For those who might be contemplating using their stitching services, a friend in the area where the business is located says she has learned they are effectively out of business. So don't send anything to them, ok? My friend's sources are very reliable or I wouldn't be printing this rumor. Their website is still there but apparently they are no longer operating.
http://ghoststitchers.com
UPDATE: Cindy tells me that she has been told Ghost Stitchers was run by a husband and wife with stitchers to do the work. He died suddenly and the wife hasn't the heart to carry on alone as he was the driving force of the business. It is very sad.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.
51 comments:
Jane, this was extensively discussed on the cross-stitch forum where I hang out. Ghoststitchers is/was a husband & wife organization (with a stable of stitchers); apparently, the husband was really the "heart & soul" of the business. As I understand it, he passed away suddenly, and she is too heartbroken to continue. Very sad.
Cindy, that is a terrible thing. I will update the article to explain. I didn't know why the company was stopping. Very sad. Thanks for letting us know.
Ghoststitchers is still on Facebook. The last posting by the owner was 10/3 saying she was still working. Got a lot of responses from people willing to stitch for her. So whether she closed shop is certainly unclear from Facebook.
Interesting. One would think that the surviving owner would let folks know if she was closing up shop but all my information is that the company is no longer in business. Until the situation is clarified, I wouldn't send anything to Ghost Stitchers for sure.
Thank you for posting this information. It is so nice to finally understand why I have not heard back from the company. I too am heart broken as I sent them a 98% complete needlepoint Christmas stocking earlier this year (April) hoping to have the project completed by Christmas for my 78 year old mother. I have tried several attempts (calls, email etc) and no response. I would be satisfied just to have the project returned.
I am sorry, Jeff. I wish you'd at least gotten your stocking back.
I am so sorry to hear this news too. They did quite a few projects for me and did fantastic
work. I think I probably talked to the husband and he was very nice and friendly.
I have lots more to be done and have been trying to reach them for probably a year.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?
Let me think.... I believe that Old World Designs and also Needle Nicely offer a stitching service. There are probably others. This is just what floats to the top of my not-so-great memory....
Ok, here's the list from Blog I compiled in Nov. 2013. Hopefully there are more places but this should get you started. You will have to copy/paste this. I can't make URLs in comments clickable. Good luck!
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2013/11/do-you-need-something-stitched.html
I have been trying to contact her by email and phone. The voice mail is full and no one answers the phone. I have emailed numerous times and gotten no response for months. She has one of my pieces out to one of the ghosts and we were missing some of the yarn and I never knew what color(s) because Paul died right about that time. I had paid in advance for the work which is what you di with them. You never know your ghost so there isn't anyway to contact them to find out anything. I realize she lost her husband. I lost mine nearly 7 years ago but they ran a business and at this point those of us that still have items with her need to be able to contact our ghosts so we can get our items completed. do you anyone else who does this service. I used ghoststitchers for years. Does Lynda respond to any thing at all or has she just gone underground?
Thanks for the information.
I would like to have my project returned as well- it wasn't finished we needed more yarn but I didn't know what color(s). I think that was when all this happened.
Thanks for letting me know why I haven't been able to contact anyone.
Linda
As far as I know (and I certainly don't know anything first hand, all my information is second hand) no one responds at all about inquiries to Ghoststitchers. I don't know what happens if you show up in person. In fact, I have no idea exactly where they were based except it was in Upstate NY (which is HUGE).
They have two of my projects. A Christmas stocking and a family tree cross stitch. I am desperate to get them back! I am filing with NY state consumer affairs. I live in MN now. I wish I could drive by and just pick up the items.
Anon, from what I've heard, going to the house wouldn't buy you anything. I don't think the company knows what happened to pieces it sent out to their ghost stitching employees or cares.
They have some of my pieces too! Guess I'll never see my grandmothers work again.
I was one of the ghosts. I still have someone's project from 2012. I would return it if I could find who the client is.
Novice, could you describe the project? If you can tell me what kind it is (crewel, XS, needlepoint, etc.) and describe the subject and size I'll see if I can turn up the owner.
Even better, if you know other former ghost stitchers and we can do a photo gallery, I might be able to find the owners for you to return the items to.
It is cross stitch. It is not a stocking or any kind of Holiday project. I do not know any other of the former ghost stitchers.
What is the deign, Novice? Is it a floral or landscape or a sampler or animal or house? If we have clues to the design theme, maybe we can find the owner. Thanks!
The client id is 9865, project 50008. Its a sunset brand counted cross stitch kit
Thanks! I'll post about this on Blog tomorrow and see if the owner turns up. Stay tuned!
Thanks for answering the mystery of my projects. I sent out two stockings in October 2014 and have left phone messages and sent emails to no avail. How frustrating that there must be boxes stacked up; USPS is still delivering as always and their website is still fully functional. I google mapped the address so it shouldn't be difficult for someone local to stop by? I live in California or I'd be the first to volunteer.....
I am sorry, Nan. Apparently the owner of the business died and his spouse is not responsive to any requests for help or return of items. As you can see above. one ghost stitcher has a piece they'd like to send to its owner. I wish I could help better but apparently the local folks have given up trying to find out more.
Want to know who else does counted cross stitch baby blanket kits.
Sorry, I don't know. I only do needlepoint so I don't know a thing about cross stitch "ghost" stitchers.
I thought there is maybe one of her ghost sticchers that would want to do the cross stitch. I started it and need to get it finished but don't even know where to look for someone now, I got sick and can't get it done. Anybody out there that is willing to get paid to finish it for me?
See if Debbie's interested. She's new and might be willing.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2015/01/secret-stitchers.html
is there another Debbie? Cuz I am Debbie asking if somebody else can do my cross stitch I started and can't get finished
Yes, one of the ladies who does stitching for folks is named Debbie. I mixed her up with Susan who is brand new. It is possible some of the cross stitch forums or your local shop knows someone who will stitch a piece for you, as well. Good luck!
How do I get ahold of someone? I have no idea. Nobody locally does it I've called all over here.
Sorry, I don't know any cross stitchers and don't do it myself so I can't recommend anyone except that you contact the person at the link I gave you.
I went to that link chillyhollownp/2015/01secret stitchers and it says it doesn't exist. Notbsurevif I'm doing it right nevet done this before
That's odd. I didn't have any problem. Why don't you try going to www.secretstitchers.com? Maybe that will work for you.
I was wondering, how do I get my project back? It is completed and paid for. Thanks in advance, Sheila
The simple answer is you don't get it back, regardless of payment being made. The owner doesn't cooperate with any attempts to retrieve items from what I have heard. However, one of the finishers they used tried to find the person whose piece they were given. I'll find the link and post it here in a minute in case it is yours.
Ok, this is the piece the finisher has. Hope it is yours because otherwise you are out of luck.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2014/10/ghost-stitcher-client-id-9865-project.html
I'm sorry to hear the husband passed away and the wife isn't interested in returning paid work to their rightful owners. I've been stitching privately for several years and my clients are always taken care of. I wouldn't dream of shorting these wonderful people who put their trust in me.
Then keep good records and have a plan in case something unexpected happens to you. Even a short hospital stay could really disrupt a business.
Thank you. That's exactly what I've done.:)
Excellent!
I was a former Ghost & didn't get any info that they were no longer in business. Very sorry that folks didn't get thier projects returned.
If you have any projects, please describe them and I'll help you find their owners
This entire fiasco was a nightmare. I was lucky enough to get my project returned unfinished. There is no excuse for not returning these projects . None whatsoever.
Hi. I was a ghost stitcher unail they closed. Have been stitching altogether about 30 years. Cross stitch, counted cross stitch, needlepoint, crewel, decrative embroidery on crazy quilts. I also piece quilts and do a simple serpentine quilting with my sewing machine. I would like to offer my services to anyone who needs a project done, but did not get it sent in. I now do counted cross stitch for Stoney Creek, and did stitching for Imagination and Precious Moments. Email address Angel4him2@frontiernet.net my name is Debbie Taylor, and I live in Hanover, MI
Thank you Gammy. I've saved your contact information. :)
Thank you Suzi. Your good work ethic is very much appreciated.
I used to be a ghoststitcher. I don't have any leftover projects from them but am willing to work on counted cross stitch and embroidery if it is needed. My name is Shannon McPartland and my email is smcpartland@sbcglobal.net. I'm located in Sacramento, CA.
Thanks for the update, Shannon.
Anonymous, did you have any luck with the NY State Consumer Affairs office? I too thought about contacting them or the NY State Attorney General. Or the Postmaster General because selling folks services they fail to deliver and then not making any attempt to even return their unfinished project is likely considered mail fraud. And there is a considerable number of folks that have been affected, myself included. They had done several pieces for me (samplers) and my 'ghost' did beautiful work. They were working on a large piece for me which I had already paid for (based on their previous performances). Like others here I made multiple attempts to contact the wife (who was active in the business with her husband) with no response. I offered to eat the cost or even pay my ghost again to get my work, she didn't even extend the courtesy of a response. But I sent my letter with a signed returned receipt which she did sign to receive.
Since Anonymous's comment is five years old, I am not certain she'll see this. I also don't know if there is any statue of limitations for this sort of problem.
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