… dreaming of spring

Now,  I know that I don't live in a part of the country where there has been inches & inches of snow . . . (although the mountains that I live right next to have had over 7 feet of snow fall on it this winter!). . . but here where I live (north of Tucson, AZ), we have had what I would consider a good cold(ish) winter. In fact, we are getting another storm arrive this evening(!) (Yea!. . . we love rain!)


But. . . I must admit - that I too . . . am ready for spring to arrive. . . . And,  hidden in that statement is the realization that I do believe that I have become a winter wimp. Even living here. . . with a very mild winter (in comparison) - I am so ready for warmer temps. In the past few weeks we've had a few beautiful days (in the 70's) full of hint's of the wonderful spring weather to come. . . & I'm up for it!!!!


So, in the spirit of getting ready for spring, I thought I'd share a little quilt that I made this year. . . & maybe plant a few ideas on your mind for future projects of your own . . .

 If you've read my blog for any amount of time - you know how much I love stitchery. Well, this past fall - I re-made one of my applique patterns, 'Apple Blossoms', but this time I traced the applique layout & used it for a stitchery instead.

For the center. . .

For the side setting triangles. . .

 & for the corner triangles. . .

(I'm hoping these photos also might help those of you who have emailed & asked about how I quilt my quilts with stitchery. I often just quilt right through the stitchery - but this time my quilter used the stitchery lines as guidelines for her quilting. . . I just love how it all worked out.)

I also simplified the borders a bit & just left off the outer pieced border for this version.

Right now - this quilt is gracing the kitchen table. . . so that we get the reminder throughout the day. . . that spring is coming! So, if you have stitching bug. . . & maybe an applique design that you love. . . try it in stitchery!

I also wanted to tell you. . . 

I have a secret!!

. . . but!

. . . I also got permission to give you some peeks. . . !!

. . . so I'll be working on getting a special peek ready for you. . . !

Until then, (!!!!)

♥ Bren

… wonderful, wonderful wool!

A few days ago, I finished the new embroidery project/design in the morning. . . (can't wait to show you!). . . & by the afternoon - I started making the same design all over again . . .


. . . this time in wool.


. . . on my beloved linen.


I have to tell you. . . I was actually giddy - I was having so much fun! I kept asking myself, why I had let so much time go by since I had done anything in wool.

I love working with wool!

I sat myself down at my design/studio table , piled little stacks of wool all around & played. . . at least that's what it felt like! I had so much fun playing with the colors. . . loving the textures & softness of the wool & well, everything about it!

Once I had my wool colors picked out for each of the blocks, I ironed  the freezer paper templates onto the wool. . .  did a rough of the wool cut around the templates. . . & then I put each into their own little zip-baggie. . .

. . . & then I  moved onto the next block. . . !

. . . Later, I spent the evening with my zip-baggies, my scissors & the Winter Olympics & I cut out all my woolie pieces, asking myself time after time why I had waited so long to work with wool again!

So. Much. Fun. (what can I say. . . I can be veeerry easy to please!)  

(by the way. . . I just have to say that it has been so much fun to watch & listen to Canadians sing their national anthem at the Winter Olympics! They have such enthusiasm & sing it with pride & joy! Wonderful to watch! Way to go Canada!)

 ♥  Bren

daybook ::8::

for today :: February 22, 2010

outside my window. . .  a lot of new little flowers poking their little buds out. . . They are looking for spring too!

I am thinking. . . that I am going to up my walking this week. (Now I just need to move it from thinking about it to doing it!)

from the kitchen. . . My morning coffee. . .  I'm thinking it will be oatmeal this morning. . . sprinkled with cinnamon. (yum!)

I am wearing. . . lavender t-shirt, sage green pants, & a light pink sweater. . . (feeling a bit like an Easter egg!)

I am creating. . . a new design that I am having so much fun with! (Can't wait to show you!)

I am remembering. . . How much I love to work with wool!

I am going. . .  to really finish getting papers ready for taxes. . . I have to . . . my meeting is in a week!

I am reading. . . finished Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers. (Loved it. . . I highly recommend it!) This week I am starting 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'.

I am hoping . . . to get my new pattern back from the printers this week.

I am hearing. . . raindrops. . . it's looking to be a great stitching day.

around the house. . . spring things are starting to make their appearance - soft colored quilts, baskets, & flowers. . . lot's & lot's of flowers!

one of my favorite things. . .  hydrangeas. . . love them. . . they are my favorite flowers.

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . stitching a wool version of my latest design, & getting some other designs out of the sketchbook & into fabrics

from my picture journal. . .

 Hope you enjoy this last week of February!

♥, Bren

… a little stitching. . . a little rambling. . .

First of all. . .  how can we already be in the last half of February? Wasn't it just New Years? 

Whew.

Lately, I've been keeping myself busy in the studio. . .  I've had a couple of projects on-going, & as of today, one of them is 'officially' at the printers. . . all proofed & on it's printing way. . . & the other one - I'm making some great progress on. It's one of those that I've had in my head (& sketchbook) for a bit & I took the remaining stitchery with me on my trip to San Diego last week & got it all completed. . . so today I've been playing with the setting & the colors. (I love this part!)

This is the first of three versions of the design. This one is done in embroidery. I'm using Lecien's COSMO threads. (♥!) For this version, I'm mostly using what is now known as the 'Marble' line. . . they are softly variegated & I have a serious 'crush' on them. (LOVE!!!)  I got word (& a copy of the new colors!) that they are introducing a whole bunch of new colors to the line in May & will be re-naming the line 'Seasons'. I can hardly wait!

Can you see the color changes?  I just love how they bring a bit of a vintage look to the stitching.

Last evening I started the second 'version' of this new design . . . I'm doing it in wool! I love working with wool & haven't done it in way too long. . . & so I'm having a ball! 

I'm so happy to be back working in the studio. It feels perfect. Also for the last few days - the weather here has been close to perfect (in the 70's!) - & so I've had the windows & the slider wide open in the studio. Yesterday, I even sat in the doorway for a bit. . . as the sun was shining in & the warmth of it felt so wonderful. I realized, while sitting there (with Bailey - who had crawled into my lap), that I miss being outside. In the past few years - I've actually avoided being outside much - 'avoiding the sun' - I would tell myself. But, I feel so much better when I get myself outdoors.

So, I'll be getting a really good sunscreen & my plan is to get myself outside much more from now on. I also want to help Dad out more in the yard. He loves doing it - but it's getting to be a bit much for him to do it all these days. It will be good for me to learn all that he does in the yard as well. 

I also expect that my freckles will be 'sprouting' like they haven't for too many years. . . but actually. . . I kind of miss them.!

Hope you have a wonderful - sunny day!

♥  Bren

daybook ::7::

for today :: February 15, 2010

outside my window. . . sunshine. . . beautiful sunshine! (we're supposed to be in the 70's this week! . . . So now I get it. . . this is why folks move here!)

I am thinking. . . of all the pretty fabrics that arrived this week. . . & all the projects swimming around in my head that I have planned for them.

from the kitchen. . . coffee. . . good black coffee.

I am wearing. . . working-around-the-house-clothes. . . grey t-shirt, comfy J.Jill knit pants & bare feet. (lol. . . this is what I was wearing last week!. . . I am such a creature of habit!)

I am creating. . . patterns directions.

I am remembering. . . that summer weather will be here. . . soon!  :o)

I am going. . . for a walk with Bailey a little later in the day.

I am reading. . . finishing up Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers. Like all of her books. . . I don't want it to end(!)

I am hoping . . . That I can get everything done on my day's 'to-d0' list

I am hearing. . . my iTunes on in the background. (love my iTunes!)

around the house. . . I just got out the duster. . . (you can tell I've been leaving the back door open lately!)

one of my favorite things. . . Ghirardelli - 60% Cacao dark chocolate. Especially with coffee. Join me?

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . getting pattern to the printer, some organizing. . . & starting a bunch of new designs! (I'm a happy, happy girl!)

from my picture journal. . .

These are part of the hydrangea plant that "Bailey" got me for Valentine's Day. . . isn't he such a thoughtful little guy?!

Hope you have a sun-shiny week!

♥ Bren

… Valentine wishes

He's already given me a wonderful little hydrangea plant (my favorite flowers. . . how did he know?!?). . . Bailey let me know that he wanted to be in on the Valentine wishes to all of the wonderful people who come & visit the blog. . .


. . . so here is what he wanted to give to each of you. . .!

Happy Valentine's Day  from Bailey & me! Hope your day is filled with lots of love. . . (& smooches too!)

♥   Bren

… some new things on the website!

I just got back from a little trip to San Diego. . . but just before I left - I did a bit more cleaning in the studio, & have added some more items to the website. . .


. . . some bundles, layer cakes™, jelly rolls™, honey buns™, & even some kits!


All of these are in very limited quantities. . . (I just wanted to give a fair warning!)


I'm posting photos of the items here. . . & if you click on the item name, it will link you to the page where it's listed on the website.

A New Day - quilt kit  $69.95

Garden Windows - quilt kit  $54.95

Picnic Quilt  - quilt kit  $44.95

Allspice Tapestry - by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda - fat quarter bundle       sold

Aster Manor - by 3 Sisters for Moda - fat quarter bundle       sold

Antique Rose - by Lecien- 17½" cuts bundle (almost a ½ yard each!)     sold

Swell (wovens) - by Urban Chicks for Moda - fat quarter bundle    $12.95

At Water's Edge - by Blackbird Designs for Moda - fat quarter bundle   sold

At Water's Edge - by Blackbird Designs for Moda - jelly roll™   $16.95   

Aviary - by 3 Sisters for Moda - honey bun™    $14.95

The Caroler - by Mary Engelbreit for Moda - turnover™    $9.95

Rouenneries - by French General for Moda - layer cake™      sold

Wicasett - by Minick & Simpson for Moda - layer cake™    sold

(I'll be back soon with some photos & stories from my San Diego trip!)


♥ Bren

daybook ::6::

for today :: February 8, 2010

outside my window. . . a covey of quail. . . bunches! . . . so cute & funny! They are young - most of them look to be almost a year old. Soon there will be 'strings' of babies running & darting around!

I am thinking. . . of what I need to pack for my overnight trip to San Diego tomorrow.

from the kitchen. . . new hardware on the cabinets & drawers! (The house was finished almost 10 years ago. . . & I finally just put on the drawer pulls & cabinet knobs that I got at Restoration Hardware . . . almost 9 years ago! . . . talk about procrastination!)

I am wearing. . . working-around-the-house-clothes. . . grey t-shirt, comfy J.Jill knit pants & bare feet.

I am creating. . . yo-yo's. . . lots & lots of yo-yo's.

I am remembering. . . that I have to finish getting my tax stuff together. ick.

I am going. . . to San Diego (!). . . for a quick trip to meet my new little grand-niece - Abrielle. (sigh!)

I am reading. . . a new magazine I got for the plane trip(s) - 'cottage style'. (I'm peeking before my trip 'officially' starts)

I am hoping . . . that I can squeeze in visiting everyone I hope to in a little over 24 hrs trip. (May need to rethink the time frame for the next trip.)

I am hearing. . . little jabbering quail. . . my but they are chatter-y!

around the house. . . cleaning up just finished projects. . . making room for the next ones to get started!

one of my favorite things. . . lately, it's having scented candles going. . . an instant relaxer.

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . um. . . did I mention that I'm going to San Diego (!). . . but for today - it's quilt/stitch group tonight! . . . getting mocha ingredients ready!

from my picture journal. . .

We've been having some wonderfully drizzly & rainy days. . . & then sunsets like this.

(sigh)

  ♥  Bren

… a cloudy, drizzly day

Things are pretty quiet around here today . . .


. . . quilts are off to the quilter, & today is all about pattern writing.


I've had some of my favorite movies on in the background. . . & now a NCIS marathon is on the television. . . so that will be on in the background for a bit.


I'm thinking though. . . that this little one isn't really into what's on the telly. . .

. . . he's making the most of this cloudy, drizzly day!


♥ Bren