Finally some nice weather--I am sure that everyone shares the thought that soon we can get out and plant something. I don't know why quilters and gardeners are a natural mix but most quilters have a thumb that is fairly green. In making your garden plans don't forget that the deck and/or porch will need some attention as well. What a great time to put some new pillows on the front porch swing, a new table runner on the deck table or maybe a new apron for the barbecue chef.

Did you know that Nutmeg Lodge has a complete supply of batting from Quilters Dream. We have both cotton and poly batts in all sizes from craft to king. Our batting comes in hand quilting and machine quilting weights. Our machine quilting cotton batting has 30% poly to make it more stable for the long arm quilter. We also have batts in black poly which is great for those dark quilts to prevent bearding. Also Quilters Dream has just introduced a wool batt. I don't normally recommend wool batting because of the weight and care involved but if you are needing wool, we can supply it. Our batting supplier is located in Virginia and we can get batts very quickly so if we do not have the size you need or you want something that we don't normally stock, we are happy to place a special order. Also, one more tip about batting purchases--it is possible to use the entire package of batting. It is an easy thing to piece smaller pieces to make a batt large enough for your project. That is why it is always an economical purchase to buy a large batt (queen or king) and use the smaller left over pieces to do those table runners and smaller projects. The more money you save on batts, the more money you will have to spend on more fabric. Come in and check our our batting--we have samples for you to take home and have for reference--just ask for you. See you soon. Barbara

I know I have said all of this before--but here goes. I really do have the most wonderful staff in the whole wide world. They make Nutmeg Lodge the most wonderful place to visit and reassure everyone that quilting is the most perfect pastime. With Nelson home this week, my schedule has been turned upside down but when I mentioned that we needed to think about redoing the the shop--they decided to turn the whole place upside down. You really won't believe what Antoinette, Judy, Marcy and Cathy accomplished in just a few days and you really won't believe you are in the same spot. Literally everything has been moved and rearranged. It looks so amazing that I just want to gaze around at all the wonderful things that we have on the shelves. And you see so many new things--you really have to come in and take a look, you won't believe your eyes.

We have been told that the 20 new homespuns will arrive in about two weeks. Sorry you will have to wait a little longer. It will probably be another one of those times when the door will open and we will be inundated. Oh well.

With new challenges in my life I have been trying to figure how to keep all of the "balls in the air". To that end I have a need for some help. If anyone is interested in about 10 hours of work each week with reasonable hourly pay and a great discount on purchases, give me a call at the shop or email me from the web site. I would love to talk to you.

Ann will be starting a Beginning Patchwork class next week--if you are interested in getting the best skills around we still have two openings for this great four-session class. Also, I am starting a signup for Beginning Machine Quilting if you still have not taken this "must have" class.

Looking forward to seeing you at the "new Nutmeg Lodge". Barbara

Don't you just love Spring? Sort of reminds me of Winter. Oh well, it will be here soon enough and then we will all be longing for cooler days and maybe even a little shorter. This weather really is inspiring for getting those larger bed quilts finished. We received some new 110 inch backings today. These pieces are perfect for hand quilting but even for the machine, these backs with no seams make a lovely back for a bed quilt--just flip it over and you have a whole new quilt. We have gotten several blender pieces in the last few days and we have many more to come. We ordered 12 background white, soft white and muslin color. We have gotten more Tickled Pink pieces plus we are expecting 20 homespun pieces in a few days. Come in and check out what's new.

Did you know, we have DMC and Anchor embroidery floss? We have bags of 100 and 50 assorted skeins of floss for a ridiculous price--$25.00 for 100 and $12.50 for 50. These bags are perfect for punch needle projects or embroidery and craft projects. Wonderfully priced--a better deal than the chain stores. We also have those cute daisy pin cushions that fit on top of your thread spool--a great gift for your favorite sewing/quilting friend or secret sister. Spend some time browsing the notions corner--we really do have a lot of great gadgets and fun items to make sewing/quilting a lot easier and more fun.

Nelson came home today and he really is feeling a lot better and is looking stronger--if we can get him to gain 45 pounds he really will be a lot better. Isn't that a great problem to have. See you soon-Barbara

I am sure that you noticed that there was no post on Sunday. Sorry!!! As many of you know, Nelson has been in the hospital for some time and on Thursday the doctor said, once again, that he could not come home for a few more days. So here I was with another disappointment. Vivian said, why don't we go to New York for a couple of days? And I said, Why Not!!!! So after my two classes on Saturday, we left for DC, boarded Amtrak and by midnight we were at Times Square with a million other people looking for a cup of coffee and a perfect cheesecake. Sunday we played tourist--bought a day pass on the Hop On-Hop Off and went everywhere. We had breakfast across from Macy's, took the ferry to Staten Island to gaze at Lady Liberty, walked up Mott and looked at all of the Chinese vendors, strolled down Mulberry and found a fabulous Italian place for a lovely meal, checked out Soho and the trendy shops along Wooster, took the subway back to Times Square and got tickets for a show. This morning we took in the sights on 5th Avenue and had a huge laugh at the clerks at Bergdorf's. Another subway back to Penn Station and home. A wonderful time and what a treat to get away with absolutely nothing on my agenda but having fun with my sister.

Now that Spring is officially here, it really is time to think about Spring and Easter projects. The new Pink Ribbon line is so beautiful and we have a number of things due to arrive at any moment. Come in to see us soon--Barbara

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!! Wear your green, bake some soda bread and come to Nutmeg Lodge because we have had another big shipment arrive!!!!!

• The Pink Ribbon line has arrived. 16 pieces of pink and green with the pink ribbon insignia and lovely floral prints. I am making a sample up in our rendition of Turning Twenty called Turning Sixteen. This line is perfect for a throw for someone special or a raffle quilt
• More oriental pieces with metallic accents
• Brannock/Patak's new Rites of Spring
• Hungry Animals prints and ABC book--this is too cute. A great book for toddler to twenty something

We have had a number of people sign up for Clubs in the last few days. It reminded me that it is never to late to join a Club. Membership includes all patterns, newsletters and handouts and if you join later in the year, your handbook will include everything that has been passed out earlier.

Enjoy your green cabbage, green beer, green icing on the cake or whatever you like to do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Barbara

• There was a time when women traveled across the country in wagons and would sit by the fire in the evening and visit with each other.
• There was a time when women worked in factories and would spend their lunch time visiting with each other.
• There was a time when women hung their clothes on the line to dry and over the back fence would visit with each other.

Today we are lot more isolated and that is what is so great about a quilt shop. It a place to share your latest creation, your triumphs, your tragedies and any thing else that comes to mind.

Thanks to Diane Mesky for giving me the nudge to remind you that no matter what is going on in your life, we love to see you at Nutmeg Lodge. With all the challenges I face, I love coming to the shop and enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere created by each of the people who might be on that day. The happy buzz that ensues every visit is an encouragement to me that life really is good. I hope that each of you experiences that same feeling as well. So, don't forget--you need no more reason to come and visit than just that, come in for a visit. We love to see you.

I have reminded you before, we still have a number of great classes to run. If you are feeling you would like to add to your expertise, come in and check them out. I know many of you have tops that are finished. If you are looking for a long-arm quilter, we have brochures from the area's best. Come in and pick up several soon. And, finally, we are approaching Quilt Show Season. We also have brochures for the shows that Nutmeg Lodge will appearing at. Come in and pick those up and start planning your outings.

See you soon. Barbara

What a strange day!!! We had so many people in the shop--new people, faces we had never seen before--but everyone was browsing. "Just looking" were the words we heard over and over again. Actually it is really nice that we have become a place that people feel comfortable just coming in and seeing what is new and soaking of the wonderful, pleasant atmosphere. We love to see friendly faces. I also met several people today that had never heard of Nutmeg Lodge and didn't know that Martinsburg had a fabric shop. Oh well, it is also nice to know that there are still people out there to learn about the shop.

We have had a large notions order arrive and it seems that our distributors are finally getting back to normal. It is not unusual to have a drop in merchandise from our distributors because of end-of-year inventory, etc. But this year the addition of one distributor moving and another implementing a huge new computer system really put a crimp in our style for ordering and getting things delivered in a timely fashion. Finally all of those woes seem to be behind us and we can guarantee you that orders will arrive on time---yeah!!!!

Cathy has been busily cutting fat quarters and making beautiful bundles of all the great collections that have arrived. She has also pulled together bundles of 20's perfect for Turning Twenty quilts. Come in and see these gorgeous stacks of fat quarters---you really will want several of them.

See you soon--Barbara

I was in Baltimore this weekend and the weather man said that this was the last cold weekend this Winter. It is clear sailing to Spring----YEAH!!!!! I for one am ready for Spring--the daffodils and crocus are beginning to peek their heads through the Winter soil and it is a lovely sign. Also, there have been more than a few Robin Redbreasts spotted in our area.

With that said, we have a wonderful array of fabrics for Spring projects. It is time to start thinking new table runners and placemats for the deck table. New pillows and quilts for the bed once Spring cleaning (ugh) has been accomplished. New tea towels and wall hangings for the kitchen and dining room.

Just a reminder about our merchandise. With the size of the store and devoting most of the space to fabric, it is hard to have absolutely everything on the shelves and cabinets devoted to a wide variety of threads but we are very good about getting you absolutely everything you desire. If there are notions that you have seen in a magazine, mail order catalog or online--let us know. Antoinette and I can track down almost everything. Plus, if there is a kind of thread that you are looking for, we can get you other types of Gutterman, YLI, Star, Madeira, etc. The same things applies to notions. It is not possible to have every scissor, tweezer, bodkin, etc. but we can order each and every thing that you want to make your work better and easier.

We still have some great classes on the schedule. If you have forgotten what they are, come in and look at them in person or check them out on our Class section of the website. If a time or date is not good for you, tell us and we will see what we can do.

Also, we are coming up to our 5000 visitor to the website. If you happen to log on at that moment, print the web page with the number on it, come in to the shop and present it to whom ever is working and receive a free fat quarter for every $5.00 you spend up to $50.00. In other words, shop, spend $50.00 and get 10 free fat quarters. Good Luck!!! Barbara

March came in like a lamb--I guess we know the rest.

I told you last blog about all the fabric that came in last week and I finally got to see everything on Tuesday and boy is it great. I can't believe who beautiful it all is.

• The new line from Whimsicals is every bit as wonderful as the last line. The cats on several pieces are adorable and the hand of the fabric is wonderful.
• The oriental prints with the touch of metallic really is lovely and I am so glad that I have finally gotten over that phobia.
• And all the pastels up front!!!!! Tickled Pink and Laura Rose--beautiful. We have done up a lot of bundles to make your shopping easier. The Laura Rose we did in bundles of 20 to make those Turning Twenty quilts.
• There are new blue and yellow pieces
• Two red and green collects, and
• 76 Trombones, a perfect project for the upcoming patriotic holidays.

I was in Loew's on Monday and they have a unbelievable Ott Light section. I don't normally advertise for other businesses but honestly, they have every possible Ott Light you could need or want and their prices are the best. If you are in the market for an Ott Light, check them out.

Looking forward to seeing you soon--Barbara