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I've been scammed!

2/20/2025

17 Comments

 
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he story I am about to tell you is a bit embarrassing, but I’ll suck it up buttercup, it needs to be told, maybe it will help someone not make the same mistake.  

I’m not gullible in any way, shape or form.  I’ve had enough crap inflicted on me in 66 years to be wary, do a bit of zig and zag to protect my back from the knives, and I follow the old adage, if it’s too good to be true it probably is.  In this world, it should be a mantra we all practice to protect ourselves from scammers because they are everywhere.  I was in the bank yesterday and there was a leaflet on the counter on fraud and the first item listed was that the bank will never phone you to enlist you in an undercover sting. What? OMG what? This actually happens? Enough to make it to #1 position on the long list? Before, I might have laughed at the incredibility of it all, but after being scanned myself I had to dust off my empathy and shake my head. 
     
A few weeks ago, I was on my phone and a business pops up on Facebook called Logan – Toronto.  Of course, this Maritimer immediately thought Ontario, as I’m sure the scammers hoped.  Ontario, Canada has a safe, hometown, neighborly kind of feel., after all most Canadians have a reputation of being warm and fuzzy.  And, there was a believable storyline that two sisters, who have loved running the company for decades, selling top quality clothing for men and woman, had decided to retire to spend more time with grandchildren.  What a sweet story right? Highly relatable and believable.  They were reducing their inventory at sell out pricing, by 80%, blah blah blah, sweaters priced at more than $300.00 were now going for $59.95 - $69.95.  Wow, almost too good to be true. Right?

Momma didn't raise no fool, I went on Google and checked to see if it was a legitimate  company with a website and sure enough, there it was with a beautiful storefront photo and links to all their merchandise, pages of gorgeous, high-end sweaters and clothing with exciting, slashed pricing.  I won’t say that I was salivating but I dabbed the corners of my mouth while I visualized some of these beauties on my back. A new knitter, I could really appreciate the craftmanship and colour work in the sweaters, so I went ahead and ordered three off the website.  

The very next day, on Facebook again, Logan – Toronto came up with the same ad and when I perused the comments, that had not been there the day before, there were lots of complaints, saying that it was a scam based in Hong Gong.  I thought crap, did I just throw away $188.00?  Some of the people who posted said that once they realized it was a scam they demanded their money back and got a refund.  Refund? Scammers give refunds? I wondered if these were real people or the scammer making themselves look legit? I was mulling that over when I checked my email and was told my purchases were on their way with tracking numbers that I could click on to view but I worried if I clicked, I’d get a virus.  I figured something was coming and was curious to find out what and played the waiting game.  I figured if I didn’t receive what I’d ordered, it would be a good lesson learned and figured my credit card might bail me out if I was scammed.
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In two weeks, the package arrived with a Toronto address on it.  They must have shipped the items to Ontario, and someone there redirected my parcel to make it look legit? The package that arrived at the post office was about as weighty as three sweaters and I held my breath until I got to the shop to open it. 

Well, my oh my.  In my wildest dreams I couldn’t have conjured up this scenario. The beautiful sweaters I’d ordered were nonexistent, replaced with cheap polyester garments that I would never be caught dead in. What they are is some sort of computer printing of the similar, basic image from the sweaters.  Fake as laminated flooring with the image of real wood printed on it.   I’m no fashionista, I like simple, natural, breathable fibers and no offence to older ladies, cause I’m one, it looked like grandma clothes styling from back in the 80’s.  Hipster, smartly dressed grandmas today wouldn’t look twice at these items on a rack.  The material is gross to touch, my hands are a bit rough and they catch on the manmade fabric as if touching pantyhose with sanding paper.  

I had ordered size L and two would have fit me but the third one, although it was labelled L, was big enough to fit 3xx.  No quality or control at all, probably sweat shop knocks offs, manufactured at lightning speed.  
The laughable part is I received an email saying that my items had been delivered and quote, “We hope we met your expectations and look forward to welcoming you back as a customer soon.”  I replied and told them exactly what I thought but it was bumped back as undeliverable.   

My next move is to phone the credit card company and admit I’ve been taken and deliver the items to the nursing home to be shared with a couple of residents.  These garments are washable so they can be thrown in the machine without risk of shrinking and will deliver a little colour into someone’s life.   And guess what?  All those TEMU ads on FB that keep popping up have been posting the VERY SAME SWEATERS with the very same model wearing them.  Just beware folks.   

These three gorgeous sweaters are what I ordered. (See above photo as well)
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And this is what I received.....
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17 Comments

Slaps on the back for us all!

2/20/2025

1 Comment

 
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After 25 years in the business and 26 under my belt as a rug hooker, I’ve pretty much seen and heard it all, although I often still manage to learn new things. Over the years, I’ve been asked a myriad of questions and have provided assistance, explaining and sharing all the knowledge I’ve learned.  I am an open and honest, tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal, so if you need assistance, it’s guaranteed I will share. I am a bit of a fountain that way, quenching the thirst of eager beginners, even offering tips and tricks to experienced rug hookers that might need a bit of tweaking to make their rugs shine even more. Is it okay to toot my own horn?  Am I sounding full of myself?  Well maybe I am; full of something that is…. love for this craft and all that imbibes in the making of a rug.    
I marvel at how much rug hooking has influenced my life.  I’m truly immersed in this craft, its on my mind a great deal, running like a hamster on a wheel in my head.  I’m always thinking about how I can improve the studio, thinking about new designs, always looking at nature to discover a new colour. Remembering customers that made my day all the better, smiling knowing I may have done the same for them.  It doesn’t get much better than this.  My life has meaning outside of myself, providing a service to this tightly knit community and it brings me so much satisfaction. My hat size has expanded from all the kindness and appreciation from the customers that frequent the studio, and I’m proud knowing they can expect the very best quality and products that we create here.  

I have a met so many wonderful people, many who I call friend.  In one way or another, rug hooking and my passion for wool has infiltrated every part of my life, especially all the dust. LOL.   The studio is like being wrapped in a comfy, woolly cape, surrounded by a rainbow of colour.  Every day I walk through the door of my studio, I smile and feel lucky and wonder what adventure and excitement will happen today. 

I’ve brought countless numbers to the rug hooking fold through beginning classes and inspiring people who visit the studio.  I’ve witnessed many taking it a step further, becoming shop owners, teachers and artists holding gallery exhibits of their work.  As an ambassador for this craft, nothing pleases me more than to see how the love of fiber, has brought so much joy to so many.  Endless hours of discovering colour in ways you never thought possible.  Having an inspired vision, selecting a pattern or designing your own and bringing it to fruition through the advent of colour pretty much sums up what we are all about.  I think we all need to slap our own backs once and awhile.  We are all truly a magnificent! 

That brings me to Jeanne Denton Cosman who visited the studio to find out how to finish her first rug from a kit she purchased a while back.  For a first project I was suitable impressed but what shone even brighter was the enthusiasm she exuded.  We might be adults but when we create beauty, making colour bloom before us, we become as giddy and excited as children.  For me, it brings tears to my eyes to see one of our designs made into a rug.  Silly ole me I think, but it’s like endorphins when seeing a newborn baby all the joy and amazement  wrapped up together, bubbling over and manifesting moist eyes.  
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Jeanne and I we talked cording, whipping and rug binding, the final destination in every rug hooking journey.  I could see she was proud and truly smitten and I wonder what delights will come next?   

1 Comment
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    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

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    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
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