Well I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the new year! I have been busy, busy with my family and the store. There are lots of new things going on and I want to share them with you.....

We are now an official Thimbleberries Store--complete with a Thimbleberries group who meet on the second Saturday of the month. This year's quilt is a sampler in country colors. Do stop by and see what we're doing.

On Saturday, January 31st, we had our first annual Small Quilt Show. These were lap quilt or smaller in size and were hung in the atrium of the Greenhouse. We had about 30 quilts and the show was very well attended. The doorprize, a selection of fat quarters, was won by Martha Blackmon. Everybody had a great time! We will be having a Large Quilt Show in June, during the Tomato Festival. If you would like to enter a quilt, please let me know.

We have new fabric! Really! Every couple of weeks or so, in come several bolts of lucious colored fabric. You really need to stop by and see what's new, because it comes and goes quickly. Five for Five Tuesdays have been a big hit with our customers. On that day, the first five fat quarters you purchase are $1.00 each. This is a great way to build your stash, so come on by!

We have new classes coming up! Please let me know if any of these interest you, or what you would like to have. I am here to make your quilting experience as fun as possible--because if it isn't fun, we need to make it so!

First, we will be having a block swap. For those of you a little fuzzy in this area, let me explain. You start with a set number of participants. In our case, it will be six. (this is an arbitrary number and may change.) We all make the same block--one for ourselves and one for each of the other participants. On our meeting day we all come with our blocks and share them with each other. You come with six blocks you made and leave with one of your blocks and one from each of the other quilters. This is a great way to add to your block stash! If this is something you would like to do, please let me know by Tuesday, March 10th.

Next, plans are in motion for a MYSTERY QUILT. This is great fun--we will take a Saturday for this. You will make a quilt from directions without knowing what it will look like until the end. We will sew, laugh and EAT! Food is a very important part of any Mystery Quilt and this one will be no exception. Plans are for this to take place on or about April 4th, so you need to make plans to attend. Be sure to let me know so that I can have enough irons, boards, extension cords, etc.

I have had several requests for a hand applique class. I will be giving this sometime in late March, probably on Thursday the 26th, from 6:oo until 8:30. When you sign up for the class, I will let you know about the supply list. You will definitely need close-up glasses for this, so start looking for yours now.

I have found a super technique that looks like great fun... It is from a book called 'Slice 'Em and Dice 'Em Quilts.' You start with some nine patches, attack them with your rotary cutter and chop chop them into pieces. A little reassembly, some magic, and VOILA! a whole new quilt! You won't believe your eyes with this. This is planned for Thursday, March 12th, with a repeat on Sunday, March 22nd for those of you who work.

I will also be starting beginning quilting classes in April. I plan on having classes on Wednesday afternoons, Thursday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. Please let me know which of these times are best for you.
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