Yup, #3 pine but practice with re-breakables - much less expensive.
About bricks, you can think of the patio style as 3 10x12" 3/4' boards. That's what I break:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOUAo4pQyqQ you can go for the longer scalloped style if you wish, they are much easier to break. I always use spacers with bricks, I use carpenter pencils - but I've been told that steel nuts are much better because the pencils absorb so much of the force that it's like adding an extra brick.
Be creative and have fun!