:: Celebrating Autumn....

This morning right as I got out of bed, I found that I needed to find my long (flannel) jammie pants... as it was very chilly! That, to me, is a sign that autumn is finally arriving! (...& I do a little happy dance!) Here in the southwest of the United States, autumn can often go undetected.

... & this girl loves autumn.

Actually a little over a week ago, I took Dad up to the top of Mt. Lemmon. It was wonderfully chilly & we had to find our sweater & jacket for the trip up the mountain! Mt. Lemmon is the highest peak (a little over 9000 ft.)  of the mountains that we live right next to - the Catalina Mountains. Every fall we drive up to the top & it's a trip worth the drive. It takes a little over an hour to get there - as the road up to the top of the mountain is about 30 minutes away. (We have to drive to the far east side of town & we live on the extreme far northwest side...) 

This year we hit the week of beautiful fall color, & it was beautiful. The aspens against the pines always takes my breath away. I love that, even though I live in Arizona - I'm only an hour away from it feeling like I'm in Colorado.

Our annual little trip is such a special time for both of us. After walking around a bit (that gets harder & harder for Dad each year) we stopped at the log 'Cookie Cabin' for some nice warm coffee & we shared some cookie (they are 8" in diameter - so we took over half home!).  I'm just so thankful that we were able to take our little trip this year... it is a very precious memory.

If you saw the previous post - you will know that the 'old' website (location) is going away. With it - some of the shop categories, such as the Sample Quilts will not be transferring over to the new website (which is now up & running!!!). (Several of the sample quilts have sold since the 40% off sale started (thank you!!) - so be sure to check it out if you think you might want one for you, for a friend, or a gift!)  Currently on the old website (acornquiltandgiftcompany.com) - you will now also find that numerous other shop categories, those that have more limited inventory, such as Kits & Fabrics) have been moved over to the new website (brendariddledesigns.com). As is stands now - the old website will be completely shut-down in December. 

I wish I could give an exact date of when the older website will be gone - but that's up to whenever they (the web host) transfer the domain for me... which they say can take anywhere from 2-20 days. When it does happen - the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com address will also lead to the new website! (Yes, it will have two website addresses!)

Also - remember that there is a new blog ('Journal') located on the website. You can find it HERE.

 I'm not certain if I'm going to be continuing having both this blog & the new journal... it would just be repetitive... (& extra work)... hmmm... so I'd love your thoughts...!

I hope you have a wonderful day...

♥  Bren

:: Comings & Goings

There have so many changes happening around here! There is so much to update, so I’ll try to be as brief as possible (…& hang in there because there will be a ‘reward’ if you get through all the new info!)

So, here we go…!

•••  The new website is ready to go live!!! •••

If you’ve been following me on the blog (soon to be the old blog)… & on Instagram, you might know that I’ve been working on a new website. It’s been about two weeks… & there’s just a few ‘tests’ to run… but it’s finally (almost!) ready to go live! 

The old website (acornquiltandgiftcompany.com) will still be up & running with reduced inventory (more on that later) for a little while longer - & the new website can be found at (brendariddledesigns.com). Eventually - the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com web address will point to the new website as well.

I’m so excited about the new website… The photos are much larger & you will be able to enlarge them if you need or want to. The patterns will also have the pattern backs available - so you can see the yardage requirements ahead of time. Also, there will be more shipping options as well as payment options. 

You can look for the new website to go live no later than the end of day on Tuesday. (…yippee!)

•••   Sample Quilts   •••

With the move to the new website - I will not be carrying over the sample quilts that have been available. There are a handful left (Including a Betsy’s Closet, Meadow, & Gatehouse quilts!) & I have discounted the prices by 40%!! 

These sample quilts will only be available though the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com site, & once we close the older website (no later than December 2019) - they will be gone. (Also, for those of you wondering, once the old website is closed - the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com address will eventually be attached to the new website, as well.)

You can see the quilts here.

As far as the available inventory on the old website - that will be decreasing as soon as the new website is live. Some products (because of needing to keep inventory counts correct) will move completely to the new website.

•••   New Blog/Journal   •••

The blog will also be transferring over to the new website as well… & I invite you to come visit & check it out as soon as the new site goes live. I’m so very excited with the new look, visuals & the feeling of community the new ‘blog’ (which I’m calling my ‘Journal’) has. 

There’s also more - but I think that will do it for now… (whew!)… & if you made it all the way though this post - you deserve a big ‘thank you’ from me! If you’ve followed me for awhile - you know that I have a ‘Counting my blessings’ sale every November. But, with the new website up & running - I’m wanting to share the blessings with you & I’m starting it early! Simply enter the code ‘blessing’ into the discount area in the shopping cart & you will receive 25% off everything! It’s just my small way of letting you know how much I feel blessed to get to do what I do, & what a blessing you are to me!

Once again, thanks so much!

♥ Bren

:: Changes... in process...

There are days (weeks... months...) where I feel like I'm so quiet on the blog & social media front, & I find I feel a little guilty about it... but so often there are a lot of things I'm working on that I can't show while working on them... & these past few weeks have been just like that. (Oddly enough - you'd giggle at how many times I compose posts in my head while I'm working on things... but then I can't really write & post them because of the timetables & keeping things under wraps that I - as a designer - need to work with.)

But - even so, I wanted to touch base - as much as I can, to try to keep in touch with you. And, as I was just writing that sentence, & if you are reading this post... I just want to let you know how much it means to me that you choose to check in on what's happening with my company & with the things I share about my life. It means so much - I can't really express how much it does mean to me. So, thank you for being here!

There are a few things I wanted to let you in on... that have been filling these past few weeks. First is that this past week, I received the strike-offs for my next collection. What that means is that pretty much everything else gets put on the back burner so I can review all of them, sort through them, make any corrections or tweaks, make the notes for all of that & get them sent back to Moda!

So for now... this little sneak peek is all I can show... but I am really excited about these fabrics... the prints & the colorways. They are (of course) still soft, but it is a wonderfully unique collection & I can hardly wait to get the fabrics, make things & surround myself with them!

The other (very, very) big project that I've just been able to get started (after wanting to start on it all summer)... is a new website. It's still a couple of weeks out - as having to wait for domains to transfer can take time... but I'm excited about it. I'm doing it myself - as I like to know how to make changes as needed... & I like doing that myself. (I think it must be part of the graphic design student that still remains inside of me.) I have to admit - it's quite a learning curve since I haven't updated the layout or host of my website for over a decade! (... & oh my how things have changed!) But, I know it will be a great step. You will be able to enlarge photos of designs, see the pattern backs to see the supplies needed, & a lot more payment options.

The other thing that will be contained within the website is a blog... & I will be switching over to posting there as soon as it's all up & running. It will be so great to have everything all in one place!

For now though - the current website will stay up, & hopefully there will a smooth transition! I will let you know as soon as the new website goes live. 

The one thing that will not be on the new website is the page with the sample quilts. I listed a large grouping & they will not be available on the website after the transition. 

SO... I am reducing the prices on all the ones that are currently listed & they are now 40% off! (That includes the original 'Betsy's Closet' quilt & some other quilts where the patterns are being 'retired' - so this will be the last chance.)

If you see one that you would like - but would need to separate the payments into 2 or 3 payments - just email me & let me know & we will be happy to work with you!

So, there you have it...!  My 'exciting' life for the last several weeks...

I'm planning to take Dad up to Mt. Lemmon this next week... for our annual autumn visit, & I'm so ready to see some fall leaves (aspen & maples) & smell the pine trees!

Hope you have a great week!

♥ Bren