Cross-point and the price of needlepoint
John & Liz Hampton
> I just found out about a new technique called cross-point (www.cross-
> point.com). The designs are really beautiful but the kits cost between
> $165 and $350! I was shocked and it got me to wondering why
> needlepoint is so expensive when compared to cross stitch. I wouldn't
> mind trying needlepoint but the cost is prohibitive. So, for now, I'm
> going to stick with my beloved cross-stitch.
>
> Lei
The GOOD canvases (or kits, if they're good ones) are expensive because they
may be hand painted and because NP yarn is more expensive than floss. I
love both of them. I've done cheap kits and I've done more expensive (small
<lol>) canvases. Once you've tried to do a straight line on a "cheap"
screened canvas that was printed at a slight angle, you will really
appreciate the hand painted ones. :-))) Yes, it is possible to adapt, but
then it's not fun anymore. :-)) I'm doing one now (well, it's in my UFO pile
<lol>) that just has the outlines drawn in black and I follow a "picture" to
fill in the colors. Obviously, it is a fairly simple picture without loads
of color changes. There are also charts that you can do in NP or in XS. Lula
and Sharon G both do beautiful NP canvases. With the really nice canvases,
you could hang them up without ever touching a piece of yarn. :-))) You can
also NP with floss (more strands - or smaller canvas) if you like, for
different effects. :-)) Pssssst. Sharon G, did you ever decide to do a
"shooters" bra????? with a "film" border and camera lenses for "cups"?????
Liz from Humbug
Remove knots to reply.
Lei
point.com). The designs are really beautiful but the kits cost between
$165 and $350! I was shocked and it got me to wondering why
needlepoint is so expensive when compared to cross stitch. I wouldn't
mind trying needlepoint but the cost is prohibitive. So, for now, I'm
going to stick with my beloved cross-stitch.
Lei
--
WIP: Mary Engelbreit Believe Santa Advent Calendar
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Deb from ToonTown
>
> I just found out about a new technique called cross-point (www.cross-
> point.com). The designs are really beautiful but the kits cost between
> $165 and $350! I was shocked and it got me to wondering why
> needlepoint is so expensive when compared to cross stitch. I wouldn't
> mind trying needlepoint but the cost is prohibitive. So, for now, I'm
> going to stick with my beloved cross-stitch.
>
magazine. It's really just cross stitch on a bigger scale. IIRC, she
had some trouble finding a suitable ground fabric. It may be custom
made which would account for some of the price.
Deb B
--
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~
I haven't lost my mind...it's backed up on disc somewhere
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~
Deb Heck
something because all I could find was the page to order a catalog
for $5. I couldn't find anywhere to actually view the designs and
prices. Hmph. While I'm not saying that her prices are unreasonable,
I'm totally turned off by having to pay $5 for a catalog only to find
out afterward that the price range is that high. She's obviously put
the effort into a good website, why not put the designs on it?
Deb
debheck at home dot com
currently working on Paula Vaughan's Good Neighbors
Lei
that we'd like to see the kits on her website. In any case, I saw the
kits for sale at www.needlepoint.com. They were gorgeous but way out
of my price range!
EmbrdrKBH
>You don't have to buy kits to enjoy needlepoint.
> You should be able to find wools in hanks which will be
>less expensive than "knots" which usually have 10 strands of threads (wool)
>at
>3 ply or more. If you've stitched from charts before you can do it again
I agree with Victoria completely! You can do your own thing on needlepoint
canvas. All of your cross-stitch graphs will work on needlepoint canvas.
Wool too expensive? Use floss! There are LOTS of great threads that can be
used! But floss is great to start with, it is not expensive and it is
beautiful!
You can even draw on the blank canvas yourself! What?! You can't draw? Me
either! Trace!! It works!
Have some fun!
Karen
Louisville
Lei
First, she says that the kits are expensive because the materials are
100% wool with 100% background. The finished sizes are also large with
some up to 24"x24". Second, she said that she does not put the catalog
up on the web for personal reasons. I'm not sure exactly what that
means.
I wonder how many people have tried cross-point and what they all think
of it.
Alison Hendon
>
>> You should be able to find wools in hanks which will be
>>less expensive than "knots" which usually have 10 strands of threads (wool)
>>at
>>3 ply or more. If you've stitched from charts before you can do it again
The inventor of cross-point uses some kind of imported jute for a
background fabric. Of course you could use her charts (there were a
couple in the Stitchery magazine) on some other fabric but then IMHO
you aren't really doing her idea of "cross point" (which I find kind
of peculiar anyway - it's just cross stitch in wool, seems to me)
Alison
Nancy Marino
case of the designer in question). This is the same technique used by Elizabeth
Bradley in her designs. She calls it Vcitorian needlepoint because that it
apparently how it was worked back then. It keeps the canvas from becoming distorted
as it tends to when worked only in tent stitch (ie, hald cross stitch).
I fine that needlepoint kits are too expensive. You pay for the stamped canvas,
plus the design, plus the wool. I prefer to buy the books (for example, Ehrman
needlepoint has lots of books with exquisite designs, and for about $20 you get a
dozen or so charts and color pictures. Ditto Elizabeth Bradley). Then I buy canvas
and wool and go for it. Kits tend to run at least $75 and to well over $100. Do it
yourself (after purchasing the book) can cost $30-40, depending on size and number
of colors used. Much better!
Nancy
Victoria wrote:
> What is cross point? By the way, all my needlepoints always have full
> backgrounds, they are always made of wool, and the most I ever spent on Appleton
> (very fine wools in my opinion) was 40 dollars for a piece which was
> approximately 20x20. The canvas was another...oh, 10 dollars (but it cost me
> about 20 dollars because I could not just by a half width of the canvas. Even
> the pieces I stitched in Victorian cross never cost me that high amount.
>
> Can you please post the URL again?
>
> Thanks,
> Victoria
val189
canvas - like 5" x 5" -- and it was 65 dollars. I nearly choked. KIts
invariably never supply enough wool and you end up writing and praying
they can send enough to complete the project. Better to use the designs
and buy your own plain canvas and pick your own colors.
tin...@my-deja.com
val189 <val...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> I agree - the kits are expensive. I recently saw JUST a small,
painted
> canvas - like 5" x 5" -- and it was 65 dollars. I nearly choked.
Just a reminder, painted canvases are Hand Painted...always by a
person ;-) many times by the Designer (yours truly, in my case) and the
prices reflect that. Basically, you are paying for a Hand Painted copy
of an Original Painting/Work of Art, as opposed to a mass produced
printed/silk screen copy of a Work of Art.(No offence to anybody is
intended).
Happy Stitching,
Tink
Tink Boord-Dill Needlework
Elegant and Contemporary Needlework
http://www.tinkbd.com
for the Discerning Stitcher.
rosaleah
hand-painted canvases. I've stood and admired many of them, tho. It's just
that they are sooo expensive ... and if I did buy one, I think I'd just hang
it as is -- I know I wouldn't want to stitch over it; I'd be afraid of
messing it up one way or another, first of all, and secondly it seems
somehow sacriligious to be stitching over someone's artwork.
I don't understand how or why anyone does it (tho people *must* buy them or
designers wouldn't be painting them). I'm soooo much more at ease working
from a chart!
--Rosaleah
<tin...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8o993e$aag$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
rosaleah
why these original works of art are so expensive; alas, I can't afford to
purchase them (or I would join the ranks of the collectors for sure). I've
never questioned the cost, wouldn't dream of doing so, really, I am a strong
believer in people being well paid for their talents and expertise, just my
pocketbook is so thin. <g>
I'm aware that the needlework shops, such as they are here in NYC, have
"house designers" who work up designs to order for needlepointers. Was
thinking that, given a very special occasion, I could perhaps save up for
that sometime. (In fact, my daughter's getting married next year ...) Even
then I'm not at all sure I could bring myself to stitch over the artwork. I
know -- silly me!
Good to know, tho, that I'm not alone in admiring the canvases as works of
art in and of themselves. As well as knowing that so many others enjoy
turning them into their own works of needleart. Maybe someday I'll join
those ranks, too.
--Rosaleah (so many designs, so little time ...)
"Lula" <wooly...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:39A86A...@earthlink.net...
> Hello Roseleah,
>
> My fellow canvas designer friend, Tink Bord-Dill has given you the basic
> reasons about the cost of handpainted canvas costs.....I'm just going to
> elaborate further....
>
> Hahaha, even though I design and paint canvases as my business, I well
> understand what you mean about stitching over a hand painted
> canvas.......I buy many of my fellow designer's canvases (piles of them)
> and also hate the idea of stitching over them....in fact, people have
> told me, some frame my canvases as is to enjoy....I also have some
> canvases hanging on my wall for the same purpose......hand painted
> canvases are original paintings, pieces of art.....
>
> I have several very expensive, large handpainted rug canvases I've
> bought through the years that I haven't stitched yet......but I have a
> couple of these canvases hanging on my studio wall to
> admire.......hahaha, so they keep reminding me to stitch
> them.....overall, it makes me happy to know I have the designs I've
> collected.....and I'll always have them in my stash even the person
> stops painting them as it happens.....
>
> Fortunately, there are quite a lot hand painted canvas fans out there
> who keep us designers in business....I've been doing this for well over
> 15 years and still enjoy creating and painting new designs......I'm also
> one of the very few designers that completely paints all her own work
> for sale.
>
> One of the main reasons people buy handpainted canvases are the
> uniqueness of the designs....this is where handpainted needlepoint
> excels....one can choose among thousands of unique patterns or have one
> custom designed.
> Most needlepointers will stitch a canvas with their own choice of
> threads and stitches, further making what they stitch a true original.
>
> Unlike the charted design world where thousands and thousands of the
> same design are printed and produced.....handpainted canvas is limited
> to what can be individually handpainted....
>
> In the needlepoint world, we have many fans too.....there are people who
> will "collect" a certain designer among many....I have a few fans that
> have collected just about all the canvas series I've ever created and
> painted.
>
> Speaking for myself....some of the reasons hand painted needlepoint is
> expensive are....
> you are paying for my skills as an artist and the unique designs I
> create .....you are paying for an original artwork.........my
> materials....as I use the best canvas and expensive artist quality
> paints, brushes, this makes a trememdous difference in the quality of
> the painted design one stitches....as well as my skill in painting a
> perfectly stitchable canvas to follow...
>
> Most of my canvas designs take hours to paint as I paint in every detail
> and many colors.
> I don't just use shading to differentiate areas...I actually paint in
> the lines that you follow to stitch and be able to create the feeling of
> depth and movement which is a lot more work....but looks great stitched
> than just a blob of colors.
>
> Even though I paint constantly and am set up to paint production work, I
> couldn't believe it took me 5 hours the other night just to "quickly"
> slap on some paint for a canvas design I wanted to stitch for a
> model...I was basically doing a simple scribbly, wash of colors on
> canvas.......but for me and other hand painted canvas fans....we love
> stitching without charts.....another major reason for the popularity of
> this needlepoint art.
> ---
> Lula
> http://www.woolydream.com
> Needlework Adventures
tin...@my-deja.com
>I know I wouldn't want to stitch over it; I'd be afraid of
> messing it up one way or another, first of all, and secondly it seems
> somehow sacriligious to be stitching over someone's artwork.
I know what you mean about that! I feel that way about Lula's
incredible designs. *VBG*
Actually , most stitchers who prefer Hand Painted Canvas say that they
find it much more relaxing than having to refer to a chart. Many of
them use exotic threads and decorative stitches and it is much easier
to stitch a painted area than it is to try to follow a chart while
doing a fancy stitch.
Since I design Counted Cross Stitch, Counted Canvas, and Painted
Canvas, my preference is always for the new design that I'm excitd
about!
;-)
Tink
Tink Boord-Dill Needlework
Elegant and Contemporary Needlework
for the Discerning Stitcher.
http://www.tinkbd.com
Lula
> it as is -- I know I wouldn't want to stitch over it; I'd be afraid of
> messing it up one way or another, first of all, and secondly it seems
> somehow sacriligious to be stitching over someone's artwork.
>
> I don't understand how or why anyone does it (tho people *must* buy them or
> designers wouldn't be painting them). I'm soooo much more at ease working
> from a chart!
>
> --Rosaleah
>
> <tin...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8o993e$aag$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > In article <8o8i85$hup$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> > val189 <val...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> > > I agree - the kits are expensive. I recently saw JUST a small,
> > painted
> > > canvas - like 5" x 5" -- and it was 65 dollars. I nearly choked.
> >
> > Just a reminder, painted canvases are Hand Painted...always by a
> > person ;-) many times by the Designer (yours truly, in my case) and the
> > prices reflect that. Basically, you are paying for a Hand Painted copy
> > of an Original Painting/Work of Art, as opposed to a mass produced
> > printed/silk screen copy of a Work of Art.(No offence to anybody is
> > intended).
> >
> > Happy Stitching,
> > Tink
> >
> > Tink Boord-Dill Needlework
> > Elegant and Contemporary Needlework
Kathy Hoover
says...
> Most of my canvas designs take hours to paint as I paint in every detail
> and many colors.
> I don't just use shading to differentiate areas...I actually paint in
> the lines that you follow to stitch and be able to create the feeling of
> depth and movement which is a lot more work....but looks great stitched
> than just a blob of colors.
>
> Even though I paint constantly and am set up to paint production work, I
> couldn't believe it took me 5 hours the other night just to "quickly"
> slap on some paint for a canvas design I wanted to stitch for a
> model...I was basically doing a simple scribbly, wash of colors on
> canvas.......but for me and other hand painted canvas fans....we love
> stitching without charts.....another major reason for the popularity of
> this needlepoint art.
> ---
> Lula
> http://www.woolydream.com
> Needlework Adventures
>
>
Just a quick question about hand painted canvas...what sort of
paint do you use? I have always wanted to try my hand at this,
but have no clue what type of paint to use! How do you treat
the canvas prior to painting the artwork! My experience (a long
time ago in a *former life*) is with acrylic or oil paint on
art canvas, or watercolors on appropriate paper. In fact, I have
a watercolor I did (won a blue ribbon!) that I would love to
stitch on canvas. Any advise on materials or prep techniques would
be appreciated! Or maybe there should be a class on this someday?
Kathy Hoover
Lei
better understanding of needlepoint and the accompanying cost. It
certainly sounds amazing. You've piqued my interest and I know I'll be
trying needlepoint in the future.
Thanks again, Lei
Lula
Take a look at the following URL.....it's a basic primer on painting
needlepoint canvas that I wrote up.
http://www.woolydream.com/WDtextpaintcanv.html
I started painting needlepoint canvases for the same reason you're
planning to.....and congratulations on winning a blue ribbon for your
watercolor too!!!
The other reason I started stitching my art work, was falling in love
with the colorful threads and yarns I saw in a needlework shop......I
saw the possibilities of creating my own "textiles" (I'm a former
textile designer).
You'll really enjoy creating your own piece needlework art! Let us know
how you do when you get it done....
---
Lula
http://www.woolydream.com
Needlework Adventures
Lula
Yes in answer to your question.....that is the hardest part of painting
a design from a chart is the fact you'll have to paint in stitch by
stitch on canvas in order to capture the design exactly as
charted.....you could fudge a little and no one will be the wiser.......
the end results will be worth the effort in the actual stitching speed
you pick up once you no longer have to refer to a chart.....this makes
the project very portable and you'll be able to stitch anyplace, start
and stop without worry to losing your place, etc......
Since I know you suffer from pain as I do....needlepoint like this can
be done in bed if necessary and definitely in Dr's offices without too
much fuss with charts and such....
I paint each canvas freehand and individually......generally I pencil in
a very simple outline (for placement on the canvas) tracing on canvas
and then paint from there, filling in details as I go along...very often
I add extra details and change little things as I paint....none of my
canvases are alike but they generally look similar as the models the
shops order from.
On the canvases that have borders and parts that need to be counted...I
do count and plan each thread to make sure all will fall into place as I
paint.
The following is my article on painting a canvas:
http://www.woolydream.com/WDtextpaintcanv.html
---
Lula
http://www.woolydream.com
Needlework Adventures
Victoria wrote:
>
> Wonderful post, Lula. I was wondering if I could ask you a question...
>
> I have often thought about painting the chart onto a canvas myself, but I always
> shy away from it. I am concerned that I will mess it up. What I want to ask
> you is this: I know you design your own canvas, so when you paint, do you
> already have a notion of exactly how many stitches will be this or that color or
> shadow? OR, do you do each production piece individually, and...I think I just
> answered my own question! Let me ask this way: Would I have to paint EACH row,
> color by color, stitch by stitch, in order to have a very accurate hand painted
> canvas, from a chart?
Lula
pick out a design you totally fall in love with!!
It's good to try different needlework techniques....I started with
embroidery and cross stitch as my first stitching projects and then
discovered needlepoint.....then discovered I could draw on a blank
canvas and the rest is "history" as they say, I loved it and found a new
career extension to my life as an illustrator.....
---
Lula
http://www.woolydream.com
Needlework Adventures
Lula
so right....too many designs, too little time......I have hundreds of
charts, canvases from my designer friends...not to mention a few hundred
of my own designs that I'd like to stitch up and see how they'll look!
The most admirable quality of needlepoint is how durable the stitched
piece is and what you can have it made into....
Good luck on planning your daughter's wedding.....I'm sure she'll
treasure whatever you decide to stitch to commemorate this wonderful
occasion.....a handmade gift is a treasure for always!
AnneS
designs? I'm not too worried about the cost of a needlepoint kit, and would
gladly pay the price for one as I don't have a 'wool stash', but I truly
detest stitching on painted/printed charts - I much prefer to stitch on a
blank canvas, just like cross-stitch. Just wondering if that is ever an
option ...
Cheers,
Anne in NZ
<tin...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8o993e$aag$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <8o8i85$hup$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> val189 <val...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> > I agree - the kits are expensive. I recently saw JUST a small,
> painted
> > canvas - like 5" x 5" -- and it was 65 dollars. I nearly choked.
>
> Just a reminder, painted canvases are Hand Painted...always by a
> person ;-) many times by the Designer (yours truly, in my case) and the
> prices reflect that. Basically, you are paying for a Hand Painted copy
> of an Original Painting/Work of Art, as opposed to a mass produced
> printed/silk screen copy of a Work of Art.(No offence to anybody is
> intended).
>
> Happy Stitching,
> Tink
>
> Tink Boord-Dill Needlework
> Elegant and Contemporary Needlework
> http://www.tinkbd.com
> for the Discerning Stitcher.
>
>
Joyce
work. They use the floss and ribbon only on part of the painting, as far as
I have seen, to embellish it. Joyce in RSA.
tin...@my-deja.com wrote in article <8o993e$aag$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
.> Just a reminder, painted canvases are Hand Painted...always by a
tin...@my-deja.com
> One question for the designers out there - do you ever sell charts of
your
> designs? I'm not too worried about the cost of a needlepoint kit,
and would
> gladly pay the price for one as I don't have a 'wool stash', but I
truly
> detest stitching on painted/printed charts - I much prefer to stitch
on a
> blank canvas, just like cross-stitch. Just wondering if that is ever
an
> option ...
Anne -
I'm just starting to cross market some of my newer designs between
Painted Canvas and Cross Stitch. I'm in the process of converting the
Hat Pin Designs from Painted Canvas and Stitch Guides into Counted
Thread (Three of the designs are currently on my home page and the rest
will be added in my upcoming Web Site Update.). The main difference
will be that Cross Stitch is used in place of Tent Stitch, but the
decorative stitches and threads remain the same.
The ground fabric would be changed from 18m Mono canvas to 18ct Linen
over 1...but they could be stitched on either.
For most Painted Canvas designs it doesn't make good economic sense to
convert, but since I already design both... my case is a little
different.
Tink
Tink Boord-Dill Needlework
Elegant and Contemporary Needlework
for the Discerning Stitcher.
http://www.tinkbd.com
Nan Evelyn
news:01c01029$0e3a9e00$LocalHost@joyce...
> tin...@my-deja.com wrote in article <8o993e$aag$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
> .> Just a reminder, painted canvases are Hand Painted...always by a
> > person ;-) many times by the Designer (yours truly, in my case) and
the
> > prices reflect that. Basically, you are paying for a Hand Painted
copy
> > of an Original Painting/Work of Art, as opposed to a mass produced
> > printed/silk screen copy of a Work of Art.(No offence to anybody is
> > intended).
>
> The only hand-painted work I have seen has been for embroidery and
ribbon
> work. They use the floss and ribbon only on part of the painting, as
far as
> I have seen, to embellish it. Joyce in RSA.
Could there be some confusion about terms, or something, Joyce? I have
seen countless hand-painted needlepoint canvases in every LNS I've been
in that carries needlepoint supplies, and on many, many online shops
also. When I wanted to buy one that my shop was out of, and the shop
ordered it for me from the designer, I even specified which person I
wanted to paint my canvas.
Some canvases are printed, but the best are hand-painted by a real human
being.
Nan Evelyn
Kathy Hoover
says...
> Hi Kathy,
>
> Take a look at the following URL.....it's a basic primer on painting
> needlepoint canvas that I wrote up.
> http://www.woolydream.com/WDtextpaintcanv.html
>
> I started painting needlepoint canvases for the same reason you're
> planning to.....and congratulations on winning a blue ribbon for your
> watercolor too!!!
> The other reason I started stitching my art work, was falling in love
> with the colorful threads and yarns I saw in a needlework shop......I
> saw the possibilities of creating my own "textiles" (I'm a former
> textile designer).
>
> You'll really enjoy creating your own piece needlework art! Let us know
> how you do when you get it done....
> ---
> Lula
> http://www.woolydream.com
> Needlework Adventures
been in the back of my mind to get back to painting,
but you know how life is!
Kathy
Fred Kuhn
You are right about hand painted canvases being the best ones. I know of no
other way to numb a root canal job that to do a hand painted canvas. Working
on my second one, - hand painted canvas that is. LOL
Don't backstitch to e-mail just stitchit
Fred
http://www.stitchaway.com
"Nan Evelyn" <par...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Qobq5.1042$p5.1...@newsread03.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Joyce
painted canvases for np or cs, to my knowledge, but I am in South Africa,
and don't have a real NS within 60 km! I haven't inquired about the
"painted" ones I've seen, because although it looks beautiful, I have no
inclination to do that work myself. Joyce in RSA.
Nan Evelyn <par...@earthlink.net> wrote in article > >
Stephanie Peters
>"Joyce" <joy...@global.co.za> wrote in message
>news:01c01029$0e3a9e00$LocalHost@joyce...
>
>> tin...@my-deja.com wrote in article <8o993e$aag$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>> .> Just a reminder, painted canvases are Hand Painted...always by a
>> > person ;-) many times by the Designer (yours truly, in my case) and the
>> > prices reflect that. Basically, you are paying for a Hand Painted copy
>> > of an Original Painting/Work of Art, as opposed to a mass produced
>> > printed/silk screen copy of a Work of Art.(No offence to anybody is
>> > intended).
>>
>> The only hand-painted work I have seen has been for embroidery and ribbon
>> work. They use the floss and ribbon only on part of the painting, as far as
>> I have seen, to embellish it. Joyce in RSA.
>
>Could there be some confusion about terms, or something, Joyce? I have
>seen countless hand-painted needlepoint canvases in every LNS I've been
>in that carries needlepoint supplies, and on many, many online shops
>also. When I wanted to buy one that my shop was out of, and the shop
>ordered it for me from the designer, I even specified which person I
>wanted to paint my canvas.
>
>Some canvases are printed, but the best are hand-painted by a real human
>being.
I think that both Nan Evelyn and Joyce are right. Yes, the best quality
canvases are hand-painted, and therefore reflect that in their cost. Joyce
is originally from UK, where I can assure you I have *never* seen a
hand-painted canvas, only pre-printed ones. Given the historical
associations, I can well believe that the same holds true in South Africa
where Joyce now lives so that Joyce hasn't ever seen one. It's a
geographical thing.
Steph
Manchester, England
who buys painted canvases from US because she can't buy them in England