I just have tons of things to tell you, I can't believe how many things we have to look forward to in September!!!1

First, beginning Tuesday, September 5 we will beginning our Second Annul Buy One Get One Free book event. We did this last year and it was so successful we wanted to do it again. A great opportunity to get some of those titles you have been wishing for. Also a great idea for early Christmas shopping for your secret quilting pal or a favorite quilting friend.

We have a lot of fabric collections coming in September. We are going to be over-flowing with fabric. As mentioned before, Elly's entire line is arriving. Then the entire line of brown and pink from Buggy Barn. In addition to those, we have a number of things from Moda including the new 3 Sisters and April Cornell lines coming.

Now for the next big news. I have been asked to curate a quilt show for the Shepherdstown Historic Society. This is going to be a lovely event and one that I think everyone will enjoy. The quilts will be available to view on Saturday, September 23 during the fall event hosted by the Society at the Entler Hotel. Admission is $35.00 and includes food/wine/beer. Call the shop for more information and contact for reservations. Then, on Sunday, September 24 I will be hosting a private viewing for Nutmeg Lodge. If you are unable to attend the whole event on Saturday, you will have an opportunity to see the quilts. I will have more information with times, etc. in my next blog.

Have a great weekend and I will wish you Happy Labor Day on Sunday. Barbara

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH Rain. Even though it was muggy today, it really was nice to hear RAIN!!!! Of course, the next thing will be MOW, but Fall is in sight and the rain was very welcomed.

With September almost upon us, we have so much to look forward to. The Sully Quilt Show is a wonderful one-day event in Chantilly the Sunday after Labor Day weekend. A fabulous show you don't want to miss. Come by and pick up info if you have never been. Next will be retreat and that is just the best fun. As mentioned previously, I think we still have an opening or perhaps two. If you would like to join this fun filled weekend and delightful attendees, call the shop and check with Antoinette.

The best things to look forward to, however, is all the great fabric we have coming in September. As I mentioned last blog, Elly's fabric will be shipping the first of September as well as her book. A most outstanding line from Buggy Barn in wonderful pink and brown, and we have the entire line coming of both these collections. Also, there are several Moda groups to arrive as well as one of Robyn's last lines from South Seas.

I will give you a full report when each arrives. If you want bundles of these collections in their entirety, let Antoinette know and we will alert you when they will ship and we bill.

Have a great week and I will post more on Wednesday...Barbara

Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, good days and not so good days. As many of you may know, my dear husband has battled a long and impressive time with neuropathy, multiple lung diseases and cancer. We have been told that once again twists and turns are upon us. He has been diagnosed with a lesion in his brain which is cancer and the prognosis is terminal. I tell you this because so many ask and offer their thoughts to me and for him constantly. I cannot begin to express how much that means to both of us. I and our children and grandchildren are preparing for the final moments we have together. I will be intermittently available at shop for a time. If you need my personal attention, please email or call to arrange a time we can both be there at the same time. Again, I want to send my deep appreciation for everyone's concern and good wishes.

Now for the good stuff!!! The charm square bundles of April Cornell's new line are in. 45 wonderful pieces. These little bundles of joy can make a fantastic quilt. Two packages and you have a stunning bed topper. I am not sure when the bolts will arrive, but hopefully they are right behind.

Elly's new line of fabric will be coming to us the first of September. We will be doing fat quarter bundles like we did for the last line. I am sorry I can't give you an exact price but you can call and put your name on a list to be notified and/or be included in the "first cut". When I saw this line at Market it is stunning. I was fortunate to talk with Elly at the Kaufman booth and she explained the rational behind several pieces and I told her I thought this was her best ever. You really don't want to miss out on this I think these bolts will go fast. Baltimore Elegance, her new book will be arriving about the same time as the fabric line. So much to look forward to.

We are in that time frame that things are arriving frequently. Stop by and see all the wonderful new things. I will give you more updates on Sunday and, hopefully, see you at the shop. Barbara

All the fall fabric is out!!!! The top of the fabric shelves next to the cutting table is full of beautiful fall fabrics--all the rich tones of autumn--gold, rust, brown, orange, and green. This is probably my most favorite season and my favorite palette of colors. We have a fall panel and a darling Halloween panel--both a great addition to your fall decorating. The Halloween panel is from Sandy Gervais called Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet. The colors are gorgeous orange and black and the design is totally engaging. We also have charm packs from this line. The whole lineup of fall fabrics is fabulous and I am sure you are going to love them.

If you are a member of Primitive Club you don't want to miss this week's meeting. We will be unveiling a new project and I am totally in love with this one. Thankfully I made the sample myself and am so glad that this delightful project will be coming home with me with we no longer need it at the shop.

All of our clubs are in beginning new projects and each group has wonderful quilts to look forward to. If you belong to any clubs, don't miss out on the fun things that are going on.

Did I mention that we have two openings in the Fall Retreat? If you are interested we can accommodate you. The sample for the project is hanging in the classroom. Gina Zdziera is teaching the project and she has done a beautiful job of executing this wonderful pattern from Terry Atkinson. It is from Terry's book Monterey Medallion and is a wonderful quilt that everyone who makes it will love forever.

We have gotten notice that Baltimore Elegance will be shipped the first of September. If you have not placed your advance order, now is the time to do so--remember a $5.00 coupon toward the purchase is available by using the Code 1234.

See you at the shop--Barbara

Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer--does that sound familiar? This is the time of the season that you really need to enjoy because it is only a matter of weeks before it will be gone and we will settle into the changes that will bring cold and (ugh) snow. It really is the best time to get your magazines, books, patterns, etc. out and make a plan for all those projects that you really must get finished before the end of October. And, if you are planning on sending them to a long arm quilter, make your reservation so that you know exactly when they need to be ready.

We will be putting the Fall fabric out over the next few days. I think that it has all finally arrived and ready for its debut. We have a couple of really great panels as well as some wonderful prints that will make up into a great pieced throw or table runner.

Table runner patterns really are a great bang for your buck. They make up easy, make a great statement for changing out your decor and make a wonderful gift to boot. So often a cut of fabric off the bolt will yield enough fabric for two projects. If you don't have a favorite table runner pattern, ask us we have several options for you to try.

I am just finishing up the last sample from the Thimbleberries book, Christmas Countdown. These really are wonderful projects. We have the books as well as all the fabric, plus all of the projects in the book look great in other fabrics as well.

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Barbara

What a nice treat with cooler temperatures and, have you noticed--the days are getting shorter. That can only mean one thing, great quilting weather is really on its way. I have certainly noticed more people planning Christmas and winter projects. This is the perfect time to get a couple of tops finished and ready for the hoop if you are a hand quilter. Nothing is more satisfying than sitting beneath a quilt project and stitching away the winter days.

We are beginning to get things lined up for Fall classes. I will be giving you more updates in upcoming blogs as to when the newsletter and class lineup will be posted on the web site.

For all of you Baltimore enthusiasts--there have been two changes to the Main Conference lineup for Applique Academy. If you are planning to go and would like to include your application in the overnight letter from Nutmeg Lodge, you will need to get your application to me by Thursday. I will be mailing it on Friday. If you have any questions about the classes and would like to discuss it with me, come in, give me a call or email and I will tell you what I know.

My daughter and granddaughter have been visiting this weekend and I have not been to busy with stitching--hope you had a great weekend. See you soon--Barbara

You are in for such a treat when you come to visit the shop. Antoinette and Kelly have totally rearranged the notions corner!!!! I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it looks. Everything is so organized and almost all of the notions are on pegs on the wall. Now you can actually walk into the corner and reach everything. But the past part!!!---you can see everything that we have in the way of notions. All of us have had a moment when we spied something that we had no idea we had. I think that Nutmeg Lodge's notions department is unequaled by any shop in its size group. Having a great variety of notions was one of the things that led me to open the store in the first place. I am so pleased with the way it looks and the ease you will have in shopping from that area.

The other news is the arrival of our perle cotton cabinet. I had been told it would not be here until September so it was sort of like Christmas when it arrived today. Everyone is thrilled with the beauty of this wonderful thread. It is fabulous for punch needled. The size of the thread means you don't have to separate embroidery floss and being on a roll, you can continuously punch without having to rethread a new piece of floss. The other wonderful benefit to this product--it does outstanding embroidery. All of you Baltimore appliquer's will love this thread for that embellishment work on album blocks. The variegated varieties will be wonderful for those feather stitches Elly loves to do around leaves. Check this new product out soon.

We have a number of new blenders on the shelves that have expanded our color choices. We will be putting the fall fabric out within the next few weeks. I will give you more information on that soonl

Also, we have a "gently" used Gem Gold for sale for $150.00. An excellent buy for someone in the need of a nice little machine for classes or retreats. This little gem weighs only 12 pounds. Come in and take a look.

See you all soon, Barbara

We are finally back in order all around the shop. It always makes me feel so good when we have gone through and rearranged everything. One of the last things to get a good reorganization is the punch needle cabinet. Finally, the patterns are all in order and easy to choose from. A new inventory of needles and hoops are on their way so if you have not yet started this fun artform, come in or call to reserve your needle and hoop. These little projects are not only fun but make the most wonderful gifts. If you have not yet learned the ins and outs of punchneedle, Antoinette or I can give you a quick lesson and start you on your way.

Also, the wool felting is equally as fun and easy to do. Same thing, fast, fun and a great gift. Again, Antoinette or I can give you a lesson in this fun activity as well.

Some new fabrics are here from Moda, as well as new books from Martingale. We have a new supply of wide backing fabric due to arrive this week. We are doing our part to get ready for all your projects that are becoming finished and ready for the quilters. Don't forget also that we have information for the local long arm quilters. If you are in need of information, stop by and pick up a brochure.

Still to come in the quilt show department:
Sully, September 10 at Sully Plantation in Chantilly.
Flying Geese Quilt Show in Bel Air, Md, Oct. 20 and 21.
Christmas in the Mountains, November 3, 4, and 5. We have posters at the shop with complete information and pictures of projects to be taught in classes at this wonderful event at Tamarak.

Nutmeg Lodge will have a booth at all of these events. Let me know if you need more information on any of these events.

See you soon, Barbara

The only thing harder than getting ready for a big quilt show is putting it away when the show is over. That is what Cathy and I have spent the last two days doing. It has been a great way of moving things around and we have so many new things to put up. We sold out of several kits at the show but have one back in stock already and will get the others done up soon.

One of the things that we now have up is the entire line of "yard longs". These great projects from Joined at the Hip are wonderful accents for your home and a wonderful gift for a friend.

In addition to the new items from the show we now have our display of wool felting items. We have a huge stock of wool roving, needles, pads and a wonderful felted wool to go with the patterns for this new and fun art. Come in any morning and I will do a demo to show you how fun and easy this is. This is really a great gift idea and one that takes a few simple supplies and tools to get into.

I do hope everyone is fairing well with the heat. The best thing to do is work on projects because no one can garden right now. If you need things and want to make your trip easier, call ahead and we can have your ordered pulled and ready to go when you arrive.

See you soon, Barbara