How about a Spring Tote?

The weather here in Oregon is still gray and rainy, 

and we're all in the need for some bright colors.

How about a Spring tote to brighten up your mood and wardrobe?

Have you seen this new "Soft and Stable" batting byAnnie?  

It's perfect for your bags, adding stability and structure.

Pair this with some of our gorgeous spring fabrics 

and you'll be all set for sunny days.

Here's a Grab & Go Coupon for Soft and Stable Batting.

18% off on April 18! News from The Pine Needle

The Pine Needle Newsletter April 2011 in this issue :: 18% 0ff on April 18th :: Our 5 Top Selling Patterns :: Recipe: Chicken Divan :: Hints and Tips :: Just for Fun We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing. -- George Bernard Shaw Chirp Chirp Wool Pillow Greetings! We eagerly greet the longer days and more sunlight of spring (little less rain would be welcomed). The bright colors of apple green in our shop having me dreaming of plans for a spring colored quilt.  We have so many beautiful batiks that fuel my imagination, I don't know where to start.  Geri is hard at work on our new summer catalog in which she will share some of the new fabrics with you.  If you would like to see our Winter catalog click on the link to Winter Catalog.  Don't forget to check out our blog for added inspiration ( The Pine Needle Blog) or join us on Facebook For a fun new notion, that was introduced to us by one of our notions reps, scroll down to Just for Fun. Pam Raby, one of our quilt teachers, shares some information on machine needles that we, as quilters, need reminding of every once in awhile.  See Hints and Tips. The Pine Needle Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 23 11-5 We think Easter Egg hunts are fun for grown-ups too, so we invited the frisky little Easter Bunny to visit The Pine Needle and hide some eggs for you too!  Ms. Bunny agreed to come and hide her special eggs filled with great surprised on Saturday, April 23 from 11-5.  Enjoy being a kid again while searching for wonderful treasures.  The hunt will be on all day: we don't want anyone to miss out on the fun. Dont' forget our monthly anniversary celebration! 18% Off Anniversary Celebration Monday, April 18 18% Off all regular priced items (see coupon at the bottom of the email) Background fabric:  Posies Galore by Henry Glass $9.95/yd  Our 5 Top Selling Patterns Recently a customer asked, "What are your top selling patterns?"  That got us to thinking.  We could have guess, but we really couldn't point to facts and figures to prove our assumptions.  So with that question in mind, we did a little research, gathered some facts and calculated our "top five list." We thought we would share the results with you.  Each of these patterns, we think, has one common element that has made them so appealing to hundreds of customers.  Each of these patterns allows the quilter to create a quilt that highlights today's beautiful fabrics. Our top five patterns are....  #1. Hip to be Square #2 Brick by Brick #3. Northern Comfort #4. Building Blocks #5. SummerBreeze

Recipe Chicken Divan Pam Grogan says her family loves this recipe from  A Taste of Oregon cookbook. 8 chicken breasts 1 tsp. lemon juice Two 10-ounce pkgs frozen broccoli spears or 1 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli 1/2 tsp. Curry powder or 1/2 tsp. Oregano Two 10 1/2-ounce cans cream of chicken soup Two 6-ounce jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained (optional) 1 cup mayonnaise Slivered almonds (optional) Cook, debone, and dice the chicken breasts. Cook broccoli until tender and spread it in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Distribute chicken over broccoli. Combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Curry powder, and artichoke hearts. Spread mixture over the chicken and sprinkle slivered almonds on top.  Bake at 350 F for 30- 40 minutes. Serves 6-8 Variation:  Before baking, sprinkle the following over the chicken and broccoli: 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese,1/2 cup bread crumbs.    This recipe can be divided in half and baked in a 8 x 8 baking dish. Pam says, "When I make this, I use chicken fillets (no bones), no artichokes or nuts. I sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs on top.  I either make this as a full recipe or half depending on if my son is home.  He loves this!" Hints and Tips from Pam Raby Here are a few tips for knowing when to change your sewing machine's needle: A dull needle sounds a little noisy, almost like the needle goes "thunk" through the fabric.  Is the needle bent? A needle should lay perfectly flat on a table. If it "bows", definitely replace it.  Does the needle have a barb? Hold the top of the needle in one hand, then slide your fingers along the needle going from shank to tip. Can you feel a barb on the tip? If so, you need a new needle. This usually happens to me when I hit a pin. Just For Fun Double Diamonds During the year our sewing notion vendors show us many new and different ideas, and this one was just too much fun not to share with our customers.  By using three fabrics, fusible web and the Double Diamond ruler, you can create wonderful diamond patterns to add distinctive, dimensional diamonds to quilts whether in the blocks, on the sashings or borders.  You can also follow the same techniques to embellish clothing, or decorate scrapbook pages.  Let your imagination run wild!   Double Diamond example from Bright Quilting Notions Link to "Idea Gallery" at Bright Quilting Notions  Link to Double Diamond video  Link to Double Diamond pdf file  Double Diamond Ruler from Bright Quilting Notions Double Diamond Ruler The Double Diamond ruler helps you add distinctive, dimensional diamonds to quilt blocks, sashings and borders. You can use it to embellish clothing, make unique purse straps, and for scrap booking.  The Double Diamond Ruler™ makes it fast, fun and easy. Each package contains two sizes of Double Diamond quilting rulers so you can make 1 ½" and 3 ½" wide diamonds. Complete illustrated instructions are included. Our Price: $18.39 List Price: $22.95 Link to Double Diamond Wishing you a Happy Easter.  Thank you for being our customer. Sincerely, Geri and the Pine Cones The Pine Needle 429 First St Lake Oswego, OR 97034 503-635-1353  800-655-5632 www.pineneedlequiltshop.com friends@pineneedlequiltshop.com The Pine Needle Blog Save 18% As a girl never has to tell her age...we will be 18 forever. On the 18th of April, help us celebrate our birthday by receiving 18% off your entire order of regularly priced items*.  One day only! 18% off* Monday, April 18th If ordering by phone, please mention the 18% discount. If ordering from our website, please mention 18% monthly discount on the "Special Instruction" section of the Check-out page. * Not valid on gift certificates, wool basket of the month, software or classes.  Can not be combined with other coupons or sale prices. Offer Good April l8, 2011 only!

Fractured Impressions

Check out this beautiful quilt top made by Karen Dieter in Dawn White's class 

using the "Fractured Impressions" pattern by Johanne Gibson.

Way to go Karen!

 Here it is shown step by step.

 Here it is done in greens.

Here's the pattern.

If you'd like to try a smaller version, 

we'll be making an interpretation of this quilt 

as a pillow using a Lo-Sew technique in a class in June.

And finally here's our Grab& Go Coupon for the Fractured Impressions pattern.

Five Is Enough

Five Is Enough! 

Here's a great new pattern that uses 5, 1 yard cuts of fabric. 

How easy and cool is that? 

We already have it kitted in this pretty pink, blue and gold fabric,

but you can choose any 5 fabrics 

and make this quilt for $69.95 

which includes pattern and binding!!!

If you already have fabric, use our Grab and Go Coupon 

to buy the pattern (or any Pine Needle Pattern) at 25% off.
The pattern isn't on our website yet... so call us to order!

Spring Linens

Spring is just around the corner.

Freshen up with these new linens.

They would make a great pillow, table covering or clothing.

Our Grab & Go Coupon lets you take 25% off all linens.

18% off and March News from The Pine Needle

The Pine Needle Newsletter March Newsletter March 2011 in this issue :: Tumbling Blocks and more.... :: Recipe: Oatmeal Cookies :: Hints and Tips :: New Class Added "Whoever said money can't buy happiness  simply didn't know where to go shopping."   ~Bo Derek   Pillow made with Floral Birds Greetings! Rain,RAIN, rain!  Last Sunday's comic Stone Soup (link to Stone Soup) captures our thoughts on the weather. So with this edition of our newsletter, we thought we would bring you a bit of Spring, no matter the weather outside.    The background that you see peaking around the edges of the email is a new line of fabric from Free Spirit called Jeanvenve Linen.  Frequently referred to as a decorator weight fabric, it is 100% cotton, looks and feels like linen and comes in a 54" width.  Jeanvenve's Floral Birds has such a clean crisp feel of Spring, that it was love at first sight for our staff.  Pillows, like magic, appeared the next morning.  Thank you, Janet P.!   Even though the weather does not let us think it is actually Spring, the bird watchers amongst our staff tell us our summer aviary friends have started to arrive.  The fabric manufacturers, including Free Spirit, must have envisioned our feathered friends' return as this year's spring theme.  We have received several beautiful fabric lines featuring birds.  Below you can see a new quilt we've made from Benartex's Meadowlark fabric line. Link to Jenaveve Linen   Link to Meadowlark Fabrics  If Spring is slow in coming, at least we can sew Spring!  Don't forget our monthly anniversary 18% off sale on Friday! Link to Winter 2011 Catalog      18% Off Anniversary Celebration Friday, March 18 18% Off all regular priced items (see coupon at the bottom of the email) Ideas from the Sewing and Stitchery Expo Tumbling Blocks and more.... The Puyallup, WA  Sewing and Stitchery Expo provides us with an opportunity to see a wide variety of sewers and quilters, to observer what interests them,  and to notice buying  trends.  Our new five yard quilts created a lot of activity.  We will be showing you those in our Spring catalog.  The Maywood Woolies, which we stock all year around, delighted a ton of shoppers,  many who do not have access to flannels.  Pam's Meadowlark quilt kit (seen on your right) sold out immediately.  Our new Jungle Panel quilt was a hit with moms and grandma's (see below). In our Notion's booth Marci Baker displayed several of her Tumbling Block quilts and demonstrated her strip piecing techniques, packing our booth with careful listeners.  See below for a video clip of her technique on  Easy Strip-Pieced Tumbling Blocks. Easy Strip-Pieced Tumbling Blocks, Marci Baker of Alicia's Attic  Link to Marci Baker's ABC 3-D book See below for Q Tool Corner Cut-60 and Clearview 10" Triangle Ruler. Oatmeal Cookies From staff member: Mimi Teters Mimi notes: I like these cookies because they stay nice and soft! The secret is soaking the raisins! OATMEAL COOKIES 3 eggs, beaten well 1 cup raisins 1 tsp vanilla Combine these ingredients and let them stand at room temperature for 1 hour 1 cup shortening, margarine or butter 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 2 1/2 cups sifted flour 1 tsp salt 2 tsp soda 1 tsp cinnamon 2 cups oatmeal 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Cream shortening and sugars.  Sift flour with dry ingredients and mix into a creamed mixture Add raisins, nuts and oatmeal. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350F Jungle Panel Quilt Our Child Friendly Flannel Working in a quilt shop can be such fun.  The day we received this delightfully happy jungle panel and its accompanying fabrics, our Pinecone, Nancy went home and made this hug- gable child's quilt.  She even wrote instructions, so the rest of us can easily make our little ones  jungle quilts.  Then Geri took our jungle panel kits to Puyallup and Expo-ers loved it too.  Success is so much fun!  We've ordered more fabric for more kits in hopes you will like our little quilt too!    Jungle Panel Quilt kit - $39.95 The Birds Have Arrived Benartex's Meadowlark Collection Sidelights quilt from Meadowlark collection  Spring seems much to slow in  arriving this year, so we decided to hurry it up a bit by introducing summer birds into our shop with Pam's Meadowlark quilt.  The shoppers at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup two weeks ago just loved this quilt.  Our Pinecone, Pam, combined the Sidelight pattern with the classical lines of the Meadowlark collection to create this stunning quilt.  Although the image suggest the fabric background color is black, in actuality the color is  somewhere between a deep brown and a charcoal.  The Meadowlark series also comes is an aubergine and a sea foam green.    Benartex's Meadowlark Sidelight pattern Meadowlark Quilt Kit Meadowlark Fabric Hints and Tips Rotary Cutter Care A reminder from our teacher, Pam Raby  Rotary cutting is easier if you clean and oil the cutter periodically. First, disassemble your rotary cutter. Place each part in a row on a flat surface so you know how to reassemble the cutter. I prefer to place the blade flat on my cutting mat, then use a scrap of fabric or paper towel to clean it, wiping from the center of the blade to the outside so I don't cut my fingers or drop the blade. When I reassemble the cutter, I put one drop of sewing machine oil near the center of the blade so it rotates easily while cutting. If excess force is needed to cut through a couple layers of fabric, it's time for a fresh, sharp rotary cutting blade! Pam Raby  New Class Added Machine Quilting Fundamentals At the request of many of our quilters, we've added another session of  Pam Raby's Machine Quilting Fundamentals. The class has been scheduled for Saturday, May 21 10:00 - 4:00 Pam Raby Two Rulers Used by Marci Baker We feature in this month's promotion two of the rulers Marci Baker uses to create the many of the triangle blocks in her book ABC-3D and on her video clip, the Clearview Triangle  in the 10" size (Marci recommends the 10" as the most versatile ruler size) and the Q-Tool Corner Cut-60 for exact seam allowance trimming. Clearview Triangle 10" Our Price: $18.36 List Price: $22.95 Link to Clearview 10" Ruler The Qtools Corner Cut 60 allows you to trim exact seam allowances on 60 degree triangles.  This tool helps in aligning 60 deg. triangle pieces. Our Price: $8.99 List Price: $7.19 Link to QTools Corner Cut-60 Thank your for being our customer.  We delight in being able to help our wonderful customers with their creativity. Sincerely, Geri Grasvik and the Pinecones The Pine Needle 429 First St Lake Oswego, OR 97034 503-635-1353  800-655-5632 www.pineneedlequiltshop.com friends@pineneedlequiltshop.com   Save 18% As a girl never has to tell her age...we will be 18 forever. On the 18th of March, help us celebrate our birthday by receiving 18% off your entire order of regularly priced items*.  One day only! 18% off* Friday, March 18th If ordering by phone, please mention the 18% discount. If ordering from our website, please mention 18% monthly discount on the "Special Instruction" section of the Check-out page. * Not valid on gift certificates, wool basket of the month, software or classes.  Can not be combined with other coupons or sale prices. Offer Good March l8, 2011 only!