Sunday FUNDAY 4/27

It's our final Sunday FUNDAY! We've had so much fun playing along each week -- thank you to our fabulous Pinecone shoppers for their continued support!

First, up -- we have 14 PASTEL blender fat quarters. These are so pretty & fresh! Perfect for a Spring project or your stash!

Originally $47.99

Sunday FUNDAY Price $27.99

Next, 14 JEWEL-TONE blender fat quarters! So rich & beautiful!

Originally $47.99

Sunday FUNDAY Price $27.99

Nifty Notion rulers are our favorite! Take advantage of these ruler set -- you will love them, too! Includes 4" square, 4" half square, 4" quarter square, & 2" x 4" rulers.

Originally $34.50

Sunday FUNDAY Price $23.99

And for the GIVEAWAY! Like us on Facebook and comment below for an extra entry at the black & white and green kit. Isn't it beautiful?!

Good luck!

QUILT SHOP DREAMS....my story....

Quilt Shop Dreams

 

How did PNQS come to be? Did you always want to own a quilt store?  Do you get to sew all day long?  I get asked these questions all the time.  I will tell you, it was something of a fluke, partly destiny, many other components added, fly-by-the-seat of your pants, blind ambition plus the coming together of a fine assembly of wonderful persons which are past and present staff members and customers, I proudly call my PNQS family, now and forever...

Let me begin at the beginning.

 

Sewing began for me at the age of 9 for 4-H.  Quilting as a sophomore in high school when mom and grandma gave me some yardage of a sky blue fabric and the bag of scraps from various clothing projects.  I began with a cardboard template, and ink pen to draw around the 4 inch square cut from the back of a cereal box, scissors in hand to cut the squares one by one. I sewed them together carefully in a 4 patches and we then tied the quilt top, batting and backing together with yarn on a big wooden frame.  Over the years I made several more, I was hooked. 

Husband Tom and I were owners/operators of our family dairy that expanded over the years. While I still did some quilting here and there and managed to attend a quilt retreat once a year, sewing and quilting was certainly on the back burner.  We worked side by side for over 25 years, both our children joined the operation after high school and college; we survived the ups and downs of several expansions to get to 625 total Holstein cows/calves and milking 3 times a day.  In 2005 we sold the dairy cows on two bright sunny February days, it was truly bittersweet for our family. 

  

 At that time I owned half interest in the long arm quilting machine at Pine Needles Quilt Shop in Cresco, Iowa. I worked part time at it and was able to quilt customer quilts in between the chores and milking. The shop owner came to me one day and announced as she had 2 stores, she was going to sell the Cresco location and that I should buy it.  I quickly asked if she had fallen and hit her head.  None the less, one thing led to another in by springtime my husband, daughter and I were owners of a quilt shop.

 

Tom, my husband, my rock, my business partner and best friend!

 

Let me go back in time and tell you why it was a bit of destiny for me at least.  There is a history of depression in my family; I thought I was exempt, alas, I was not.  I share this because I know others too, struggle with depression. I want you to know you are not alone.  I experienced the darkest time of my otherwise wonderful life in my mid 30’s; when asked at a counseling session, “What would be your dream job?” I answered owning a quilt store.  That was a crazy answer for sure, at that time, I had two children at home and was working alongside husband with the dairy.  I barely had time to even look at my sewing machine and certainly never even thought of owning a shop, I was not sure where that statement even came from and quickly tucked it away.  Little did I know that 10 or so years down the road that would be exactly what would happen.  Ah yes, destiny!

 

Cresco, Iowa, where it all began

Daughter Suzie had worked with us at the dairy and joined in the running of the store right from the beginning.  Husband Tom and son Justin continue to farm our land, minus the livestock.  Suzie has been a huge part of PNQS every step of the way and took on the role of Certified Bernina Technician several years ago.  She loves the challenge and seems to relish the ins and outs of the new highly technical, multi-facets sewing/embroidery machines of today.

Suzie

 

 

Tom and Justin

 

It has indeed been a challenge, a kind of wild ride of ups and downs, learning and discovery.   Through the years we have added a location, moved and sold a second location.  We landed in Rochester in 2012 and are so very happy here.  Great town, great staff, great customers, quilting and sewing is just an added benefit.

Suzie and Mom, side by side and still smiling!

And to answer the third question; I do not get to sew all day long.

STILL having fun!

I do, very, very much enjoy my time to sew... it hardly ever happens at the shop.  Most of the time it is in the evenings, in my pj's...at home.  :)

Happy sewing,
Marcia

www.pnqs.net

 

 

Congratulations to the Winner!

Click here to see if you won the BERNINA 215!

SUNDAY FUNDAY April 20th!

It's time for another SUNDAY FUNDAY -- EASTER EDITION!

First up, we have Fox Field by Tula Pink -- 14 BEAUTIFUL Fat Quarters! 

Retail: $47.00

SUNDAY FUNDAY PRICE: $27.00

The next Fat Quarter Speical is Honeysweet by Moda Fabrics. This bundle just screams SPRING!

Retail: $47.00

SUNDAY FUNDAY PRICE: $27.00

Easter eggs? No, Easter threads! 

5 Spools (220 yard each) of spring colored Isacord/Mettler  PolySheen in a reusable PNQS zip top bag. 

$22.50 value for only $10.99

Check out our FACEBOOK Page for direct links to these specials!

And now for the GIVEAWAY! 

We are giving away the kit for this red & white beauty -- Miss Lillian! 

Like our post on Facebook and comment here for an extra chance!

Hoppy Easter!

SUNDAY FUNDAY April 13th!

April is fun!  Here is our second Sunday Funday Specials!

 This is our book special - buy BOTH of these out of print favorites by the late great Mary Ellen Hopkins for only $19.99! That is HALF PRICE!

 PNQS BRIGHT BATIK BUNDLE at a very special price! Regular price $47.99 -  Sunday Funday Price $27.99 for 13 fat quarters.

 PNQS DARK BATIK BUNDLE also at an unbelievable price!  Regular price $47.99 - Sunday Funday Price $27.99 for 13 fat quarters.

     And this lovely kit is our Sunday Funday GIVEAWAY!!

Check out our Facebook post to get the links to purchase any of the specials. 

Comment here or on the Facebook page for a chance to win the GIVEAWAY - comment BOTH places for TWO chances to WIN!!

Annniversary Sale!

Click here to read about our Anniversary Sale & Recently Traded Sewing Machines.

SUNDAY FUNDAY April 6th!

It's SUNDAY FUNDAY!

Here's the round-up on our SUNDAY FUNDAY Specials for today!

First up, we've put together two BEAUTIFUL Fat Quarter Bundles for you to choose from, or take both!

SUNRISE & NIGHT SKY each feature 14 Fat Quarters -- for our 14th Anniversary!!! -- for only $26.99! 

Shop SUNRISE here!

Shop NIGHT SKY here!

And now for our SUNDAY FUNDAY Kit Special!

Kit includes 16 different 3/8 yard cuts & the Quilted Gems pattern from Glad Creations. Retail $79.99  SUNDAY FUNDAY SPECIAL $39.99

Be sure to enter in today's GIVEAWAY too over on our Facebook Page! Leave a comment below for a bonus entry! Winner will be announced Monday at 10am CST. Good luck!

Have a GREAT SUNDAY! 

News from PNQS

Read about our Anniversary Sale and BERNINA Tax Break by clicking here!

Trip to Rodeo Drive...we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto......

On Saturday I returned from a week long business meeting with other independent retail shop owners In Los Angeles.  Part of our assignment was to make the trip down Rodeo Drive with a partner (mine was Barb from Watermark in Moline, IL, she was great!) to study and learn about merchandising and shop layout.  OH MY......   it was quite an experience......

 My partner for the morning - I am sorry I did not get a picture of her from the front!  We are entering PRADA.....

               

 

NO PHOTOS ALLOWED IN THE SHOPS - WOW!!!  IS ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THE MERCHANDISE AND DISPLAYS!!!

 

FIRST ONE BACK ON THE PARTY LIMO TO HEAD BACK TO OUR HOTEL!!

 

         

 

 

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!

                                  GIVE ME THESE JEWEL TONES INSTEAD OF JEWELRY

ART AND COLORS ABOUND - PAINTINGS WITH FABRIC & THREAD INSTEAD OF CANVAS AND PAINTS!

                                 WE, TOO, HAVE WONDERFUL DESIGNER HANDBAGS

                                            I'LL TAKE THIS ANY DAY OVER A ROLEX

 

FLASHY STILETTOS??   NOPE, SPLASHES OF THREADS AND DID I TELL YOU THEY COME IN METALLICS TOO!!!

 SALESMEN IN SUITS AND SALESWOMEN IN TIGHT GLITZY DRESSES, NO THANKS,     I'LL TAKE THESE SMILING FACES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE!!