I just got back from Applique Academy!!!!!! Holly, Lu, Sandy, Suzie, Ann, Nancy and Sara all attended from our area and I think that each of them had as good a time as I did. I was in a class with Elly Sienkiewicz and we were making a basket of flowers from an old block and it was just magical. I learned so many new techniques and history points. I can't wait to share everything that I learned with the Baltimore Album Club, Willing Hands, my beginning applique class and anyone else who will stand still to listen to me. If you ever have any interest in attending this truly wonderful event, I will give you the information you need. Next year's Academy will be held the week of February 22.

As I mentioned in my last blog, we had received a boat load of fabric. As I checked in with Antoinette and staff on my trip, they were busily cutting fat quarters and making bundles. They also reported that many of you had been in to check out the 90 or so bolts that arrived. I can't wait to get to the shop to check it all out myself. It is really hard to be so far away and not be able to see it all and especially not to be able to touch it.

I will get pictures of all the fun in Williamsburg soon.

Come in and see us soon--Barbara

NEW FABRIC NEW FABRIC NEW FABRIC NEW FABRIC NEW FABRIC NEW FABRIC

After I left to go home and get ready for my trip, Antoinette called to tell me that the UPS truck backed up and unloaded 11 boxes of fabric. Just as I had predicted, when the shelves seems like they are all practically empty things start to arrive. So we have half of our Tickled Pink, 14 bolts of Mary Rose, the whole line (35 bolts) of the new Whimsicals, our much anticipated oriental fabric with YES, METALLIC, THERE I'VE SAID IT--, Sandy Gervais' 76 Trombones, a red and green line from Judy Rothemill. All-in-all about 90 bolts of fabric. The dilemma that Antoinette and staff have is where to put it. That is where you come in--literally come in and take advantage of all the new stuff. I'm not there to start the ball rolling with ideas for what to do all of this, but I know that each one of you can come up with more ideas than I can ever think of.

I am off tomorrow for Applique Academy. I will be in a class with my favorite teacher, Elly Sienkievicz. I will give you a detailed report on Sunday and will bring back some pictures for Kathy to put in Scrapbook for you to see.

Have a great week, Barbara

Okay, we are back from Retreat and we had such a grand time. The laughter was infectious, the creativity was incredible and the food was beyond description. All-in--all a great time was had by all. I took a huge stack of projects that I was sure I would get finished but, alas, I got the last border sewn onto my "Mama Said" quilt that I appliqued and pieced seven years ago and also got the Harvest Spice quilt finished. I came home with a number of things taken and never finished. Several of us made fur lined hoodies and that was a total blast. Bobbi Scofield had the first finished jacket and it was ready for the runway in New York. A number of Fall Retreat projects were finished as well as class projects begun during the past year were finished. Antoinette got her blocks finished from our Apple Dumpling Gang exchange in 2005.

Last week we received a new Moda panel from Quilt Country called "Stash Management". Bright colors, cute quilters and really funny sayings all over the panel. Come in and check it out. We should be getting our Tickled Pink this week, finally.

Well here is the big news!!!!!! We have a winner and a name. TA DA---------

THE NAME IS....................Gingersnap

and the WINNER IS....................Jessica Martin

Thanks to all the wonderful and clever suggestions. I loved reading your ideas and some of you had insightful knowledge about Gingersnap and we will be sharing that with you in the future. I think also, that we will probably refer to Gingersnap as a girl, because there really are more of us and by rights she is one of us.

I am off to Applique Academy on Thursday. I have several of my Canadian friends here visiting that I know from Academy--too exciting. I will say goodbye in my Wednesday update and then next week will have a full report for you.

See you soon, Barbara

Well it really is a Mark Twain moment--if you don't like the weather wait a minute and it will change. Snow followed by 60 degrees followed by cold. Ahhhh Winter. Antoinette and I are off to Retreat on Friday along with 22 eager quilters who will come loaded down with a multitude of projects. If you haven't been to a Nutmeg Lodge Retreat you have missed out on a really happy event. We will be doing this again in September so come in and to get complete information if you are interested.

Next week I will be going to the Elly Seinkievicz Applique Academy held in Williamsburg, Va. every year. Another wonderful event worthy of consideration for anyone who is a dedicated appliquer. Also, if you are interested in more information on this yearly event, check with me. There will be six eager and enthusiastic applique friends going with me on this stellar journey.

I will be announcing the name of our darling bird in my next blog on Sunday. Be sure and check this out to see who the winner is and what the name for (?) bird will be.

We are still waiting for the arrival of Robyn's new line Tickled Pink. It will be like a belated birthday gift when it arrives. Keep checking with us because it really is due any day now and we are all very excited to see and touch all the beautiful pieces that we have ordered.

See you all soon, Barbara

Gee, wasn't the snow beautiful!!! I love it when it starts to snow just as business is finishing up and you can get home before it starts to stick. That was our scenario on Saturday. We had a ton of people in on Saturday morning for Saturday and Sampler. If you were one who came in on Saturday, you know that we had an "inadvertence special". That is the plus of coming to our Sampler session plus we had some wonderful Show and Tell--thanks to everyone who brought something to share. That is probably the best part about quilting, showing it to others or being able to see what others are doing, that is where I get some of my best ideas.

We are off to Retreat the end of this week and I am so excited to get away and finish up a number of things. It is always fun to watch everyone arrive with all their boxes, crates, and containers full of unfinished projects, projects ready to start and stacks of fabric just waiting for an idea. The February Retreat is a UFO event and designed to get lots of projects finished. The September Retreat is a project retreat with a teacher and specific project to construct. If you are not attending this one or have never attended a retreat, call or stop by for information and sign up early. These events always fill up and we don't do a lot of advertising.

Valentine's Day is almost here and we still have panels and fabric for a gift or decorating touch. Plus, the Bird Contest is still is full swing and you still have a few days to get your name submitted. Don't forget that a great gift awaits the winner.

Stay warm and dry, come in and see us. See you then, Barbara

Just as I predicted, in the door today comes the Fedex man with a dolly full of boxes. We have finally started to receive our notions orders in big supply. Even though they all deny it, all the companies seem to be slow in getting stocks up to speed after the end of year inventory. Oh well, that is my problem and not yours. At any rate, if you have been needing tacs for your guns, boxes for your projects, sprays for basting, etc. we have a goodly supply.

DID YOU KNOW that we have new sewing machines!!! If you have a Gem Gold or have thought about owning one of the 12 pound wonders, we now have Gem Platinum. Still weighing in at 12 pounds but with all the features of the big machines, 20 stitches, speed control, needle up/down, feed dogs that lower. These little beauties really are a marvelous traveling companion. Come in and see all these features and more.

I have had a question about Round Robin and maybe I should give everyone a more complete description of this fun exchange. A group of 4-8 people come together with a center block (somewhere between 12-24 inches). They decide on a set of "rules" for a border exchange. Then the blocks are passed to the next person who adds a border according to the "rules". The top is passed to each person in the group until each person has added a border. Each person makes one element of the top, never seeing their own center until the end of the rounds when all tops are revealed to each other. This is a fun exchange and one that can stretch each participant to be more creative and accepting of a group activity. As I have mentioned before, I am willing to help a group get started and have several people willing to participate--we need several more. let me know.

This is Saturday Sampler Saturday coming up so finish that block and be at the shop at 9:00 or 2:00 and I will give you a run down on the "ins and outs" of Corn and Beans.

Stay warm and see you soon--Barbara

Life is so amazing--I have been so dreading my birthday, it is one of those significant birthdays associated with a red, white and blue card that gives you some kind of health care coverage. With the help of some wonderful friends and family, I am feeling a lot better about the prospect. The "nuts" surprised me with a wonderful brunch today and it really was a wonderful time, so I want to thank them in so many ways and one way is to say it on the blog--I will say it an a lot of other ways as well.

We are still looking for the perfect name for our bird and, even though we have had some great suggestions so far, you never can tell you might still be holding onto the name and haven't submitted it yet. The contest closes on Feb. 15 (the real date of that big event in my life) and we have a great prize for the winner.

If you haven't joined a club and are possibly contemplating doing so, we have a wonderful display behind the checkout counter with examples of all the current projects from each club. This might be the perfect push to jump in and get involved in something that is truly unique to Nutmeg Lodge.

Last week I mentioned help in forming Round Robin groups. I have had inquiries and so if you are interested in joining an intermediate group for a pieced and appliqued project, let me know and I will get you all started.

Check us out this week--Barbara