I usually find them in thrift stores for a quarter.  mostly old british ones.   But subscriptions here in Canada are too expensive unless they are Canada magazines.  I get Today Parent with an airmiles reward of 100 airmiles and mil does that with Chateline and airmiles. 

 

 

I gave up on a couple of cross stitch subscriptions a few years ago. IMO the designs seemed repetitious, too delicate and too much emphasis on the frames the needlework was displayed in. One magazine in particular takes the same few images: houses, hearts, cats, hatboxes, and patchwork quilts and rearranges them so nothing changes. I do go to one website called 123 stitch. They have a good selection and a very active message board.

I liked the detail of doing cross stitch, but not doing the finishing touches, like the back stitch outlining or paying someone to frame it for me professionally, which I never did due to the expense of it. I have several pictures done that just sit in a drawer because I can't decide on how I want them framed. Edey

 I made a decision to make sure my artwork fits standard off the shelf frames. This decision was two-fold.  I, or my recipient (my family), could always find space for an approximately 8 x 10 piece, but really large pieces would be problem. Off the shelf frames are much cheaper in price. I replace the mat board with an acid free one. I have also given this advice to my art students. There are many sites that describe how to frame embroidery such as this one: http://members.aol.com/hblossomxs/frame.html

I agree with you. Finishing touches to anything can become tedious. :-) 

I too have a trunk full of finished but unframed pieces. I agree about fitting needlework into "standard" size frames. Sometimes you can find larger antique frames at garage sales. You can take smaller size square pieces and stitch them to decorator pillows.