. . . ellie's here !

. . . & she seems to have taken her time getting here. . .! (Well. okay - I admit it. . . it was me who took a bit longer than I thought to get the pattern written & printed.

Ellie uses some of the fabrics in my 'Celebration' line . . . (have a said how much fun it is to play with all the options?!?) . . . & if I could (time-wise) - I'd love to make this design - using lots of different fabric styles. . . brights, plaids, reproductions, batiks. . . you name it - I'd love to see it in this quick-to-make design.

For my quilt, I wanted a design that was simple & airy (& yet vintage)- & yet looked more complicated than it really was. For the blocks - they are actually assembled the same way - just with the colors/values changed.

Easy-peasy.

Here's Ellie - hanging in my booth at Fall Quilt Market. . . (she's the perfect nap size - or as a topper for a twin size bed . . . & the design would be simple to make larger for bigger needs).

. . . & here are the two blocks that are simply alternated. . .

I don't know about you - but sometimes I just love a quilt that doesn't make me think too much. . . but still looks more complicated than it really is.

(Oh. . . & for those of you who have asked - or might be wondering. . . yes, there will be patterns/directions for making the sham & pillows that were in my booth. Thanks you guys. . . for keeping me on my toes!)

Hoping you have a great weekend!

xo, Bren

. . . cleaning out the studio

It's a bit painful at times. . . but reality has hit. Here in the studio - it's time to clean out the extras & some of the fabrics that I just won't ever find time to make treasures with. . . so I'm making them available to you (& great prices too!)

Simply click on the item name & it will take you to the website - where you can purchase them. (They are all listed in the 'Gifts & Treasures area - in 'Studio Specials'.)All sales will go through Paypal - where you can enter your credit card or debit card of you prefer. (Shipping will be added through the cart process.)

(. . . & don't forget that all patterns & books are also 25% off. . . all apart of our "counting our blessings"!)

Swell (by Moda)- fat quarter bundle: $55.95 sold

Swell Wovens (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $20.95 (only 1 left!)

Flower Sugar - (by Lecien)- fat quarter bundle: $69.95 sold

Cinnamon Stars flannel (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $51.95 sold

Patisserie (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $69.95 sold

Kashmir 4 (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $54.95 sold

Cafe au Lait flannels (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $12.95

Check flannels (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $32.95

Beach House (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $69.95 sold

Celebrate Spring (by Moda) - fat quarter bundle: $74.95 sold

Celebrate Spring fabrics (by Moda) add up to 5½ yards: $27.95

Celebration . . . yep! some FQ's of my line too! (by Lecien) - fat quarter bundle: sold

(Hopefully we will get some more made soon. Please email me @ acornquiltandgiftcompany@comcast.net if you would like to be placed on our waiting list. Also. . . please know that online - you can find the Celebration fabrics (all of them!) at Fat Quarter Shop & at Shabby Fabrics!)

Authentic (by Moda) - rolled Layer Cake™: $19.95 sold

Essence (by Moda) - rolled Layer Cake™: $19.95 sold

Frosted Memories (by Moda) - rolled Layer Cake™: $19.95 sold

Legacy (by Moda) - rolled Layer Cake™: $19.95

Nostalgia (by Moda) - rolled Layer Cake™: $19.95

Portobello Market (by Moda) - rolled Layer Cake™: $19.95 sold

Whew!. . . Hope you have fun! (I will try & remove items or mark them as sold - as soon as I get notice of the sale through Paypal.)

Thanks everyone!

xo, Bren

… some tennies love

Yep. . . I've gone & done it. . . I have to admit. . . I have fallen in love with a pair of tennies. . .

Why?

Because these are made with images from my 'Celebration' fabric line!
Now, I know that shoes with flowers & gingham spilled all over them may not be everyone's "cup of tea". . .
. . . but they'll do for me just fine, thank you!
. . . even the backs. . . I'm smitten with that view too! . . .
I'm a Ked's sneaker fan from way back (especially this slip on style. . . love them!!), & I found out about this customizing process just before fall quilt Market - but didn't have enough time to get them made. . . so I treated myself to a little "after-Market - celebrating-my -first-fabric-line" present.

Ked's has paired-up with Zazzle to allow us to customize our tennies any way we would like! You can find out more about it here. . . & it is honestly a whole lot of fun. . . ! (One thing to be careful of though - is that you have the rights to whatever you are uploading for printing).

I'm thinking that each of my new fabric lines will have it's own pair of tennies. . . or. . . even quilt or stitchery?!?! . . . & a pair with Bailey's little mug would be so cute. . . & oh my, . . . of only my pocketbook were as big as my imagination! lol!

But for now. . . I'm tickled as can be over my 'Celebration' tennies. . .

. . . What would you put on your tennies? . . .

xo, Bren

…treats in the post

The postman was very nice to me today! Not only did he bring my packages to my door. . . but what was in both of them proved to be such a treat! Don't you just love it when good things come in the mail?

The first box was from Amazon. . . so I knew what was in it, but I am so excited to get them! I ordered a book I have heard (& read much) about, 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society', & I'm looking forward to reading this one as soon as I finish the book currently on my bedside table.

The second book I ordered is 'A Lineage of Grace'. This one is written by Francine Rivers - whom I have come to respect & love as an author. Her books are challenging, comforting, touching, & so well written. I'm at the point where I really don't have to know too much about the book . . . If it's by Francine - it's pretty much a sure thing that I will love it!

The last "book" I ordered is 'Aunt Millie's Garden'. . . by Piece 'O Cake Designs. . .

Sigh.

I have seen these incredible blocks on other blogs. . . & I credit (read: blame) Megan for really tempting me. (!) Her posts about her 'Aunt Millie's' progress started it all. It's stunning. Then when I was at Nubin's (my quilter) house & I spotted her 'Aunt Millie's' pattern & she told me she was just getting started. . . the in no time we had organized a small group to meet every other week to work on our own 'Aunt Millie's Garden' quilts. . . & tonight we start!

I'm really quite excited. . . as usually I am only working on my own designs & this will be a great diversion. . . as well as an incredibly beautiful quilt when it is done! Who knows. . . maybe this will be the start of me getting to actually make some of the dozens of quilt patterns that I have been collecting ever since I started designing. . . (Inside I am doing such a happy dance!)

The other box that came was a treat of a different kind. . . & it truly meant a great deal to me. . .

It may look like some one sent me a gift of a quilt. . . but really it's my own quilt. . . One that I had at Market & a shop (Prairie Queens Quilt Shop) borrowed for a show right after Market.

But look at how beautifully they wrapped it! . . . It's rolled (less folds that way) & it's then tied with a sweet pink ribbon & wrapped in plastic & then tissue paper, & to top it off a sweet note was added. It means so much because several of us designers have had some difficult (& even scary) experiences with lending our quilts out. So thank you to the wonderful folks at Prairie Queens!. . . I'm looking forward to visiting you the next time I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area!

So. . . that's the 'goings on' here. . . I've got a new pattern (using 'Celebration'!) that's going out to the printer tomorrow. . . so I'm off to do yet one more proof reading. . . (can there ever be too many?)

xo, Bren

… spreading a little hope

I just had to let you in on this wonderful opportunity.

Sweet Camille (Thimble Blossoms) has a wonderful post about an adorable family. . . with adorable children , Benson & Claire, who both are in need of transplants, & are living on hope. . .

. . . & you can help give that hope!

Camille is having an auction for one of her favorite quilts, 'Wild Thing', & all the proceeds will go help the family with the alarming transplant costs. There is also info on a silent auction that is going on to raise funds, as well as info on the non-profit organization that is helping them raise funds so that, even of you can't bid on the quilt, if you you would like to. . . you can donate whatever amount you can. (click here for the blog post.)

After all. . . it's all about hope. . .

. . . & it's all about us doing whatever we can. (& don't forget the 'little acorns' philosophy. . . "from little acorns - mighty oaks grow!") - So no matter how small it might be that we think we can do. . . it can add up to so much more than we could ever imagine!

Thanks Camille for your giving heart - & for giving us the opportunity to share.

xo, Bren

… counting my blessings

I am so thankful that I get to design & create. 'Officially' it is what is referred to as what I "do for a living". . . but in reality it is what I love to do. . . & I'm so very thankful for that!

I'm also so very thankful for all of you, & for all the support that I've been blessed with. . . & when I count my blessings. . . I count you!

So - to celebrate this season of 'thanksgiving'. . . we're having a sale over at the website - where all patterns & books are 25% off!

. . . Just my way of saying, 'Thanks!"

xo, Bren

… a little bit of. . . therapy

At least. . . that's what it feels like for me!

Every year, right after Fall Quilt Market, I treat myself to doing a project that is not one of my own designs. . . & I most admit. . . it feels wonderful!!!

Don't get me wrong - I love what I do! Designing quilts, needlework, & now fabrics is a joy - but there are times I just itch to be working on a project that I didn't have to write the instructions for. It's like therapy for me. Soothing even.

Last year, I made a few stitchery projects. First I made 'Heart of the Home' by Meg Hawkey (Crabapple Hill Studio), & then I stitched 'Summer Reign', by Kathy Schmitz. I loved making them both. . . (I was surprised & how quickly they came together!) . . . so this year - I knew that I would jump in with great anticipation . . . & I did!

Although I've been working on a very special new little quilt this past week (peeks soon), I also spent a lot of my time (as often as I could!) stitching on a wonderful project. This is just as I was finishing (I saved the big acorn for last!) 'Harvest Home' by Kathy Schmitz . . . I just couldn't resist this one. . . (look at all the sweet little acorns!)

. . . And, here it is - a moment after I took the last stitch.

I was almost sad to be done! . . . (although I still have the borders & finishing to do. . .)

. . . but then all I had to do was look through my new pile of patterns that I got from Kathy at Market. . . & sure enough - my smile came right back.

There's just nothing like stitchery . . . to help me think, to sort through all my thoughts & ideas, & just to relax. . .

. . . Yep. . . the best kind of 'therapy' I know of!

xo, Bren