I received a marvelous treat in the mail the other day! A magazine I had been waiting for from a quilt shop that I adore, along with a few fat quarters of festive Halloween fabric for my latest project (news about that to come later!).
First, the magazine is the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of the Quilt Sampler, which, a couple of times a year, features 10 fabulous quilt shops around the country (this issue actually has 11). And, the fun news is that one of my designs and patterns happened to show up in a photo inside the magazine! What a great surprise!
(I'm a lucky gal, as this is the second time a design of mine has appeared in this magazine. The other was a few years ago when the magazine featured The Gathering Place, a shop in Idaho that has carried several of my patterns as well. The design shown was "Spring Flowers" as you can see in the photo below.)
So the issue of the magazine this month features one of my favorite quilt shops of all time: Pine Needles in Historic Gardner Village, near Salt Lake City, Utah. As a quilt shop, it is enchanting to visit...the displays are ever-changing with new designs, fabrics, and patterns gracing the walls and peeking from the nooks and crannies. I am inspired every time I visit! There is a plethora of amazing designs and patterns for quilts, table runners, pin cushions, pillows, aprons, and more, that feature hand-embroidery, cross-stitch, quilting, or punch-needle.
The design, "My Dad" from Needle in a Haystack (me!) is shown in one of the photos that were taken inside the shop and printed in the magazine. I was giddy when I heard the news! You can see it in section 3 below.
But the real reason that Pine Needles will forever hold a special spot in my heart, is because it is the place where Needle in a Haystack got its start. About 8 years ago, I was fiddling with my own embroidery designs, wanting to do more with them, but not sure how or where to break into the market. I happened to have one of my stitched designs with me on an outing to Pine Needles and was looking for some coordinating fabric, when one of the store's managers, Holly, spotted the design in my hand. She asked where I got that pattern, and when she found out I had designed it myself, she encouraged me to write up the directions, offer a sample for the store to display, and bring her the patterns to sell. I was thrilled, and so grateful that someone believed in my designs and was willing to take a chance on them.
Some time down the road from that day, my little company, Needle in a Haystack was born. From that time, Pine Needles has been my best customer for in-store patterns, and one of my biggest cheerleaders. The ladies there are fabulous, and Holly, especially, has become a sweet and supportive friend over the years. Follow this link to learn more about their store and blog, and click here to see Needle in a Haystack patterns that are available through Pine Needles.
So, yes, what a great day to see that Pine Needles was featured in the Quilt Sampler---their cozy, friendly, and trendy store truly deserves it! And what a great day for my little business to be associated with them.
