:: marching on. . .

One month. . . oops. 

Sorry, I must say that my goal for posting more often this year has already pretty much gone down the drain. Sorry. Especially to those of you who ‘follow’ me. . . who actually have signed up to get notice when I post something - either on a blog reader or with the Google Friend Connect (on the side column). That still humbles me. . . that folks would actually sign up to see what I post. So, thank you. You’re all sweetie-pies in my book! So, this morning, I’ve sat myself down at Starbucks - with the main purpose to get this post written! 

The one format I’m not comfortable with is Facebook. Sorry. . . the inconsistencies of how it operates is too frustrating for me. I have been encouraged told that I “need” to have a “presence” on Facebook for my business - but then I read about all the hoops that a business page needs to jump through . . . & I just don’t get it. . . it’s seems to be a lot of time spent - for no guarantee that the folks who ‘Like’ you on Facebook will ever see what you post. . . Sigh. So, I’m sticking with my little blog, Twitter (for now), & Instagram. (... & I must admit. I really like Instagram, & honestly - it’s the ‘social media’ I use the most.   I guess it’s the visual aspect of it, & I love how you can post to it so fast with a little caption (or not!) So, if you want more visual peeks at what I’m up to - you can click on the Instagram button on the right to ‘follow’ me there! (You can set up a private account if you wish & you don’t have to post photos if you don’t wish to.)  But, I will warn you. . . it can get a little addictive! I must admit - that I was checking Instagram several times a day - just because it was so fun & easy to catch up with the folks I follow (from all over the world!) - but now I limit myself to a morning & evening check-in to my Instagram account. Speaking of addicting. . . no, I don’t ‘do’  Pinterest. I admit - it looks lovely. . . but again, I’m a visual person & I know I would get lost in it & I just don’t have the time to spare these days. (... ergo the not posting for a month!) 

I've also been thinking about how I want to manage posting things about my business. Although much of my time is spent on things involved in my needlework, quilting & designing. . . as well as the website, I don't want my blog seen to be all about promoting it. When you think about it - a blog does have the role as a kind-of a diary, and is a nice way to document what's happening in you life.  At the same, I know that some folks visit my blog so that they can see what's new with the designs - so I am going to try to keep the posts that are exclusively about website features to a minimum, (so that folks don't feel like all they get is a sales pitch), &/or if there is something about a website offering that I want to mention to you - I will place it at the end of a post. This way, if they wish, folks can skip to the part they care about most!

So now. . . to catch up. . .

Mr. Bailey has been such a good boy & has not had to wear the cone for a little while now. He actually did get a little tired of wearing it, bless him.

We have have an incredibly mild winter. So much so - that I have felt a little guilty reading about all the storms most of the rest of the country has had to endure this winter. I spoke with my brother the other day - who lives in the Minneapolis, MN area, & he actually sounded pained as we were talking about the winter they’ve had. (... & they got more snow today! Ouch!) I do realize how I do like living here in Arizona!. Things are beginning to bloom all over all around us! (. . . & a little funny background on the photo of the blooming little cactus. . . Dad is not fan of having cactus in the yard. . . & so for this Arizona yard.garden - It is the only  cacti!. . . & in a pot - to be sure it doesn't spread! lol!)

I'm reading 'The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society'. . . again. It's such a perfect read! I just finished a pretty challenging book (very good - but a tough subject matter.), & so reading the letters between Juliet, Dawsey, Sidney, & all the folks on the isle of Guernsey - is such a happy & sweet way to end the day. This is actually the fourth time I've read it. I've read books again - but never have I been able to read a book this many times & actually enjoy it more - each time I read it. The interesting news is that there is a great interest in making the book into a movie. It will be interesting to see if that ever happens.

I’ve been working on some new quilt patterns & have a couple new ones made & will hopefully have them out by early April. One of them is a re-making of one of my most popular patterns, ‘For My Grandmas’. I received so many requests for it in a queen size, that I’ve (finally) taken it on to make it larger. (... & I must admit, I’m loving the process & the results!. . . This one will be for my bed!)

A big thank you to all of you letting me know how much you love the PDF versions of the patterns. I will continue to be sure that they keep coming!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and my little blog. I'm so glad you came for a visit!

♥ Bren

:: my word for 2014

It's not a 'romantic' word. . .

but as I started thinking of a word for 2014, I kept coming back to 'process'.

. . . & it made complete sense to me.

After choosing the word  'grace' for 2012. . . I actually kept it for 2013 as well.

I needed to.

As I focused on 'grace' in 2012 - I just felt that God was still teaching me much with that incredible word. & I felt like I needed to keep it for some more time, & as I look back onto 2013, I can now see that I did need to keep 'grace' in the forefront of my mind. (…& to be honest - it will be a word, & a reality that will stay there for the rest of my life.)

So. . . onto a new word for this year. . . & for me it's  'process'.

I thought of it, as it has been a word that I used with my students quite often when I taught art & design, & it reflects what I have learned to love & appreciate about the creative process. It reflects on learning to appreciate time. . . & the reality that it takes steps. . . (sometimes very tiny steps). . . to see something come to fruition.

But it also has come to mean to me so much more, as I've seen God working in my life. . . opening some doors, closing some others, & I've come to learn to be aware & to appreciate the steps that I am led to take each & every day. There are also some deeper, more personal ways that this word just felt so right for me for this year, that I hope to be able to share with you as the year goes on.

But for me - I am keeping my word for this year in front of me as much as possible. I've printed out the some graphics I have made with my word, & I taped one to my bathroom mirror (a much needed reminder). I also have one in my office & one as the background for my laptop. . . (for the screens that I use for designing software (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator…).

So. . . onward.

Time to take todays steps…

♥ Bren

:: puppy love

I just couldn't resist (again). . .

I'm not one to watch the Superbowl just for the commercials, 

but I must admit that I have a soft spot for the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials & was tickled today to see this commercial (early!) that will air during the game.

(If you saw last year's commercial - you will recognize the same 'rancher' guy!)

Get ready for some big-time *cute*!

(I understand that there will also be another very special Clydesdale commercial during the Superbowl. . . but I'm thinking I'll just wait to see it after the game on YouTube.!)

♥ Bren

:: beautiful girl… beautiful world ::

I just couldn't resist sharing this. . .

 . . . cutest thing I've seen in awhile!

Wishing you a 'beautiful' day!

♥ Bren

… a little business news... a little inspiration . . .

First. . . just a little announcement that the 'Spring Sale' on the website - will be ending tomorrow. I decided to keep it going until just after the 15th. So, for those who haven't already. . .  be sure to check it out! (25% & more off patterns & books!)

How fun it was to hear from so many of you that have had (or still have)
a little Kenmore too! I've got to say, that mine really 'stepped up to the plate' (baseball term) for me! I've fallen a little in love with it again.
It's gotten a good overall 'oil-ing' & I do believe it gave a little sigh of relief when I finished putting oil in the about 20 places that the manual showed(!)

The good news is - is that the Bernina is also now happy & healthy. Although it was pretty scary, it was only that there was a lot of lint & 'fluff' that clogged up the 'drive shaft' (?) underneath the motor (where you can't get to), & the motor just decided "no more' until it got a thorough & proper cleaning. I'm really good about cleaning & blowing out (with canned air) the lint  that I can see after every bobbin change, & putting the little dots of oil on the bobbin case, but as I was talking about what had happened with the Bernina folks - I realized that this past year, I did some sewing with flannels as well & they can really add to the 'lint factor'. I loved using them & want to again - it's just a good lesson to factor that into my cleaning schedule.

So for now all the sewing machines are 'happy campers'. . . including this 'sewing machine'!. . . or should I say 'stitching machine'!?! I've been (happily) stitching away at some new projects. . . 
here's a couple of little peeks. . .

(do they look familiar?)

I'll be honest. . . it's been hard for me to put them down! I've had so much fun!

But. . . there are a couple of quilt patterns that are waiting to be completed & so I'm putting myself on a 'stitching' schedule'. Otherwise, I would spend the whole days doing nothing else!

Now, to hopefully start you week off with a smile (& a little sigh). . . I wanted to share this with you. 

I get emails from a video site that has inspirational videos & they are so nice to watch from time to time in the midst of the things that normally make the 'news'.  This video is from an Australian version of 'The Voice' (we have an American version here as well). The premise of the show is that there are four 'coaches' (who are in the music industry & often celebrities) who's goal it is to create a 'team' of singers - that will go on to compete. (I'm not good at watching these shows - I get to nervous & the 'competition' part of it isn't my favorite.) But, for this show - the singers 'audition' without the coaches knowing anything about them - or even seeing them - (their chairs are turned around so they cant see the stage). This way, the  singer's 'Voice' is what the 'coaches' base their decision as to whether they want to have the singer on their 'team'. The fun part is that if more than one of the coaches choose a singer - that singer gets to pick who's team they want to be on. . . the tables are turned & the coaches do their best to get the singer to pick them(!)

Anyway. . . the young man in this video is incredible. . . & I admit that I have watched it over & over. . . it's that good. I keep finding little details that make it more & more wonderful. . . (watch the 'coaches' faces when they first hear him!)

 I hope it adds a little inspiration to start off your week! (& I dare you not to smile!)

A MIRACLE Happens When This Teen Bullied for His Stutter Sings from theremix on GodTube.

(I can't wait until he releases a cd!. . .)

 ♥ Bren

… a magical day

I know for the folks who get several feet of snow annually

. . . this may seem a wee bit silly.

But, we found the snowfall that we got today

to be quite magical.

Usually we just get a dusting. . . one day each year,

(I live in the southwest)

. . . & it's usually gone within an hour of it falling.

But today. . .

. . . today it snowed (big fluffy flakes) for over two hours in the morning,

. . . about 2 inches

(& it stuck!)

. . . & then it snowed again - just before dusk -

about another inch or so.

It was mesmerizing.

As the sun was setting, I wanted to 'absorb' as much 

of it's loveliness  as I could, 

so I turned off as many interior lights as I could

& Bailey & sat at the window & just watched the big flakes,

& listened to the silence.

Then I peeked in on Dad & woke him from the little nap he was taking

(so he would be able to sleep tonight!). . .

& then he joined us.

It was a blessing. . .

truly magical.

❄ Bren

… just for fun … to brighten your day.

Ah, . . . it's been a rainy (with a little bit of snow!) day,

. . . & I've finally been able to catch up a little bit on emails & blogs.

Then. . . I get a link to a video. . .

. . . & you what that can lead to.

Yup. . . one leads to another. . . to another. . . to another.

So, just for fun, I thought I'd post my three favorites.

The first one is from a Josh Groban concert. (Josh often seems to sing a duet with an audience member, & this young lady (Maude) was. . . stunning!) 

(Here's another view of the duet. . . it's cute to watch Josh's expression!)

Then. . . there is a little clip from a Michael Buble concert,

where a proud mother convinces him to let her son (Sam) sing with him.

(. . . his reaction is priceless)

Persistent Mother Convinces Michael Buble to Let Her Son Sing...And He FLOORS Everyone! from theremix on GodTube.

And finally. . . this amazing 14 year-old Australian young man (Jack).
A. M. A. Z. I. N. G.

14 Year-Old Has Astonishing God-Given Voice from theremix on GodTube.

FUN. . .! Yes?

I hope they brought a smile to your day.

(. . .they sure did to mine!)

♥  Bren

… my word for this year

I chose this word. . .

. . . weeks ago actually. . .

& even though I knew 

this was the word . . .

. . . & it repeatedly tugged on my heartstrings. . .

for some reason I felt the need to keep it to myself.

. . . But, in my heart

. . . with the events in my life 

in these first few weeks of the new year. . .

I know that I want to put it out there. . .

Because it's what I so utterly depend on. . .

. . . what I treasure in others. . .

. . . & what I strive for in my own thoughts & actions. . .

It's going to be a journey. . .

. . . but there's no other journey I would rather travel . . .

. . . than one filled with this.

♥ Bren