I want to send a special THANK YOU to the "Willing Workers" group from the Albany Methodist Church. They just dropped off 50 Pillowcase dresses for Haiti!!!

Check us out in the Clinton Herald! We have such a nice article about our pillowcase dresses we are sending to Haiti. Call the store to find out more information. 563-242-6135
http://http://clintonherald.com/local/x231067149/Project-sends-dresses-to-Haiti

I Love The Grace!

My hubby and I are in Miami for a long weekend. I looked at the forecast and saw that it would be rainy most of the time. He is in meeting all day so I decided to bring a sewing machine and work on some shop samples. I borrowed my daughter's Babylock Grace. I LOVE it! I am sewing through 3 layers of fabric AND fusible fleece (with a walking foot). It is so smooth and so quiet...plus the stitches are beautiful! I am used to sewing on high end, top of the line machines. I was not expecting this machine to preform so well. If you are looking for a new machine or for a second machine to take to classes give this little machine a try. You will love it! Just so you don't think this trip has been all work, yesterday I went running along the ocean and got a manicure and pedicure. I was in heaven. The last mani pedi I got was from my 6 and 7 year old daughters. Before they started the 7 year old gave me a mint so "my breath wouldn't smell up the whole room" and my 5 year old told me that "I need to sit on the toilet because my butt is so big it will get stuck in her little chair." The pampering at this spa was nice with no mention of my butt or my breath. My nails and toes are beautiful. I still prefer the ones from my girls!

I am so excited!! All of the really cool new products we ordered at the Babylock Convention have arrived. For those of you who have never shopped with me you need to know something. I LOVE GADGETS!!!! Hope Yoder has this really cool new button maker out. She also has new embroidery designs that go with the buttons. My goal is to set up my own little sweatshop with my 6 kids and sell buttons, pacifiers, and magnets on etsy! Stop in and see a demo of this great new gadget. We are also excited to have Janie Lantz, Viking Educator extraordinaire in our shop doing a program on the new 5D software! We would love to see you!

Pure by Sweetwater

Pure by Sweetwater is in! This collection has blues, browns, and creams. It is gorgeous!http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_pure.pdf. As many of you know I have 6 kids. We have 5 girls and one little boy in the middle. He feels very alone being the only boy. Sometimes I forget this. On wednesday we found our cat, Garfield, all scratched up. Half of the fur was gone from his face and it looked like a great big bouncy ball was attached. We grabbed him and ran to the Vet. When we got there my son was crying and looked at the vet and said"Please save Garfield. He is my whole world. He is the only other boy in the Nickles family." I felt so bad. Garfield is fine and my son is happy. I am thinking that maybe he needs a boy pet. Maybe a boy guinea pig??

"The Very" Series by Eric Carle is HERE!!!

I am so excited! Eric Carle's new fabric line is in! "The Very Series" complements both "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear". We have made kits showcasing the free pattern available on Andover Fabrics fabrics website. This is sure to sell out fast!

On a more personal note, I have decided that I need to make hot breakfasts each morning for my kids. The one from this morning was wonderful!

Crock pot Oatmeal- 8 packages of instant oatmeal, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 2 eggs beaten, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 can pineapple (with juice). mix and pour into crock pot. Bake on high 1 1/2 hours. YUM!!!!

Rhonda and I just spent 4 days in St. Louis at Babylock Tech. Those Babylock people know how to party! I had such a great time and learned so...much! First off, I love the new "Symphony" sewing and quilting machine! It has so many great features and sews very smooth! My new favorite product is Hope Yoder's button making machines and embroidery designs! The possibilities are endless with this button making machine and designs! I ordered every design and each button machine! I must say that I am glad to be home! My 8 year old son told his dad that "mom's conventions and store are sure getting in the way of our time with her". The first thing my girl's said when I got home was, "Dad didn't even make us breakfast! We had to eat cereal!!!" They rat him out everytime!