:: Hopscotch... (& falling down...)

One of the games I loved to play in grade school was hopscotch.

I loved all the parts of it... getting a 'marker' (the item you tossed into a square)... my favorite was a little ball chain with a charm attached (to give it just the right amount of weight so it wouldn't go too far!), collecting colored chalk so that the hopscotch drawing on the sidewalk would look 'pretty'... & even the little rhyme we used to say. (Although for the life of me - I can't remember it now!) We even would play in the garage or on the covered porch when the weather didn't allow us to go out on the driveway or sidewalk.

So when it came to naming one of my quilts that I made featuring my 'Fleurs' fabric collection - I was coming up blank for a name. The design was a classic one & the pattern gave a lot of options & it involved squares & the fun patterns they make... I went to my handy-dandy list of words that I keep... words & names that I like - or that evoke a good memory... & when I came across the word 'hopscotch' I knew that was it!

So I give you my quilt design called 'Hopscotch'. And, to celebrate a fun memory - I have put together some kits for it! The pattern gives you the directions for four options - & we have kits for each of them! They are all so fun to make & use either a Layer Cake or a Charm Pack (& some additional yardage). There are a limited amount of kits - (& they're a part of the 'Grateful' sale too!) - so don't delay!

... Now to the 'falling down part of the title for this post.

I did.

Again.

It was a hard fall... but at least I didn't break my wrist again. I did break a couple of toes (no photos... too ugly) & I did a number on my knees & hands, but I'm so thankful that my wrist was spared! That was my first thought when I righted myself (on a sidewalk... right out front of my local Market) - was to check my left wrist!! (whew!) So, I've been hobbling around for the past few days... keeping my right foot up as much as possible. (... & loving the person who came up with ibuprofen!)

But, here's the weird thing... I fell & broke my wrist on November 12... & I this time I fell on November 12 too! Strange... So, I've decided that from now on - I'm taking Nov. 12 off & staying home & having a 'pajama day'... hoping that it keeps me out of trouble!

Hope you have a great (& safe!) week!

♥ Bren

:: New patterns, new fabric collection, & catch up!

This 'keeping-up' thing is really testing me... & I do believe I'm pretty much failing, but I'm ready to throw in the towel yet on blogging. I know that there are some of you (bless you) who do still read my blog & don't really do Instagram (which is my main form of posting these days) - so I'm going to keep trying to keep things going here.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

To catch up - my fabric line, Fleurs, is now in shops (or arriving soon for international shops) & I just got back from Fall Quilt Market, where my next fabric collection with Moda - called Guernsey debuted. (I'll share more about Guernsey soon... this one has a fun back story..)  

With a new fabric collection - are new quilts. I had a lot of fun with these. One design which has been in my head for several years - is called Morning Star. I have wanted to do a gingham star design, & when I designed the scrappy version of Morning Star - I realized that I could do my gingham version as well! The best part about this star design is that it is made all from half-square triangle units & triangles (& there are no Y-seams!)

The other design (which has also been playing around in my head for awhile) is called Quilt Baskets. The full size is based on a classic basket block with fun quilt block/emblems in each one. You can pick & choose the blocks you like best & make this quilt unique to you. There's also a mini size that is well... just cute & fun!

Next is Nottingham. Some of you might remember Nottingham from many years back. I had 'retired' it, but kept having requests for it, & since the design is perfect to use with the main floral in my Guernsey collection - it is back - in both a classic black version & a soft version as well. (I just couldn't help myself!) The fun part of this is that Moda chose the soft version to kit & so it will be available (with one of those wonderful Moda kit boxes!) in April. (I will be carrying them in the web shop - so if you would like to pre-order one - send me an email (brendariddledesigns@comcast.net)  & I will get back to you with the details.)

The forth new pattern is called Puddin' Pie. It's just a fun - one block design that has so much flexibility. I can see this in all sorts of color ways & fabric styles & it works wonderfully with all of them. I ended up putting my Puddin' Pie quilt on my tabletop in my booth at Market  & was a bit worried it might get overlook... but I'm happy to say that even down on the table it garnered plenty of attention!

The final quilt I made with my Guernsey collection is my Betsy's Closet - In Stitches. That little girl has continued to be a continuous best seller & so I thought is would be nice to give her little wardrobe a color update. So, using the colors of Guernsey - Betsy's Closet got a little sprucing-up, with a little French & English influence! The fun part about this is that there will be a Cosmo Embroidery Floss Collection that works perfectly with Betsy's Closet - In Stitches! It will contain all twelve colors used & we will be kitting the little quilt as soon as they are available. (Keep checking back!)

All the patterns are available on the website as paper patterns & PDFs... & the best part is they are also on sale as part of my 'Gratitude' sale!

I'm so thankful for you... & want you to know that when I count my blessings... I count you!

♥ Bren