Grace upon Grace

When finally sitting myself down to write this post, I checked back on the last journal post I did to announce a fabric collection - which was for Dover - & I had to laugh because I was also late in writing a post about Dover - & also at the date… which was also April 21. There must be something about this date where I finally get my act together(!) (By the way… what ever happened to me doing a post about my Sophie fabric collection…! (Sorry Sophie!)

So… needless to say - even though I’m late in introducing my next collection… I am beyond happy to introduce you to Grace! 🌸

Because I’m a little late in getting the word out - I’ve seen some social media posts about Grace (…thank you to Moda & some of the quilt shops that have ordered Grace!) - & what’s been fun is to read how folks are finding somethings that are very familiar about Grace… & they are right!

Grace actually had a different working name in its creation. I was referring to it as ‘Return to Ambleside’… as well as ‘Ambleside’s little sister’.  That’s because that over the seven years since the release of Ambleside, my first collection with Moda, I have continually been asked if folks could still find Ambleside fabrics. So, when it came time to design this collection, I chose a few prints from Ambleside - resized them (to keep it fun!) - & then added some fun new prints. I worked with the same colorways that I used for Ambleside - so it will work wonderfully for the folks who have been holding on to their Ambleside bundles & scraps. Or, if you missed out on the original Ambleside - Grace is just as charming & sweet!

I have to admit that when it came time to renaming this collection, I tossed out a couple of options… but I knew that ‘Grace’ was the perfect name. Also, because we submit collections about a year before they are introduced - I was working on this collection during the time period of my Dad’s passing. With all the events of the past year, it has made me reflect - quite a lot - on all the blessings in my life, & for how thankful I am for God’s grace & how much comfort it continually brings  me. (On top of that - the hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’, was one of the songs my Dad had requested for his memorial service. For the service, his great-grandchildren were the ones who led the congregation in singing the song together - & that memory, & the words to the hymn have brought so much joy in this past year.

So, for those reasons, my Grace collection is a very special one for me. But also, because it is ‘related’ to Ambleside - it holds a special place in my heart. As I mentioned, Ambleside was my first collection with Moda, and the story of how that happened has ‘grace’ written all over it. One day, I will share how that happened… but for now, I’m just so pleased to carry on the legacy into this fabric collection. I can honestly say it has captured my heart & brings me such joy.

I hope that you will also enjoy Grace & create something that brings joys in the years to come.

Grace is being shown to shops now (so don’t delay & let your local quilt shop know if you would like them to carry it!), & is scheduled to arrive in August 2021.

I will have the new quilt designs & information about pre-ordering some Grace pre-cuts posted to the website tomorrow - so be sure to check them out! (There will only be a couple of days to pre-order bundles…!)

Here’s to Grace!! 

🌱 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

:: ...introducing 'Bespoke Blooms'

It's coming in May!

Just in time for spring to be in full 'bloom'... & summer knocking on the door...

Bespoke Blooms will arrive in May! (I'm so excited!)

There's a little story behind this special line - starting with the fact that its making it's debut a wee bit later than I originally planned - but because of my broken wrist at the end of 2014 - I wasn't able to use my hand to draw & couldn't get all the artwork completed in time for the mill to have enough time to prepare it for Fall Market 2015.

So - even though it will be a bit late for the all the spring lines debut (that's Fall Market) - I'm still very excited about the timing of it's arrival. Right around May - we are all itching for fresh air & all that is crisp, clean & airy to fill our days, & I think that the prints in Bespoke Blooms will 'fit the bill' perfectly!

The term 'bespoke' refers to things that are specially made & the Bespoke Blooms collection is specially made & perfect for lovely quilts. The small scale makes them perfect for the quilts I like to call 'littles'. The sweet floral prints & coordinating tone-on-tone prints, stripes & classic ginghams create a wonderful palette for quilts ranging from  lovely 'littles' to everything bigger, charming home decor, & even sweet garments.

 

I've had a lot of fun creating the new patterns for this line - each with a larger version of the quilt design & a 'littles' or mini version as well.

The first one is 'Bailey'... it's an updated version of my earlier 'Bailey' quilt (...named after my favorite fluffy little man). It comes in sizes ranging from 80"x 80"  down to a 'little' 15" x 15"!

Next is Mills Cabin - another updated pattern for several years back. We've gotten so many requests for it (& ran out of stock!) that I thought is best to update it & also add a 'little' version(!) You will notice that for the larger quilt (68" x 68") I used the latest 3 Sisters line 'Larkspur'... (I love this line!) - & for the 'little' version (17" x 17") - I used my Bespoke Blooms fabrics.

Inspired by a vintage quilt (as so many of my designs are!) - Stepping Stones is special because I have a soft spot for nine-patches. (sigh). There's just something about their simplicity that I just love. (... this would also make a wonderful almost-beginner quilt!) It features two colors & a background fabric - adding to the clean fresh look. The large quilt is 78" x 78" & the littles is 26" x 26".

The final pattern is Ella. Sweet Ella. This is one of those designs where you can feature a few colors - or go real scrappy... Ella is definitely sweet that way. The large quilt is 72" x 72" & the littles is 22" x 22".

All of the patterns (paper & PDF version) will be up on the website early next week.

And there's more!...

Coming mid-March, a sweet little booklet - filled with 'littles'... classic quilt designs - all in miniature versions (littles!)... (I'm so excited about this!) More about these 'little' lovelies soon!

Moda reps are out on the road(s) - showing my Bespoke Blooms collection to quilt shops all over - so be sure to let your local quilt shop know that you would like to have Bespoke Blooms nearby for you!

♥ Bren

:: Moda All-Stars All in a Row blog hop!

A little over a year ago, I was so pleased to be asked to be a part of this wonderfully fun project… a book that Moda & Martingale Publishers were planning called ‘Moda All-Stars All in a Row’.  We were each asked to design a row & the book is filled with all those rows as well as wonderful ‘filler’ rows designed by Moda’s own Lissa Alexander. 

I chose a spring theme & my row is called Garland Knot. I made mine from my Ambleside fabrics & it was so much fun to make!

A fun part about this blog hop - is that I also get to make someone else’s row… & I got to make the adorable row by Carrie Nelson… called Row Houses! This is Carrie’s row…

… & this is mine! (…in process!)

I’m making mine from my upcoming line, Bespoke Blooms, & I’ve made mine with three houses (or as my friend called them ‘beach houses’!) - so that I can finish it to fit on a smaller wall that leads to my kitchen area. That’s the fun of these rows & this book - is that you can make them to fit you (…&/or the person you want to make a special treat for!)

If you decide to play along with us… & make my row (Garland Knot) - or - if you decide to use any of my Moda fabric lines - Ambleside or Windermere  - for your row quilt - be sure to share it & tag it on Instagram with #garlandknot, or #rowbyrowAmbleside, or #rowbyrowWindermere, or @brengr, (or you can email me (brendariddledesigns@comcast.net) a photo of your row(s) if you aren’t on Instagram) so that I will be sure to see it! Then on March 15, I will draw for a prize from all the entries! I can hardly wait to see what you do!

One of the very special things about this book is that all proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to No Kid Hungry, an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America. You can find more info about them here:   https://www.nokidhungry.org

Also, just to hep you get started…. if you leave a comment to this post - I will be drawing the name from all comments & someone will win a copy of Moda All-Stars Row By Row! I will draw a name on Saturday, January 22 & send your book to you. (Please be sure that your comment is not listed as a ‘no-reply’ email listing! I need to be able to email you!)

Be sure to see all the other rows & the fun from the makers! Here is a schedule of the hop:

January 18:  Brenda Riddle (here!)  & Carrie Nelson

January 19:  Corey Yoder  &  Janet Clare

January 20:  Me & My Sister  &  Barbara Brackman

January 21:  Pat Sloan  &  Edyta Sitar

January 22:  Camille Roskelley  &  Kathy Schmitz

January 23:  Sweetwater  &  Blackbird Designs

January 24:  Anne Sutton  &  Laurie Simpson

January 25:  Lisa Bongean  &  Joanna Figueroa

January 26:  Betsy Chutchian  &  Jen Kingwell

January 27:  Kate Spain  &  Sandy Gervais

January 28:  Kaari Meng  &  Kansas Troubles

Besides this fun blog hop… Martingale & Moda have a super contest that will start as soon as this blog hop ends! Here’s a bit of info to peak your interest!

 It’s a Beauty of a Contest 

#allinarowquiltalong

·    Contest entries will begin February 1 and runs for 6 weeks. Contest ends March 15 

·    Participants will need to buy the ‘Moda All-Stars All In A Row’ book, make your   

favorite row(s), join the Facebook group #AllInARowQuiltAlong and post a picture with your quilt top of rows joined together. 

                One row= one entry. 

                Two rows=two entries, etc. 

Your Facebook name is the name that will be entered into the contest. (open only to US entrants) 

·    For every row in your entry - you get an entry in to the It’s a Beauty of a Book Contest. There will be 5 prizes - like the five finalists in a pageant—plus weekly random drawings for related “beauty” prizes. All will be drawn from entries from above.

THESE PRIZES ARE OUTSTANDING, SO EVERYONE WILL WANT TO JOIN IN!! 

All In A Row Quilt-Along Queen (first prize) - FQ pack every month for 9 months (April to December 2016) + two new release books of the month for 9 months (April to December 2016) from Martingale. Company to determine which fabric/book, but May book will be Moda All-Stars Scraps Made Simple for anyone winning that month’s prize! 

All In A Row Beauty Book first runner up (second prize) F8 pack every month for 6 months (April to August 2016) + two new release books of the month for 6 months (April to August 2016) from Martingale. Company to determine which fabric/book. 

All In A Row Beauty Book second runner up (third prize) Layer Cake every month for 4 months (April to July 2016) + one new release book of the month for 4 months (April to July 2016) from Martingale. Company to determine which fabric/book. 

All In A Row Beauty Book third runner up (fourth prize) Layer Cake each month for 2 months (April and May 2016) + one new release book of the month for 2 months (April and May 2016) from Martingale. Company to determine which fabric/book. 

All In A Row Beauty Book fourth runner up (fifth prize) one Layer Cake pack (April 2016) + one new release book of the month for April 2016 from Martingale. Company to determine which fabric/book. 

THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME OTHER PRIZES! -  

Weekly Drawings from weeks 2-3-4-5: 

• Miss Congeniality: (wait for it) 2 Charm Packs and 1 Book 

• Talent Winner (hidden or otherwise): 2 books and 2 Mini-Charms

• Stash Accumulation Award: 1 Mini Charm, 1 Charm Pack, 1 Layer Cake + 3 books 

• Social Media Butterfly Award: Carrie Nelson's House Row See!! This is gonna be a lot of fun!

See!!! . . . This is going to be a lot of fun!

♥ Bren

... progess. . .

It's been a wonderfully quiet & peaceful Christmas around here...

I've been piecing a lot of these . . .

. . . trimming & squaring-up. . 

. . . which makes a lot of these. . .

But, when the end result are these. . . I don't mind.

(These are the star block centers... there are 36 of them.)

I finished all the star blocks for my large 'for my grandmas' quilt, & I'm going to start the cutting for the 'setting' blocks this afternoon. I'm loving the process of it all. I also finished a block for my 'Beyond the Cherry Tree' quilt (... That one has been sitting in my stitchery basket for months!), so I prepped the next two blocks.

I'm wanting to make sure that I have all the projects that I've been working on, or thinking of working on ready to go... & I have a little of everything (piecing, appliqué, English paper piecing, embroidery, & cross-stitch) prepped & ready, so that whatever I'm feeling like doing. . . It's ready to go.

On the website front... WOW!... Guess you liked the buy-one-get-one-free for the patterns special!! A lot of you took advantage of the PDF versions. . . But you also kept Dad & I running to the post office in the days before Christmas (& jeepers... was that parking lot ever crowded!)!

SO... Since you liked it so much (& since some of you asked because you got some $ in your stocking...) I'm going to keep the B-O-G-O free offer on patterns (including the PDF versions) going on for the rest of 2013. (So, that's until the end of next Tuesday, 12.31.2013) Happy end-of-2013!!!

 For every two patterns you purchase, we will refund the price of one of the patterns back to you. I just can't thank you enough for being such wonderful customers... & if you're like me & planning lots of projects for 2014... hopefully this can help in getting some of them started!

Hoping you are enjoying these last days of 2013!

xo,  Bren

… the work I love

I must admit. . . that I really do love what I get to do.

This photo is from the beginning of the week. . . when I had cut out a quilt top from my upcoming line of fabric (Durham Anew),

. . . but I had wanted to proof a pattern just one more time (a deadline thing. . .) 

This pattern had already the 'living-daylights' proofed out of it. . . but I always have that last minute 'just one more time' feeling, so I filled up my coffee mug & went over it 'one more time'.

So, the fabrics were pushed aside (but not too far aside!), 

& the pattern (the next 'farmhouse collection' quilt) got it's final proofing.

(I do have to admit - that proofing is not my favorite part of what I do, probably because I feel such angst when doing it. . . so afraid that something might slip by! But it doesn't diminish loving what I get to do!)

Today, I'm finishing quilting the quilt from the pieces above, 

but before I show it to you, 

I thought you might like to see this. . .

. . . this is the photo I snapped of my main studio table about a month ago when I received the final strike offs for this Durham Anew fabric line.

(. . . kinda embarrassed, as I just found it on my camera. . . it's been that kind of month!)

When these (strike offs) arrive, everything else get's put on the back burner - as the mill is waiting for the word that all (colors, prints) are okay, so that they can begin printing the sample yardage.

So, I stopped everything else I was working on. . .

 looked (& drooled a little) over them, 

& thankfully everything was great!

. . . so today, I get to play with my sample fabrics, & promise peeks soon.

I'm also working on getting lots of goodies uploaded to the website. . . 

. . . keep checking back!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

♥ Bren

… meet Betsy's litte brother - Benji

I wasn't planning to make a little boy stitchery. . .

. . . but so many emailed & asked if there would be one. . .

. . . so may I introduce 'Betsy's' little brother. . .

' Benji's Pockets - In Stitches'!

I wanted to make this design a little more 'handsome' so I did my stitchery in redwork, 

& I used two of the wonderful Primitive Gathering Muslin fabrics from Moda. 

(I love these fabrics for so many things!)

While the sample I made includes a little baseball uniform & equipment,

for those that would rather - the pattern also includes the option of using 

a little soccer uniform & equipment instead.

Here's a few of the blocks. . .

The pattern is up on the website & we will also have a limited number of kits available. (Shipping will start on Friday, August 31)

Also. . . although we still have some floss kits for Betsy's Closet - In Stitches available, I have sold out of the kits - but there is good news!

Jennifer at ShabbyFabrics.com has put together (one more time!) some more kits for 'Betsy's Closet - In Stitches! You can find them here! (But please know this will be the last number of kits she will have available & when they are gone - they are gone!)

Thank you all . . . for your incredible response to the stitcheries of my little folks.

You have made this all so much fun!

♥ Bren

… weekend sewing

. . . yes, I'm a trimmer

. . . what can I say. . . the neat stacks of freshly trimmed blocks makes me happy.

. . . I've fallen a bit for this one. . . it's extra. . . & I'm thinking it will be for me.

This weekend, I've turned my focus back on a quilt that I started a couple of months ago.

(. . . I've gotten a little sidetracked.)

It's for someone very special. . . & I'm using the same fabrics that I used for

'By My Hand'. . .

. . . It's the 'courthouse steps' block. . . & a little later, I'll explain why I'm making this particular block.

For now. . . as I'm sewing  strips together & these blocks start transforming. . .  I find a smile will spread across my face with memories of the person it is for.

These still have one more 'row' of strips to go. . . & then I've got to decide how I want to put them all together.

. . . decisions I'm more than happy to work on.

♥ Bren

… time for a change

With the hot temps of summer. . . I've been getting any errands that need to be done as early as possible in the day. Then the rest of the day can be spent indoors, in the studio.

The other day, as I met the UPS at the front door, my shoulder lightly brushed against the dried rose & hydrangea wreath that hangs next to the front door. Let's just say that my next move was to get the dust boom & dustpan to gather all the little bits that were scattered all over the floor.

I love this little wreath, but I know that it's time is pretty much done. I got it from Pottery Barn, with a gift card that I had received, & I've loved it for a little over 6 years now. When I went to the Pottery Barn website to see what they now had to offer. . . perhaps to replace it, I read that the life span of the wreath was intended to be about a year or so. (!)  So. . . I guess I've gotten my money's worth!

I decided though, that instead of replacing it with a new one. . . 

I would replace it with this. . .

It's the wreath design from Barb & Alma's (Blackbird Designs) book 'Weekend'.

When I first saw their quilt (that has four wreaths) in their booth last fall at Quilt Market, I fell in love with it. The space that I have (next to the front door) is much smaller, so I took the layout ( for a single wreath) & reduced it by about 1/3 & will be making a little mini quilt to replace my beloved little dried floral wreath.

My plan is to make one for each season. . . & this one (using Blueberry Crumb Cake) will be for the summer months. I also want to make one that is for autumn, winter & spring.

(Then. . . if my shoulder brushes against these. . . no messes!)

The other thing that is going on in the studio are some of these little cuties. . . I got the appliqué fused down & for some of the other blocks I'm using embroidery. 

Such a wonderful way to spend time indoors. . . trying to stay cool!

Hope you are keeping cool!

♥ Bren

… introducing Betsy's Closet - In Stitches

I feel like I've been even saying this a lot lately (. . . & that's a good thing!)

. . . but I had so much fun making this little quilt!

Firstly. . . there's stitchery involved. . . & once I started stitching the little outfits. . . I couldn't stop. . . they were so addictive! (. . . & were so easy to stitch!)

I've just uploaded the pattern onto the website. . . & while they last. . .

there are KITS as well! The kits include the fabrics for the quilt top, all eleven of the Cosmo embroidery flosses used, & the pattern too! The kits will be for a limited time only. . . so please don't wait if you want one!

Thanks to all of you who have sent such sweet emails & comments. They mean so much, & make me so happy to be doing what I do.

♥ ♥ ♥

Hope you have a great week. . . ! Happy summer to those of us in the upper hemisphere (& be sure to keep cool!)

♥ Bren

… a little stitching here. . .

It's been a draining week or so, getting the last fabric line all prepped & completed.

But, it's done, (. . . inside I'm doing a happy dance, but outside, I'm a wee bit too tired!), & last evening I uploaded & sent the off the files. (whew!)

It's amazing to me of how the whole process starts off so tactile - so hands-on - for me. . . & yet there is now this technological part of getting the drawings, paintings, sketches, & vintage fabric pieces that I start with, ready for the fabric mill to be able to produce it.

Me. . . while I love the whole process of design,

. . . I'm more of a tactile person. 

So over the last week, in the evenings, when I just couldn't look at the computer screen & 'paint' another detail for the fabric line, I sat & played with my Betsy's Closet dress designs.

I reduced their size - so that this will be a little quilt size,

. . . & I had such fun!

. . . stitching the fabric prints!

. . . one would lead to another. . .

. . . & to another. . . until I had all of them done.

(I was actually a little sad when I was done stitching!)

But today. . . with the last fabric design completed & sent off. . .

I'm going to spend the day in the studio making the little sashing  & borders for my little Betsy's Closet stitcheries. (. . . & I can feel another happy dance coming!)

. . . & yes, since many have been asking for this over the years, I will be making this a pattern. First it will be an exclusive on the website (& there will be a limited number of kits too!), so keep a look out!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

♥ Bren