Happy New Year! Excitement is the word at both PNQS locations! Come along with us, it is going to be a marvelous journey!

2011 is now history and 2012 is a fresh new page – ready for you (and I) to finish some quilting and sewing projects you have previously started – or a time to begin some fun new adventures.  My advice is that we do BOTH.

PNQS has many new classes and clubs in the works, something for everyone, beginners or if you just want to freshen up some of your sewing skills.  We have 2 sessions that will be offered mid year that will stretch you beyond traditional, you will experiment with many specialty feet and techniques, with or without machine embroidery.  One will be a quilt and one will be a fantastic jacket for those of you that are ready to dive into embellished garments.  Monthly Minis #4 from Patchabilities begins January in Decorah, #5 will make its debut at Rochester PNQS in July.  Virtual Bernina, All about ME and Software Sampler begin anew again for class of 2012 this month.  Your classes on a CD with all of these, no need to attend special sessions if it just does not work into your schedule.  Also many of you have asked me to facilitate another “SCRAP” program to help some of you burn through those boxes, bags and drawers full.  A great new program will begin in both of the shops as a “back to school” program for quilters!  We will also offer a dynamic  BOM for a smaller project to learn many methods of quilting, traditional, paper piecing, applique to name a few, it is gorgeous and each shop will have their own rendition.  We are also planning an embroidery retreat at the Ramada in Rochester.   Come to VIP and/or watch  newsletter and website for details and starting dates. 

Spring Across the Border Shop Hop – 8th annual March 15-16-17 with our friends from Quilters Quarter, All in Stitches, Quilters Window and both PNQS locations.  Featuring 2.5 inch strips and a book special from Anka’s Treasures.

Hanspeter Ueltschi – owner of Bernina will be flying in from Switzerland to open the doors of our NEW ROCHESTER LOCATION for the first time the evening of APRIL 18 – Save a bit of time on this Wednesday after work to join the festivities and be the first through the doors along with Mr. Ueltschi!

Kaye England, favorite national educator from Indiana, will christen our new state of the art classroom with two days of seminars and sewing/quilting sessions, APRIL 19 and 20 – we are not yet sure of content or cost but you will want to pencil in you name as this is sure to fill quickly!  If you have ever been to a class with Kaye before YOU KNOW how knowledgeable and entertaining she is.

Goose Chase Gone Wild   begins the same weekend of our Rochester opening and continues through the following Saturday.   Friday, April 20- Saturday, April 28th. Hours:  M-F 10-6, Saturday, 10-5, Sunday, Noon-4  We have a marvelous Moda fabric promotion planned for this.

Decorah is hosting a wonderful Saturday/Sunday BUS TRIP so the “working gals” can get on the bus too.  Only $139 and includes about everything plus great gifts!  April 28 and 29 – get YOUR seat reserved soon!

JULY 26 thru August 3 -  Extra special shop hop/bus trip – see below for limited details (at this time!)

BOTH Decorah and Rochester shops will be participating in State Wide Shop Hops – Iowa in June and Minnesota in August!  Stay tuned for more details.

Our famous FALL RETREAT AT EAGLE BLUFF – will again be on the schedule for October.

We are exhilarated about moving our Minnesota shop from Racine to Rochester!  It is extremely bittersweet;  Racine has been a fun ride for five wonderful years, but as our shops continue to grow and evolve, bigger spaces with a dedicated classroom has become necessary.
Decorah (now entering our 4th year!) continues to thrive and will not be left out, we have an extreme makeover with some new fixtures in the works for our Iowa location too – look for major spring cleaning and “tune-up”!
                       YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE-LOVE-LOVE IT!
DO YOU KNOW SOLIDS ARE THE RAGE RIGHT NOW??   Wouldn’t you LOVE to have half yard cuts of these Moda Bella beauties, along with a great book full of patterns to use them?
Well, yes……. I am teasing you!  We are not quite ready to let the cat out of the bag ----  but ----  there is a dynamic shop hop/bus trip in the works for JULY 26 Thru AUGUST 3! This will include SIX of SE Minnesota’s premier quilt shops (buses leaving from Decorah too)!   More details later.  I guarantee this is a hop/bus trip like no other you will not want to miss!    We will soon reveal more, including a cooperative blog of its own.
Check http://www.pnqs.net%20or%20facebook/ often dear PineCones, 2012 is going to be the best year ever for all of us!  

          Let us inspire and energize your quilting and sewing journey!