Welcome to Ma's Got'a Notion
Here at Ma's, we got your back...quilt back, that is!!!

Ho ho ho, it's time for Ma to take a winter rest, well, kinda-sorta. I have two quilts to piece and at least 5 table runners to bind, and I am working on a big-stitch hand-quilting one. No rest for the wicked, and the good don't need any, is the old saying...but honestly, piecing, binding, and big stitching are all forms of rest for me, as my job and my pastime too.

I wanted to do two things in this newsletter. First, a reminder: by the time you open this, you will still have Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, to stop by Ma's to pick up any last-minute items to stitch with while we are closed. We will be closing at 5 pm on Tuesday, the 23rd, and will not reopen until our annual New Year's Day Sale on January 1, 2026, from 10 am - 5 pm. I will have plenty of help that day. Of course, it will be Deb and me, but I also have 3 of my adult children, my SIL, and my friend Barb on deck to fill your shopping needs. This year, I do have four shopping carts to help carry your bolts as you make your selections.

Remember, Babes on Plum will be open that day too, with a grand brunch buffet from 10 am - 2 pm. You can always shop before and after you eat. Often, shoppers come in for a while before eating, then return afterward. No matter how you schedule your day, be sure to schedule us for New Year's Day!

I am genuinely looking forward to a new year. I don't want to wish my life away, but I certainly don't want a repeat of 2025 anytime soon! My household has seen enough of hospitals, doctor's visits, and ambulance rides to last for many years. While my husband's health is as good as it will ever be, we take solace in the fact that he is stable, at home, and enjoying his daily naps, his bigscreen TV, and his own bed each night. His appetite has returned, and although he has reverted to his old eating habits (foods he should avoid with a heart condition), I have resolved to accommodate his requests. Food is one of his pleasures, and comfort food has always been what his cravings lean towards. I told his doctor, and he said, "Yes, whatever keeps him happy and comfortable." So here we are. He is a late sleeper, so by the time he gets up, I serve him breakfast and arrange a lunch he can handle on his own, I arrive at work later than I prefer and often need to leave early as well. I do not like to leave home for extended hours unless I have arranged for someone to check in on him.

When I opened the shop more than 22 years ago, I vowed I would not have a sewing room in my home. I did not want my job to become a 24/7 job. I wanted to do piecing and quilting only at my workplace, not at home. For all those years, I only did handwork, i.e., binding, embroidery, wool work, etc at home so I could sit in the same room as my husband and talk, watch TV, or visit with company. This year, I set up a space at home with a sewing machine so I can do piecework here and avoid running back and forth between home and the shop to check on him. This year, I plan to work from home more often, but please note that Deb can call me if you need to speak with me. I am only a few blocks from my shop, and I can run up. She can also contact me to come in if she gets busy and needs my help. Time-wise, not much will be different from last year, when I was often away from the shop, but at least this year I will be only a few blocks away instead of several towns over. Just a phone call away! Tomorrow is never guaranteed, so I want to be available should he need me.

Thank you all for your support again this past year. I can only stay in business because of you, my customers, and that is not a fact that is lost on me. So please, know that I wholeheartedly  THANK EACH OF YOU, daily, not just occasionally!!! 

I hope your holidays are Merry and Bright, that you enjoy family and friends, and maybe a bit of sewing, too! If you are traveling, stay safe!

Next week, I will send out what will be on sale for New Year's Day, so until then...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, I wish you each good health and happiness in 2026!!!