The Main Street Cotton Shop News - July 2004

Our 2nd annual “Airing of the Quilts” was held last month in Hutchinson.  It was an absolutely beautiful, perfect day for it.  As the quilts were hung on the lines, the picnic cloths laid out on the grass, lemonade made and the cook stove started, a feeling of stepping back in time became evident.  The log cabin was filled with chatter as Karen, Marion and Connie started the egg coffee and homemade cornbread.  On the front porch, Jane was busy crocheting cotton rugs.  In the front yard, some of our Thimbleberries Club members were gathered around the quilt frame stitching and handmade soap was brought over by the neighbor via her horse and buggy.  A day like this is the perfect way to kick off the summer.  Slow down a little, enjoy the warmth of the sun, the outdoors and each other.  Start your own neighborhood “Airing of the Quilts”.  A great time to pull out a quilt top you’ve been waiting to finish.  Enjoy a day a week with friends or family stitching, laughing, catching up and finishing one of those UFO’s that have been in the closet.
As always, new products have been arriving daily into the shop.  We have been anxiously waiting for the Holiday Quilts book and its here, packed with great quilts, wall hangings and runners.  If you’ve been waiting to make Christmas quilts, this might be the year to get started.  The Sawtooth 4 Patch and Pine Crossing are both excellent bed quilts.  Home for the Holidays is a charming wall hanging and Snow Gang table runner is a fun project that will last long after the holidays. All the projects in the book are made from the Holiday Homecoming fabric collection.

The wool projects continue to be some of our customers’ favorites.  The newest additions are Tree Round and Scaredy Cat.  The ease of taking these projects with you make these kits all the more appealing.  To help you get started, this month Scaredy Cat is on special for $22.95, regularly $28.95.
Flannels continue to be strong and used by everyone in every part of the country.  The new Cider Hill flannels have arrived and are super soft.  The pattern Evening Frost is done in two color ways using this collection and looks great in both colors.  One thing about working with flannels is the ease of quilting and, because larger pieces are used, the quilts go together rather quickly.  Get started on your flannel quilt today by ordering one or both color options at a special offer of 25% off.  What are you waiting for?  The Tree Farm Throw pattern was introduced a couple months ago using the Holiday Homecoming Flannels.  We used our Timber Lodge fabrics in this pattern and it gave a completely different look to the quilt.  Our Timber Lodge Throw quilt is a must have for the cabin up north or the avid sportsman in your family.
Cranberry Harvest is the new fall collection of fabrics from Thimbleberries.  Rich autumnal colors, a beautiful mum focus fabric and deep contrast prints make up this beautiful group.  Cranberry Sparkle is the new pattern designed for the collection, a lovely quilt that will add sparkle as a table topper, couch throw or wall hanging.

If you are looking for a softer quilt, we have just the one for you.  Rolling Meadows is made from the book Mostly Easy.  We have mentioned this book before and wanted to give you another reason to use it.  The soft scalloped edge on the quilt gives it a feminine touch.  Our kit is done in soft pink, butter yellow and green accent fabrics from the Paris Flea Market collection of Moda.
It’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is just about here.  Once July comes, it seems like summer flies.  It’s been quite cool here, so I think our summer is going to feel really short.  Don’t forget to pull out your Picnic Parade Runner for the July 4th celebrations, have a picnic lunch, play a little croquet or bocce ball and enjoy the day.