The pumpkins are tucked in the garden, candles are lit and quilts are meticulously placed on the beds and couches.  Just the finishing touches are left to do before the 80 quilt retreat guests arrive at Lynette's house.  The entire three days of retreat were magical.  Perfect quilting weather - cool and rainy - wonderful quilters from all over the US and Canada and lots of laughs made Quilt Harvest Retreat 2006 perfect.  Night Out with Quilters trunk show set the stage for holiday decorating.  Starting with all the great fall quilts and home decor and moving right into Christmas, it was hard to sit still.

Lynette started the trunk show with the family room.  Using the Flannel Favorites collection, Comfort and Joy and Strips and Stripes were greeted with ooh's and aah's. These are perfect quilts to snuggle up in as you watch your favorite football team - of course we're cheering for the Vikings.  From the family room, Lynette moved into the master bedroom.  Once again Garden View made a hit, this time using the December Day fabric.  Layering the bed with Star Flower and framing Sugar Pines, the master bedroom was complete for the holidays.  Don't forget to make accent pillows and dust ruffles to complete the look.  Room for a Princess was next, using a number of quilts from the Collection of Classic Quilts.  Crossroads and Stone Creek were two of the favorites along with Sunny Side Up.  It's always fun to have one room to play with.  Add your own touches by displaying a pottery collection or a child's toy collection. From there, Lynette inspired us with holiday decorating.  Set the table with Autumn Table runners, add the Party Pumpkin banner or topper, throw English Garden over a chair and you are set for a harvest gathering.  For a quick change, put Seasons Bright runner on the table, hang Snow Buddy on the wall and lay Poinsettia across the back of a couch.  Now you're ready for holiday entertaining. 

The big surprise at retreat was Lynette's introduction of Thimbleberries Quilt Club 2007.  We are so excited about the club and everyone there was as well.  A bed quilt that measures 96" x 118", three wall quilts and a runner, two-color option and beautiful fabrics - WOW what more could a quilter dream of?  The fabric collection is outstanding and with all the options, it is sure to fit your decor and color scheme. Sign up began that evening and they can't wait.  Call today so you too can be in our Thimbleberries Club 2007!

Fall and Christmas seem to come earlier each year, another sign of that age thing I guess.  The best thing to do then is get started on my Fall and Christmas decorating projects.  To help you get started, we have a Harvest Collection and a Christmas Collection package.  You will receive ten -1/2 yard cuts of fabulous fabrics.  We will coordinate the collection so that they will work wonderfully in new projects you've been waiting to start.  Beautifully packaged for only $34.95, buy extra, they make wonderful gifts.

During the trunk show, there was discussion on what kind of batting to use.  Our favorite batt is Hobbs Poly Down - it needles beautifully and doesn't beard through the fabric.  Lynette commented "it has just a little bit of loft to show off your quilting stitches yet lays nice and flat without fold lines".  Why not give it a try on your next project.

Christmas is fast approaching - are you ready?  We have a few ideas to help you. Basket of Blessings is a fun, small project that uses the 5" charm packs.  We selected the Woodrose in Winter collection for this, a fast and economical project.  Another particularly beautiful quilt is the Morning Frost quilt using the Woodrose in Winter panel.  Need new Christmas stockings?  This cute Holiday Cheer panel will make 4 stockings.  Order extra coordinates from the Holiday Cheer line to finish them.

A Second Helping is a great new table runner book.  Two fun gift books are, That Dorky Homemade Look and Stash Envy.  You'll get many laughs from these.  During retreat, I walked into Linda's classroom just as they broke out into a roar.  Linda is in front reading to her students, a teacher at heart.

With so much to do and not enough time, I better get started on my fall and Christmas projects.  Don't forget to check out our Newest Edition button and you never know what might be in the Cotton Shop clearance room. The new Fall/Winter catalog is now on-line