There are so many things that I like about the winter holiday season—twinkling lights, baking cookies, fresh snow—but holiday shopping is one thing that can be quite a downer. I went out last Saturday to pick up some gifts. I drove around town for over three hours and wasn't able to cross a single thing off my list! Long lines, stores that don't carry the thing you need, slogging through the slush and busy parking lots—yuck! Saturday was one of those days that really tested my cheerful holiday spirit (I needed a big mug of hot chocolate and a hug after I finally grumped my way back home).

If you're suffering from similar shopping anxiety, look no further than the Interweave online store. There are lots of fabulous items to make shopping for your crafty friends and family members (or maybe yourself—you deserve a treat!) quick and easy. If you're searching for great last minute gifts we have just the thing—a special 3-day sale on our 2010 wall calendars. They're inexpensive (just $9.99!), they'll get a whole year's worth of use, and they're full of beautiful photos and great information.

We've talked before about the creation of the 2010 Spin-Off calendar. With festival dates, reader haiku, and lush fibery photos it's the perfect gift for the fellow spinners in your life. If there are quilters or mixed-media artists on your list, our other calendars have them covered too. The Quilting Arts calendar has a "fresh picked" theme and it features photography of 13 beautiful art quilts. Showcasing techniques ranging from needle felting to thread painting to appliqué, this is one inspirational organizational tool! Cloth Paper Scissors magazine held their first-ever calendar contest with the theme "Life is like a box of...".  The 13 winning entries and the resulting 2010 calendar show the diversity of their mixed-media artists, with artists using everything from paint to quilting to assemblage.

So if you're in a bit of a shopping funk, or you just aren't sure what to get some of the people on your list, check out what the Interweave store has to offer. With the time you save you can watch a favorite holiday movie or make some yummy cookies (like these Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows, my current favorite!)

Wishing you happy, stress-free holidays! :)

—Stefanie