I have to admit I’d been thinking of doing this myself, as I prefer to support smaller independent bookstores. I had put the links in as a service to people who stop here and for some reason or other trust my advice in books on needlework. But the state of North Carolina and Amazon have made the decision for me.
North Carolina instituted a program this week that makes retailers responsible for sales taxes on any purchases made through a “click through” program such as an affiliate program. My understanding is that this means that even if someone in Oklahoma buys a book through my Amazon link, Amazon is required to collect sales taxes on it and pay it to North Carolina. Or maybe it means that they have to keep track of clicks coming to them through my site AND from North Carolina and are only responsible for taxes on those… I honestly don’t understand the ramifications of this yet. It’s something I’m looking into, because it might affect any other small independent business that I choose to support.
Because of this, Amazon has terminated my affiliate status. Just because I happen to live in North Carolina. I feel for the people in the state who are making their living through affiliate programs. (And there are some.)
What it means right now, though, is that the link to the store of books I recommend is no longer available. And the links to books from my past book reviews will not be available until I figure out what to do. Hopefully I’ll figure something out soon. Do go read the reviews and buy the books from your local bookstore, though! The books are just that good.
But first I’m going to explain how I came to the answer, because given the comments and number of them, there may be some questions.
This afternoon I pulled up the post and l copied all 25 comments into a word document, turning them into 2 column layout and then cutting the comment out. I then removed the comments from me. *grin*\
I then removed the three extra posts from Michelle (who had inadvertently mistyped her url). Then I had my godson, who is 2 weeks away from being 12, draw the name out of my hat. And draw it out he did. He wouldn’t give me the slip of paper.
He started spelling…
M…
I…
C…
Yup. Michelle, you didn’t get any extra tries for the extra comments, but you still won the book! For those of you who didn’t win, and still want a copy…
Here’s the link to the Amazon. It really is an amazing book. When I was reviewing it so I could post the giveaway I kept finding reasons I should keep it. . . I could do this with this pattern… or that with the other one. But I knew I’d never get around to it!
So Michelle, email me your address and I’ll get it shipped out to you.
I have a bit of an addiction. If it’s a stitch dictionary, if I don’t already own it I am probably standing there considering buying it. Recently I have become more adept at turning myself down when that inner child starts begging, “but MOMMY, it’s a stitch dictionary! I WANT it!!!”
A-Z of Embroidery Stitches: v. 2
Until this one. Now, you have to understand – I don’t own the first volume. Not because I don’t want to – if I find it reasonably priced I’ll probably buy it, too. (I also hate incomplete sets, even if you don’t need all the volumes!)
I bought this volume because it came highly recommended for crazy quilters. I’m always looking for new stitches and combinations of stitches, even though I don’t often do crazy quilting.
Because this is a companion volume, it is missing the very basic stitches that you find in most stitch dictionaries. For me, with all those dictionaries on my shelf, this is itself an advantage. There is an introductory section on how your choice of thread – twist direction, tightness, ribbon, etc, may effect the look of a stitch, how to keep work clean in a hoop, and how to choose the right needle. The tips provided may even prove useful for the experienced embroiderer — I know I found ideas I hadn’t thought of or ever been taught.
The stitches themselves are illustrated with step by step photographs that make it very easy to reproduce them on your own fabric. And the entire book is filled with spot illustrations of vintage tools, and also of completed projects from various Country Bumpkin publications. All in all, a pretty book that I look forward to using until beyond the point it wears out!
