We have Mother Nature teasing us with melting snow, running water and then just as quickly, the wind shifts to the north, the temperature plummets and we have winter again.
Living in an area where Chinooks winds blow for days on end and then Blue Northerns push them out, your perennials may be struggling with what they are supposed to be doing. If you didn't take the time to cover them with mulch in the fall, the drastic weather changes may cause severe damage to new shoots when they try pushing out into what they think is spring.
The old saying of better late than never may make the difference to your summer blooms. Cover them with a layer of straw to help insulate them from the on again off again winter weather. This will help to protect the new shoots from the cold, retain any moisture that may fall in the form of snow or rain and hold onto the heat to help slowly thaw the ground.
Later in the spring, when your perennials have started to grow at a normal pace, protection from spring frosts can be looked after by using a commercial covering.

Every time there is a warm spell of weather we find our thoughts turning to digging in the dirt. Soon it will be time to add compost to the garden and plant spring bulbs . With the ground still frozen, you can take advantage of composting right in your kitchen as well as shopping for some tools to make your time spent in the garden easier on the body. This is also a very good time to plan changes to your landscape.

As we are dreaming of spring, there is always time to plan a new quilt. Making your own quilt pattern is not an impossible task. Start with something easy. If you have a favorite quilt pattern that you already like to sew, why not re-arrange the blocks and change out the colors to give it your own personal touch. Once you have done this a few times, you will find yourself mixing blocks from one quilt with another. Eventually, you will have grid paper and crayons in front of you drawing, coloring and designing your own masterpiece.
Quilt fabric and the colors you use are limited only by you. Dare to expand your horizons and try mixing and matching something out of your norm. While doing this, you will be adding material to your stash (something all quilters love to do). Sometimes, these additions are quite by accident as you may be looking for something totally different when your eye is caught by a display of hearts across the room. Or it may be a piece that just says it has to go home with you. Don't be sorry, purchase at least a yard and squirrel it away to be used when the time is right.

I have said it before, and I will say it again, children are a blessing. They see things with an open mind and give their love unconditionally, especially to their favorite stuffed toy. How many of you still have your "best childhood stuffed friend"?
When the weather warms up, give your little ones (and big ones too) a bucket of sidewalk chalk to encourage their artistic side. You can even let them help you make the chalk from our recipe. Better yet, go out with them and create your own work of art. Perhaps a quilt pattern on the driveway or big quilt blocks in each sidewalk block in front of your home. Let the imagination run wild.

What's New

At the time of writing this edition of The Periodical, we have added three more quilts that are available to purchase.
We have also included some new tools to make your sewing and quilting time more fun; and if you are looking to add a little ambiance to your sewing room, you must include one of these prints.

For a little bit of romance, there is a new selection of gift sets.


To help you relax, we have massage products and the tranquil sounds of Bonsai water fountains to listen to.