Summer is just around the corner... are you ready?  As families grow and our lives become busier than ever, free time and family time become very valuable.  Starting this month, make a conscious decision to enjoy one night every two weeks with your family or friends.  Make it Kid's Night Out, Mom's Night Out, Table for Two or Summer Romance.  These are just a few suggestions for a fun evening together.  Need a place to enjoy your evening together?  Look outside! 

Take your favorite quilt off the bed or out of the cupboard, throw it over a table, bench or door (set on sawhorses) and have an evening meal together on the patio, in the backyard or at your favorite park.  Make cloth napkins by cutting an 18" square of Cottagewood plaid and fringing the edges.  Add a table topper from the same collection to cover your quilt.  Bring out the china, or Chinette, whatever works for you.  Pick a bouquet of wildflowers and tuck them in a fruit jar for an instant centerpiece.  Try roasting hot dogs on a fire, bring out cheese and crackers or stop at the local deli.  Make it fun and enjoy your evening together.  Try this with a group of quilting friends.  Have everyone bring an unfinished handwork project and work on them together while you enjoy the fresh evening air.  If you don't have a project on hand check out our newest button on our website, Wool Kits & Patterns.  We have a kit for every season and size.

Don't forget Mother's Day is coming.  The Main Street Cotton Shop is an excellent source for Mother's Day gifts, whether she is a quilter or not.  Our gift items are unique and we can ship them for you.  For the quilting mom, a kit or gift certificate make wonderful gifts.  Melon Patch from the Picnic Quilt book and Cottage Check Quilt from the Cottagewood Quilt book are just a few of the great kits we offer.

Last month, we had our Celebrate Spring brunch.  It was an absolutely perfect spring day... sunny, warm and inspiring.  One of the ideas Lynette shared with us was taking some of the older patterns and doing them in neutral colors.  My favorite one that day was the Garden View quilt from the Orchard Quilts book.  She used a collection of beige and cream prints from Paint Box for a beautiful allover look that showcased detailed quilting.  The beauty of this quilt is you can use it year round and it's only $149.95.  Lynette layered some of her favorite springtime quilts on the bed for now, but suggested rolling Fall or Christmas quilts, lay them in a basket and you'll be ready for holiday decorating.  Another great look was the Bar Hopping Quilt from Maple Valley book for only $69.95.  We have both of these quilts at a great price and have included the book FREE.  Order today!

Since summer is just around the corner, I guess it's time to be thinking about Christmas. It hardly seems possible, but our Christmas line from Thimbleberries came in this week.  Evergreen Inn is a great collection of 28 cotton prints and 9 flannel prints.  The Evergreen Pinwheel quilt will get you started so you'll be set for next December.  Due North pattern came out last month, but we now have it available in the Evergreen Inn flannel.  Check out the signature print, it's such a fun print for many different projects.

May Birthday Blast is a real winner this month.  Cherry

Buttercream and Figs is a new line with a soft summer look to it.  Freshen up the guest room with an easy quilt like the Sunny Days quilt using the Buttercream and Figs collection.  The name alone makes you want to include this line in your fabric stash.