The New Year is almost upon us and we have lots of 2005 inventory we need to clear out before the end of the year to avoid the counting it in our year-end inventory. So we’re putting big discounts on E V E R Y T H I N G–clearance, specials, sale items, you name it–in order to move it out.

If you’ve ever wanted to pick up quilts, blankets, bath items, table linens, fabrics, patterns, sewing accessories and more at really, really low prices, now is the time to do it!

You can get 25% off EVERYTHING in our shops by using this coupon code at checkout:

2005

(Make sure to click the “redeem” button on the payment screen during the checkout process.)

The 25% off clearance sale runs through January 2, and all items are limited to stock on hand. No rainchecks or backorders. (Sorry, but this coupon can’t be combined with any others either.)

So hurry and start Shopping our 25% Off Year End Clearance Sale now!

HOLIDAY HOURS

Traditionally we give everyone the week between Christmas and New Years’s off to spend time with their families (and enjoy airport lines, bad weather, traffic, etc.), so we thought we’d remind you of our business hours for the next few days.

December 26-31
Almost everyone is gone on holiday. I am here, as is Annand Michelle, making us pretty thinly staffed. We’re still filling orders and shipping, but with the skeleton crew, please understand that we aren’t always able to answer the phone, emails, etc. in a timely manner. If you can, please wait until after the New Year to contact us. Otherwise please visit our website and use the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of the page, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.

January 2
Everyone’s back from holiday, but we have to perform the new year inventory, which is quite time consuming. We’ll continue to ship orders, but Customer Service phones won’t be staffed. Please use the “Contact Us” link on the website and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.

Happy New Year to you and your family. We wish you all the best in 2006!

It’s a tradition in our last newsletter before Christmas to forego the product pitches and sale announcements for our annual holiday message. Here it is:

Christmas is a holiday celebrating a great gift and the sharing of that gift with all mankind. It’s a time when we’re all especially generous, particularly in acts of charity. Sadly, however, there those who prefer to use our caring and giving nature as an opportunity to turn aprofit. You know what I’m talking about–those seemingly oh-so-caring pitches from businesses offering to donate some small fraction of every dollar they make from you. Later you’ll see them boasting how they’ve helped “those in need” as if they had volunteered their own time and money rather than a small portion of the profit you gave to them.

Sure it’s nice that these businesses are helping this cause or that, but the reality is if they were really interested in doing something good, they’d be asking you to contribute directly to the chairity rather than using a feel-good marketing ploy to get you to buy their stuff.

With that in mind, I’d like to ask you a small holiday favor that doesn’t involve selling or buying anything.

Rather than succumbng to this crass commercialization of holiday generosity, do this: Choose a charity, a cause, a neighbor, a family member, a complete stranger–whoever or whatever you want–and do something special. Donate money or a needed item, contribute your time, or just perform a little act of simple kindness.

Then… Don’t tell anyone you did it. Make it your secret holiday gift.

If we all just commit one quiet, unannounced act of goodness this season (two or three acts if you like), the impact will be far greater and more meaningful than all of the goodwill we can possibly buy through marketing pitches and store sales.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and warmest regards to you and yours this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Terri Osterfeld &
The American Homestead Mercantile Family

Fresh Fabrics & New Arrivals

Fancy Cats (Makowver UK)

Fairyland (Makower UK)

Oriental Traditions (Robert Kaufman)

Lost and Found
This week we discover 63 bolts of fabric that were (for whatever reason) not in the Fabric Shop. There’s lots of basics, blenders, hand-dyes, and even a number of good novelty prints and flannels. In order to move them out, we’ve marked them all down by 15 - 25%! (Hurry — selection is limited to stock on hand!)

You’ll find even more great fabrics here:
Special Buys
Clearance