stitcher, let me just say "NO, I can't use that other canvas."
Back in March of 2020, when virus hysteria first got its spidery fingers around the neck of humanity, I was most concerned with taking care of my family. Like most people, I couldn't think beyond the day I was dealing with. But things quickly evolved.
Unlike most people, I already worked from home so the shut downs and lock-ins didn't disturb my daily routine a bit. I rather enjoyed being able to run all my errands without encountering traffic. What I didn't consider was that every stitcher in the world had just been sent home and told to stay there.
Remember 'two weeks to flatten the curve'? Ha.
My orders skyrocketed. We were getting panicky orders from all points on the compass from stitchers who couldn't bear the idea of being stuck at home with nothing to do. Needlepoint is very therapeutic so in addition to keeping their hands busy, it calms the minds of those who do it. When I got my stimulus check, my plan was to buy double the amount I usually keep on hand of all three sizes of the canvas I use. That required a hefty chunk of k-ching.
My supplier is in California. You can see the writing on the wall, can't you?
My first fear was that the warehouse would be deemed a 'non-essential business' and shut down. I don't know exactly what happened but it was several days before I got through to anyone who could fill my order. The good news is that they were not shut down and in a week, I was loaded for bear.
Despite the huge amounts of canvas I ordered at the time, I've had to repeat that order a few times in the duration of this new world order. I've always considered my job to be the epitome of a first world endeavor; frivolous, even. This pandemic claims that I'm actually an 'essential worker' (this detail alone should set off alarms that we've handled this thing wrong from the very beginning) and that a large portion of the world owes their psychological well being to me. Yeah, we're destroying an entire generation of kids just to keep these old folks alive a few more months so we don't want them going rogue. I mean, we didn't ruin the children just to end up with huge hordes of bored, frightened and angry old ladies marauding through the streets looking for action, did we? That would make the zombie apocalypse look like a picnic. I'm the reason that hasn't happened.
You're welcome.
Then along came the supply chain snarls. Unlike Jen the Psasshole, we're not out here waiting on our exercise equipment, we're waiting on the materials we need to keep our heads above water.
Although, what's with looking down your nose at exercise equipment? We're in the midst of a global health crisis, shouldn't anything that helps people get and stay fit and healthy be encouraged? The fact that our local and national governments have done nothing in the last 20 months to educate and encourage people to look to their own nutrition, fitness and immune system health is Exhibit A in the case that this is not and has never been about health and safety. But that's another, longer, angrier post for another day.
My west coast supplier has remained open for the duration of this emergency. But they ran out of #13.
All you need to know about that is that #13 is the size preferred by most customers for everything larger than a purse and for everyone who can no longer read without glasses. Did I mention that the vast majority of my customers are old?
I ran out of #13 in September. I still had a pile of orders to fill on #13.
There was no #13 to be bought wholesale, anywhere in the US. Someone asked me if I could find any retail...that was someone who has never tried to run a business. The economic illiteracy of most Americans scares me to death.
If it costs me $10.00 and two hours to paint something and the minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, and I've been honing my craft for 47 years, how much do you think I should charge? Don't forget: the shop has to make a profit too. How much are people willing to pay for original artwork? If we charge too much, we're out of business and we starve. If we charge too little, we go broke and we starve. It's tricky.
My supplier assured me that the canvas had been shipped from Germany...it just hadn't arrived at their warehouse. In early October, the word was that the canvas could be here...by November 1st.
We contacted every customer who had orders in the queue, apprised them of the situation and gave them a choice: they could have their designs on #16 (the number refers to the amount of stitches per linear inch; the smaller the number, the larger the gauge) or they could wait. A dozen of them opted to wait.
And wait they did.
And wait some more.
November 1st came and went with no #13 arriving in California.
By this time, the whole country was aware of the supply chain problems. Ships laden with everything under the sun were stuck off the coast of California, waiting to be allowed into ports that were overflowing with products and understaffed with actual workers who could get the stuff off the ships and onto trains/trucks, etc. and on the road to the consumers who need them.
Politicians never can understand that employees are a very important part of the economic equation; raise the minimum wage and jobs become more expensive and therefore less available, pay people to stay home and you've destroyed the supply/demand equilibrium. Thanks for the economic chaos, geniuses.
That's why you're still waiting for your lumber/fabric/furniture/hardware etc. There aren't enough people to unload the ships, load the trucks, drive the trucks and get them to you. The utopian dream of not having to work has the real life nightmare effect of not producing any of the things we need, much less want.
Not that I think needlepoint canvas is a 'need'. All joking aside, I'm well aware of my perch high atop the needle sharp point of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. But I'm like the guy on the mountaintop, watching the flood waters reach his front steps: everyone else is already drowning and I don't want anyone to drown!
People tell me to calm down, I'm doing fine. This is the same philosophy that would say "what do you care that the south has slaves? you're neither a southerner nor a slave." Or "what do you care what is happening to the Jews in Europe? You're neither a European nor a Jew?"
Well, I'm a human and I can't bear to watch people lose their livelihoods or liberty by force, fraud or fear. It pisses me off. ( yeah, I've got several long, angry posts inside my head that I don't want to take the time to unpack and examine. I've got better things to do.)
November moved on. Lots of people were willing to work on #16 and G's idea of Christmas in Pink has been a huge hit! Even without #13, I've had plenty to do. I did order an extra 10 yds of #16 while they had it.
Then, a Thanksgiving Miracle!
I got word that the #13 had finally made it off ship; not the 54" width that I prefer but 40". I prefer the 54" because I end up with less waste but beggars really shouldn't be choosers. I called the supplier. Yes!! I ordered 5 yds of the 40".
Five days later, a familiar shaped box was dropped off at my door. My heart leapt for joy! Until I picked it up. I could tell it was wrong before I even opened it. You can't deal with a product for nearly 5 decades without learning what it feels like and this box wasn't heavy enough to be #13. Sure enough, it was 5 yds, 40" wide of #18.
I don't need #18. I've got a lot of #18, which is really only used for Christmas ornaments and very small pieces. I contacted my supplier. My fear was that it had all been a terrible misunderstanding and they really don't have any #13 at all. The reality was that it had all been a terrible misunderstanding and someone grabbed the wrong roll to ship me: my #13 was still standing in a corner with my name on it. Not only that but the gal I work with had set aside 2 rolls of 5 yds, just in case I needed it. I said "YES, send it all to me."
At this point, the idea of ever being able to get it in the 54" width seemed like an impossible dream. With 40", there would be more waste but I'd be back in business. She wrapped it up and shipped it to me.
The next morning I got another call from the coast.
The 54" had finally arrived, did I still want 10 yds?
YESYESYES AS GOD IS MY WITNESS YES, I DO!!!
Yesterday, 10 yds of 40" arrived on my doorstep. I expect the 54" will be here Monday or Tuesday.
Once again, I'm loaded for bear and ready to roll. I may not have to order canvas at all in 2022, which is great since I'm not at all sure I'd be able to get it.
And the blue haired zombie apocalypse has been postponed, once again.
You're welcome.