When the New Year arrives, most of us are ready for a change.  January is a time to get organized, regroup and get started with all those New Year's resolutions.  One of the great delights about living in Minnesota is the short, cold days that allow us time to quilt, and the snow that turns our backyards into a winter wonderland to look at as we quilt.  The peace and serenity of January is all around us.  As I am writing this letter and planning my next quilt, I am watching the deer in our backyard empty the bird feeder for the second time today.  When I find all my flowers gone in the summer, I get so perturbed with them, however, right now there is such a beauty to them.

Speaking of my next quilt, have you thought about or planned your winter project?  With the holidays behind us, now is the perfect time to give your home a facelift.  The first quarter of the Thimbleberries Club 2004 fabric line has arrived.   As a club member in January, you will receive a fabric kit to make the January kit.  For those that cannot attend our club meetings at either of our stores, you can order on-line to receive your January Thimbleberries Project of the Month.  This is an exciting year of Thimbleberries designs that you won't want to miss.

If you are looking for a room change, consider using the Berry Patch fabrics in your next quilt.  The softer side of Thimbleberries will lend itself to restful or romantic themes for the bedroom.  Maybe the Garden Club Quilt will be just right for your room.  For a smaller project to work on, take a look at the Strawberry Preserves Runner, a striking table runner from the Berry Patch Quilts book that can be used all spring and summer.  One of my favorites in the book is the smallest project, A Tisket, A Tasket, A Little Basket, is a good project to frame and use as a piece of artwork.

The appeal of neutrals reflects warm and cool traits.  Adding neutrals to a room, whether it is curtains or a new dust ruffle, can add a sophisticated look.  Moda's newest collection, the Moda Challenge group, will help you pull a room together with some of the quilts you already have and give it a fresh new look.

We have two new wool projects that are just great looking.  The Rosemary's Wish is a beautiful all-wool penny rug kit and the Wool Button Card is a fun wall quilt.  The wools are a combination of hand-dyed and felted.  These are the perfect kind of projects to take along when you travel.

This month, our featured book is Mostly Scraps.  A great book with quilts designed to use up fabric from your stash.  If you don't have a stash to use, we have a kit already packaged for you.  The Big Easy Half Square Triangles (traditional and pastel) quilts are regularly $89.95, on-line in January for only $75.95, so you can get started on a scrap quilt.  For those of you who already have a stash, but need to add to it, order our Stash Builder, a 10-piece collection of 1/2 yard cuts of cotton.  This collection is an assortment of light, dark and medium colors, regularly $45.00, but only $19.95 on-line during the month of January.

If this doesn't give you enough ideas to keep you busy this winter, check out the rest of our website for the newest in kits, books, patterns and fabrics.  If you want to join any of our clubs, give us a call at 800.624.4001 and we will sign you up!