… spring cleaning (sale)

Today the biggest 'spring cleaning' task I've ever done is starting. . .

. . . the house is getting painted!

. . . Actually, I'm not doing it. . . but it's coming out of my pocketbook

. . . so I'm definitely feeling a part of it.

The house was washed down late yesterday afternoon. . . 

(& after seeing all the dirt that came off. . . 

I'm thinking I should be doing that every 2 years or so!)

. . . & today, we are in a cocoon of sorts with all the windows & doors sealed in plastic,

. . . & Bailey is keeping track of all the painters & all the new noises!

(. . . He's going to be one sleepy little fluffybump tonight!)

The website is also having it's own 'Spring Cleaning'. . .

. . . in the form of a sale!

All books & patterns are 25 - 75% off! 

(You can find the website here)

Don't-cha just love spring?!?

♥ Bren

… farmhouse collection

I have to admit. . .

 . . . I'm pretty excited about this. 

For about a year now,  I've been planning & working on this new collection.

Actually, the beginnings of it have been in my heart. . .

 ever since I began quilting. . .

. . . as these quilts. . . farmhouse style quilts

. . . are at the center of my love for quilts.

Farmhouse quilts are what I first knew of quilts.

They are the type of quilts that were on the upper shelves in the linen closet. . .

. . . the quilts that my Grandmas made. . . & that my Mom was trying to use carefully & lovingly.

So, I'm having the most fun, investigating, sketching, & designing quilts that are, to me, representative of those special quilts . . . 

. . . & I'm putting them into a special collection of designs,

. . . the 'farmhouse collection'.

'square dance' is the first of the 'farmhouse collection' patterns.

I made all three quilts. . . & never tired of making the design (!) It's one of those patterns that has what I like to call 'puzzle blocks'. So that when you make the blocks (this design has 4 or 5 different blocks). . . you can't really tell what the pattern will be until you start putting the blocks together . . . 

& then the final design 'appears'. 

(I love it when that happens!)

For 'square dance', I made three different sizes/options (. . .something that is a goal for all of the 'farmhouse collection' patterns), with the smallest version having the addition of some appliqué. . .

(I used fusible web for the appliqué. . . & it went faster than I even thought it would!)

Also. . .

. . . because it was so much fun the first time. . .

there is now a embroidery (stitchery) version of 'By My Hand'

I made it using one color of floss (a medium linen color). . . & I wanted to also make it using different colors of floss (like the sampler quilt). . . but I made myself stop & move onto other new designs!

. . . Oh. . . & there are also a limited amount of kits available for the pillow version.

(. . . you can find them here!)

One one more thing!. . . .

The annual 'Spring Cleaning' sale is on at the website - where all patterns & books are 25 - 75% off! (. . . & for some of the patterns. . . we are getting very close to running out & then they will be 'retired'.)

Oh. . . & just one more thing. . . .!

. . . just kidding.

That's it for today.

But. . . keep checking back. . . more to come!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

♥ Bren

… stitching weekend

This was me & a few friends this past weekend. . .

. . . & it was wonderful!!!

Once a month, for the past 6 months. a few of my quilting friends & I go up to Phoenix for a weekend to participate in a Jo Club in one of my favorite quilt shops - The Olde World Quilt Shop.

It's been so fun to be making the little projects, & to learn some new ways of creating & putting together quilt blocks.

We've all loved it. . . & it's been such a great get-away for each of us.

What makes it so great is that one of the ladies has a house in Phoenix as well (used to belong to her mother). . . & now she & her husband keep it for other family members to use, & so we all make a weekend retreat of it & stay there.

It's great. . . we all look forward to it each month!

(We're also planning to continue doing it all summer - even though the next Jo Club doesn't start up again until the fall!)

This last weekend was filled with lots of sewing (with a few little Featherweight sewing machines!), yummy meals (& desserts too!), & watching the first season of Downton Abbey (again!. . . My friend Susan had never seen the first season. . . so we 'sacrificed' (not!) & watched it again!) ;o) 

I was able to get almost halfway though making the 50 blocks for a wedding quilt that I'm working on. . . I also got to do some embroidery (yea!) & I got some binding sewn onto a new quilt design.

. . . but Susan was the champion at getting things done this weekend!

She had partially made over 250 of one of the 'Jo' blocks from this past club. . . & she powered through & got them all finished & trimmed & here's a peek at what her quilt will look like. . .

. . . Isn't it wonderful!

We were teasing her about why in the world was she making so many of the blocks. . .

. . . & then they started going up onto the design 'wall'.

. . . Oh my!   . . . I love it!!!

It's all made from scraps from her stash, & it has me so inspired to work so much more from my stash. . . hmmm. . .

So, that's what I've been up to. . . at least for the weekend.

Today, I'll be subbing in the art room again. . . getting my hands dirty!  :o)

Hope you have a wonderful day!

♥ Bren

… what goes around. . .

I remember having such a good time making my table cover quilt, Garden Windows. . .

. . . I (like many, many others) had fallen in love with Rouenneries a few years ago,

& now that French General & Moda has released Rouenneries Deux. . .

I'm in love all over again!

I just love the linens, creams & washed out reds. . .

So I've pulled out my table cover & it's going to grace the dining room table for this early summer. . .

(. . . & maybe then some!)

I'm off to sub again tomorrow. . . (back to my old classroom!)

Hope you have a great week!

♥  Bren

… that's my King!

I remember being in high school. . . in San Diego, California. . .

. . . our family went to a large church by San Diego State College (now University)

. . . & although we were very active at church, this one particular Sunday, Dad was very

excited about the guest speaker.

. . . He told us, he remembered when he first had moved to San Diego (1950's . . . just out of the Navy) leaving evening church early at the church they attend to go to a neighboring church in downtown San Diego to hear this man speak. . .

The pastor was the Dr. S.M. Lockridge, & I'd never seen my Dad so enthusiastic about a speaker (. . . outside of Rev. Billy Graham).

So, of course we went. . .

. . . & this man's incredible ability to put it out there. . . touched my heart. 


Still does.

. . . & as we celebrate the incredible happenings that this weekend calls us to remember,

 I want to share with you this incredible video . . .

. . . it's only a part of a very 'famous' sermon that Dr. Lockridge gave many times over, (called 'Seven Way king' - or better known as 'That's My King')

What an incredible weekend this is. . .

. . . what an incredible Savior.

. . . & yes, . . . that's my King!

(if you would like to see/hear the full video, you can find it here.)

• • • • •

For the Glory of Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ, 

He is the King of Kings & the Lord of Lords 

Do You Know Him?

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He's the King of Israel. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King. I wonder...Do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define his limitless love. He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's Savior. He's the peak of civilization. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Savior. I wonder if you know Him today.

He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meager. I wonder if you know Him.

He's the key to knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. Do you know Him?

Well, His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous, and His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes, He's indescribable. He's incomprehensible. He's invincible. He's irresistible. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your head. You can't outlive Him, and you can't live without Him.

Well, the Pharisees couldn't stand Him but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. I wonder if you know Him?

Rev S.M. Lockridge

Wishing you the blessings that this wonderful day celebrates!

He IS Risen!

♥ Bren

… you are my sunshine!

♪  ♫   you are my sunshine. . .

. . . my only sunshine. . . ♫  ♪

. . . you make me happy when skies are grey. . .

you'll never know dear, . . . how much I love you. . .

. . . please don't take my sunshine away. . .  ♪♫

Happy Birthday (6 years) to my little sunshine, Bailey!

(. . . also known as 'hey-Bai', fluffy-bump, & Prince Dingleberry)

Love you bunches . . .

& bunches of bunches!

(. . . you really are a little bit of sunshine. . .!)

love, Mom  ♥

… a wonderful way to spend a day!

What a pretty afternoon. . . yes?

. . . Yes!

This is how I spent an afternoon this past week

when I subbed for a middle school teacher.

This is a P.E. class of 6th graders. . . & they were such fun!

It was such a lovely afternoon, we ditched the gym to be outside. . .

. . . & those great kids played their heart out playing basketball. . .

. . . who won?

. . . who knows!

. . . honestly, they didn't really care

. . . they were such happy campers getting to run & play.

I had such fun just watching them! They made me laugh a lot!

In the past 5 school days. . . I've subbed 4 times. . .

. . . & I have to say. . .

I'm loving it. (really loving it.)

I've really missed being in the classroom . . . & I've really missed the kids.

Today I get to sub the art classes. . . in the room that used to be mine. . .

. . . sigh. . . great memories!

Hope you have a wonderful day too!

♥ Bren