Should auld acquaintance be forgot? Not at Nutmeg Lodge---from me and everyone on staff, we send you the wishes for a very Happy New Year--may 2006 be filled with happiness and prosperity--may all your projects be fun and may they be finished before the end of the year. As we prepare to finish out the year, I want to thank each of you for your friendship and support this year. You are what makes Nutmeg Lodge such a warm and happy place. We are dedicated to making your visits not only satisfying with all of your need met but a happy experience as well.

We will start 2006 off with a bang with our fifth annual New Year's Sale. Everything will be marked down 25% storewide with 50% and more items in the back room.

Also, please have a happy and safe New Year's Eve and let's make 2006 the best ever.

Barbara and all the staff

Well, we survived the day--I sure hope that each of you did also. I honestly think that I have had my last meal--and if I didn't, Ishould have. Our day with all of the family present was absolutely magical. As the saying goes, a good time was had by all. The food was great, the gift exchange of totally fun and we all returned home full of good eats and good laughs.

Once again I want to urge each of you that if you are considering a club, now is the time to get busy and come in or call to sign up. We looked over the list on Friday and Primitive Club and Willing Hands is once again close to being closed. Those spots are very precious to don't delay if there is a club you are planning on joining. The Baltimore Album Club, Thimbleberries and Crazy all still have several openings but I had a message on the answering machine over the weekend from someone who wants to join.

Also, class signups are coming a along nicely and if you haven't decided which classes you really need to have, come in soon to see the samples and get signed up for those as well. We really do have a wonderful lineup and these classes really don't exist anywhere else.

And one more thing, if your birthday was in December, then the clock is ticking for getting your birthday fat quarters. Don't forget to come in and take care of that as well.

Look forward to seeing you this week, Barbara

HO, HO, HO MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Twas four days be Christmas and all through the land,
There were quilters everywhere with needles in their hand.
They were stitching and stitching and trying as they may
To have all their projects finished before the big day.
This rhyme could go on but you get the gist--
Your praises will be sung by everyone on your list.

I do hope that each of you have a most wonderful day. We have enjoyed seeing many of you this week. Clubs are filling and many of you have signed up for classes already. The website continues to have a great success--I will remind you once again, the 2006th visitor to the website can print the page and receive $20.06 off their purchase during the sale.

Once again, Merry Christmas and I will post you on Monday next week .

It's almost here!!! I hope that all your shopping is done and the wrapping is almost finished. Your cookies are baked and the pudding ready for the oven. Soon the stockings will be hung and Saint Nick will have filled them to the brim. I know that many of you will have goodies and gift certificates from Nutmeg Lodge.

The newsletter is ready for downloading from the Newsletter button. Also, if you are wanting to look at classes, you can click the Classes button and, likewise the Clubs button will give you just the Club information. Kathy makes it so easy for you to access any part of the newsletter that might interest you. The samples are all hung ready for you to review in person and Antoinette has finished updating the Class Book and we are fully ready to sign up for all your classes and club memberships.

The number of viewers to the Web site has been most encouraging. To celebrate another mile stone, the 2006 viewer can print the front page, bring it to the shop and it will be a gift certificate for $20.06 on the New Year Sale.

We all look forward to seeing you this week. If you are too busy to come in, don't forget that you can sign up for everything by phone or email.

I will say this one more time this week, but Merry Christmas to each of you. Have a blessed day with your family and friends.

Barbara

Well, here we go again. Can you believe it isn't even Winter yet and expecting the second round of weather. It really puts me in the mood for a new project. Of course, my new projects usually consist of samples, but I do enjoy starting something new. We have stocked up on batting so your new projects will have what they need inside. Just in this week--those nice big carriers with wheels and the long handle that makes it really easy to take your machine to class, or retreat or on vacation. These are wonderfully priced and will be a great addition to your wish list for Christmas.

I finished the newsletter and Kathy is working on it--it should be up and running in a few more days. Check on it sometime after Friday.

Our good friend Lynn Fitzharris was in the other day and said that she does not know too much about the computer in her house. It made me think--if you have a friend who hasn't gotten too friendly with her computer, you could print off the front page when there is a coupon and share it with her. Also, remind that person, if they need a copy of the newsletter to stop by and pick up a copy or send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope and we will send one out.

One more reminder, most of Ann and Lou Ann's class projects are in the Photo Album so that you can get an advanced look at them. They will all be on the wall beginning next week so that you can come in and see them in person. Remember that our classes usually fill up fast, so come in and sign up early so that you don't miss your spot.

Stay warm--Barbara

The first snow of the season was tolerated pretty well--Judy and Marcy donned their mittens and boots and had the shop opened by 10:00 and a number of you made your way to shop. As I have mentioned before, it is always best to call and see if we are in. Even though we follow the Berkeley School system guidelines, sometimes we are able to get in well before school is back in session.

We are busy working on the Blocks of the Month and Saturday Sampler block for January, 2006. We are keeping a list of names for those of you who are planning on participating. So if you were not in on Saturday, call or stop by to get your name of the list of your choices.

We are also taking payment for all clubs now. These will all be listed in detail in the newsletter but you can call or stop by and reserve your space now. We are happy to take your credit card by phone if that is more convenient.

I am busy working on the newsletter and have it about half finished. Kathy will begin working on it by Wednesday and it will be one the web by the end of the week if all goes well. I will give you a better timeline during the Wednesday update. I will tell you that we have an unbelievable lineup of classes. All of the teachers have new and exciting things on the schedule. The samples will be on the wall by Saturday for your perusale.

Time is geting close for the jolly red elf to make his annual visit. I hope that you have your Christmas plans well in hand--stay warm. Barbara

Well, I guess we have reached that time of year that I have to address the "snow policy". The general rule of thumb, if Berkeley County Schools are closed, Nutmeg Lodge is closed. Of course, that usually applies on the "first day" of closure. Since schools so often stay closed for multiple days, then the rule quickly fades. The bottom line, if you have a need to come shopping and are not sure we are open, call the shop--304.262.6633--if we are not in, leave a message on the machine and we can call you when we arrive and then you won't make a trip for nothing.

We are having a increase in Holiday shoppers--don't forget the great gift items we have on, under and around our tree, plus our great kits and, of course, gift certificates.

We just received twelve bolts of Simply Irresistible--some of the same prints we had before and a number of new ones. This is still one of Robyn's best lines ever, it sold so well when we first got it in that I thought it was a really good thing to get more of it. This group is perfect for a Turning Twenty and we have several of the large florals for borders and this will be an outstanding project.

For those of you who are interested in the Harvest Spice--the price for this one is going to be $15.00 per month. This is a ten month project and will include all of the setting fabric and borders (a whole quilt top). The only thing you will need is your backing and binding. We still have a few spots left, remember we are only signing up 20 participants and they will probably be gone before we start putting the samples out.

As I told you last Blog, I am working on the newsletter and it will be posted around the 15th--I will give you heads up on that later. All of the teacher have some really great projects lined up and you are going to be delighted with them.

Stay warm and enjoy the snow if it comes==Barbara

Brrrrrrrrr--it looks like we might be seeing some of that white stuff soon. Are you ready??? I would rather make this reminder after Christmas, but it is time to think about being sure you have enough thread, batting, extra fabric for binding, etc., etc. just in case you are in for a few days and need things to finish those projects stacked up.

I have begun to announce to Clubs that now is the time to sign up and pay your Club dues to ensure your spot for next year. We had a great time at our Willing Hands Christmas Party and a number have secured their spot for 2006. This week will b e Thimbleberries Christmas party, followed by Crazy Club. Also Primitive Club and Baltimore Album. We can show you most of next year's opening projects if you have questions. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of fun and creativity.

This coming Saturday will be the final Saturday Sampler meeting. I will also be talking about next year's $5.00 quilt and our Blocks of the Month. We will be doing a different pieced block series for Saturday Sampler and will be offering three different blocks of the month. Each of these will have varying degrees of challenge and a wide variety of subjects. Come in and check these out.

The newsletter will be available shortly and you will be delighted at the wide variety of classes we have lined up. Along with Ann, Lou Ann, and Gina, I will be teaching several classes and have branched out a little in the things that I will be sharing with you.

Stay warm and have a great week. I will be updating the blog again on Wednesday.

Barbara