by Willow Vanderling from the Threadville Mysteries by Janet Bolin

Fashions change, and here in Threadville, we change with them. Actually, since we're all crafting our own clothes, furnishings, and decorations, we change ahead of the seasons. So it's still February, but there's some warmth in that sun, and inside our shops, it's cozy and bright with the colors of spring and summer.

My best friend Haylee is already stocking summer fabrics in The Stash. Next door to her, Opal, who is Haylee's actual mother, is stocking pastel cotton yarns in Tell a Yarn. In Buttons and Bows, you can find almost any notion you want any time of the year, but Edna is happily opening boxes of summery-hued zippers, trims, laces, and buttons. Next to Edna's shop is Naomi's quilt shop, Batty About Quilts. From what I can gather, quilters want access to every possible color, all year round. Quilters seem very prolific.

Across the street from Naomi, Mona has a home dec shop, Country Chic. Mona tends to have interesting objects all the time, for nearly every season, and lots of them.

The hardware store is next to Country Chic. They still have snow shovels...

Next door to the hardware store is my shop, In Stitches. I sell the most fabulous sewing machines, ever. I can program them to do amazing embroidery. Many of my clients are embroidering spring flowers on everything right now.

When spring arrives, we'll be ready!

Find Janet Bolin on facebook and twitter. Read excerpts here. Find the Threadville mysteries at your library, in your favorite bookstore, or from any of these booksellers.