:: welcome 2014 ::

Well. .  . here we are in 2014.  I am one of those that felt like 2013 went faster than I sometimes felt I could keep track of. . . but I must admit, I have been looking forward to the arrival 2014. Even though, in reality it is a new day - as in any other, somehow the freshness of the knowledge of a new year makes it a special day somehow. 

I spent the arrival of this new year - with this little face (top photo) looking up at me. 

Bailey was all set in his ThunderShirt & I had been putting some drops of the Bach's Flower Essence drops called 'Rescue Remedy' in his water for the last few days. . . (Rescue Remedy is a natural essence that helps with anxiety & they now make it in a pet formula that is wonderful. . . (a big thank you Holly  for introducing me to it!)). . . but even the smallest loud pop of a firework scares my little guy. So, he stayed on the floor (where I lay a bunch of quilts out for him. . . trying to make a snuggle-y spot for him) & this year he spent his time either peeking out from my closet - or he 'glued' himself to the side of my bed. . . where I was staying up stitching & telling him that everything was going to be alright. Thankfully, there were only a few fireworks set off in our neighborhood, & so Bailey's shaking calmed down & we were in bed by 1 a.m..  I am still getting this look every evening - as he seems to equate the 'pop' noises with it getting dark outside & it's as if he is anticipating the noise. Poor little guy. He's getting better every evening - so I'm hoping that by mid-week he will be able to settle with no fear of the fireworks.

I wanted to share with you some little pin-keeps that I made for some special quilting-stitching friends. I had a tea just before the end of the year for the four of us & had these ready for them. I had so much fun making them. I used one of Kathy Schmitz monogram wreath designs for the front, & then I made some little double nine-patch block for the back. I love how they reflect two of my loves - stitchery & quilting. . . (& rick-rack too!)  Believe it or not - I completely forgot to take any photos of the tea party. I was having so much fun making the tea sandwiches, salads, & a chocolate macadamia nut tart, that I completely forgot to take photos! I plan to do more tea parties - so I will try to do better in the photo department next time. 

I hope that you have had a wonderful start to this new year. . . & that if you are in a part of the US that is having such incredibly cold weather - that are able to stay warm. . .! (please take extra care!).

I have a few special things that I am hoping to get to share with you in the next few posts. . . & I hope that until then you know how much it means to me that you stop by my blog.

♥ Bren

… welcome November!

Happy November!

One post in October... pretty sad. Funny though, I thought about posting this & that. . . just never when I had the internet handy. So, I'll play 'catch-up' with this post.

Had a wonderful trip to Minneapolis for 11 days. Got to see such pretty colors & there were even a couple of snow flurries. . . just enough to make me grateful that I was returning to temps in the high 70's! But, with the colder temps & rainy days in MN, I had plenty of opportunities to snuggle up next to the fire in the fireplace with my brothers pups & I got lots of stitching done on my next cross-stitch design. It was a great visit. I met my brother for lunch one day & got a tour of his new office (he has just been named President & CEO), & I got to put my interior designer hat on, & with my sister-in-law, we gave the freshly painted office a little makeover. It was nice, just a little bare... & we just warmed it up a bit with some lamps, artwork, & a basket or two. It was great fun shopping for it, & we had quite a few giggles on what we could have put in there! But we were good... Kept to a small budget, & it turned out wonderfully.

Since coming home, Bailey has been extra snuggle-y. . . Which is a relief, because it can also go the other way where he ignores me for s few days. Thankfully when I walked through the door, he gave out a little cry from his 'post' on the back of the living room chair & came running with lots of kisses & snuggles. (whew!)

I've been making some updates to the website (finally got the 'fabric lines' page updated), & will be continuing to add some things in the next few days. There are some fun things that we will be making & making available... just in time for the holidays... (or for anytime really!) I will really try to get all the info posted on Monday.

I've been baking cookies for Dad (molasses, his favorite & sugar cookies too) & since Dad finished off the sugar cookies last evening (!), I'm making some shortbread as I post this. It's just beginning to smell so good! The only issue I have with baking shortbread is that is has to cook at a lower temp for so long! But it's worth it. So, I'm having a cup of coffee & decided to enjoy the smells for now. (But, I must admit... I may be having shortbread for dinner!) ;o) 

I love this month... for so many reasons. The weather getting a crisp feel to it, the autumn light as the sun sits lower in the sky, & the reminder to think on the things we are thankful for. I have been working on doing that all year, & it's amazing on how my perspectives have been changing. I've been doing quite a bit of reflection & looking for the things that really matter & to focus on those things. It's not been the easiest thing, as I have had to realize that I need to let go of some things (I can be a control 'freak' if I'm not careful), but it's also opened a lot of doors that I never really would consider. Good for me to be stretched, & I'm looking forward to what's ahead.

Hoping you have a wonderful start to this special month.

♥ Bren

… my first Needlework Market

First, I'm just going to post a bunch of my (long overdue) photo from Needlework Market. . .

(the TNNA Needlework Market neighborhood)

I had visited a couple of  TNNA (The National NeedleArts Assoc.) Needlework Markets,  but I took my time before 'dipping my toes' into the needlework industry. . .

. . . & I'm so happy that I (finally) did!

What a fun time. . . & what a great way to have a trade show market!

For this Market - instead of setting up a booth, the Market is held at an Embassy Suites, & as exhibitors, we simply set up our displays in the living room area of our suite! It makes for such a home-y & comfy setting, with comfy furniture (if needed) & a coffee maker, sink, microwave, & bathroom right there! It's like hanging out in your little house & the shop owners come to visit. . .!

I made up some samples of Betsy's Closet - In Stitches, & Benji's Pockets - In Stitches, for the needlework shop owners to get for their own shop displays, & then I also made some bunting for my window. . . (had to have a little quilt-y pretties in there somewhere!)

The photo's pretty much take you around my suite from when you walk in the door.  You may see a little peek of the fact that I 'slipcovered' the sofa & then covered it with one of my quilts (Opie's Home).(It was a pretty sofa. . . just with a pretty busy print that would have been a bit of a distraction.)

I'm really looking forward to the Nashville Needlework Market (in February), & am already starting on new designs(!)

The (cross stitch) designs I presented at this Market are on the website. . . & they are:

By My Hand

Hill Farm Hydrangea

Vintage Christmas

Amazing Grace

Believe

The other (embroidery) designs I took were:

Betsy's Closet - In Stitches

Benji's Pockets - In Stitches

Floye's Garden

Seasons of the Heart

By My Hand - for stitchery

Stitching Winter Memories

(you can click on the pattern name & see it closer on the website.)

Whew! Long post. . . lots of photos. . . (!) If you hung in there for all of this. . . thanks. :o)

(p.s. . . . the sale is still going on - on the website (including the new designs), but will be ending this week. So, if there's anything you've been thinking about. . .  

Hope you have a great week!  (. . . the last few days of summer!)

♥ 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

… lately. . .

. . . what I've been up to. . .

. . . the TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) Market,

in Nashville. . .

. . . here's  Bonnie Sullivan's (All Through the Night) lovely display. . 

. . . & here's  Bonnie Sullivan & her sister Ann, who came with her to Market.

(Ann had a display of beautiful jewelry that she creates there too!)

. . . & there's a bunch of fat-eighth bundles  just loaded onto the website.

. . . Esprit de Noel (French General)

. . . my latest - Durham Anew (2012)

. . . Durham Anew (2011)

. . . & Georgia Lou

It has been quite the busy week!

I took a little trip to Nashville this past weekend,

to visit the TNNA Needlework Market.

What fun it was!

It snowed (well flurried) most of the time I was there, 

& it was so pretty to see.

What I love is that this Needlework Market is held at the Embassy Suites, & instead of having to set up a booth in a great big convention center, here you set up your displays in the the 'living room' area of your suite, & folks come to you!

It makes for a wonderful, casual & home-y feeling, & I love the idea!

I also was able to meet up with some wonderful designers 

who exhibited & they were so helpful with information & ideas

about the needlework industry & about the show.

I also came home with a bunch of new threads & flosses & 

placed a few orders for fun new items!

I left feeling so excited about the next step. . .

My goal is to do the fall show - in St Charles, MO.

I've been working on charting several designs 

& I've found that I love the process. . . 

I can hardly wait to start stitching!

(& now that I have my new threads - that starts this week!)

When I came home, I found a wonderful box on my doorstep,

from Moda - with bundles of Esprit de Noel,  the latest line from

French General for Moda.

I must admit. . . I LOVE this line!!! 

(& I rarely say that about Christmas lines!)

I'm keeping one - to make a new quilt, 

but I've put the other two (fat-eighth bundles) on the website.

Warning though. . . there are only two. . . so don't delay!

(The line won't be available in shops until May.)

Just before I left for Nashville, I also made up some bundles

of my fabric lines - including my latest (yet to arrive to shops)  

Durham Anew (2012).

These bundles are limited & once they are gone - well. . . you know.

While I'm closing the door in fabric design for awhile,

I'm so excited about what is upcoming. . .

. . . speaking of which, I'll have a new quilt or two to show you in a day or two!

Hope you have a great start to your week!

♥ Bren

… pretty, pretty rings

. . . especially when they are great big rings holding

skeins & skeins of these beauties.

In a couple of weeks, I'm going to TNNA's 

(The National Needlework Association)

Spring Show in Nashville (I'm so excited!!!),

. . . & I've pulled all of my floss sample rings from both

Weeks Dye Works & The Gentle Art, as they will both be there.

Valdani will also be at this show, so between these three. . . 

I'm going to be in overdyed floss & perle cotton heaven!

I printed off their latest order forms, so that I could check

what I have on my sample rings, & know which flosses I need to get to

get my sample rings up-to-date.

Some folks might think that this would be tedious,

but I had a 'ball'!. . . I kept falling in love with certain colors. . .

. . . all over again, & it was all I could do to not keep stopping 

to plan a new idea for new designs.

Bit, I persevered 

(. . . it's a tough job - but somebody's good do it!).

(Also, for those of you who might be wondering - Weeks Dye Works' colors are now colorfast! (yippee!!!) You can read about it here.)

But. . . until then, I've got three quilts that need to be quilted,

 & two more just getting started. 

(. . . & yes, one of then will have stitchery on it!)

. . . so there's no getting bored around here!

Hope your week is filled with lots of fun things too!

♥ Bren

… catching up

It's been a wee bit more than two weeks since I last posted.

Sigh.

I honestly don't mean to let so much time go by between postings. . .

But 'life' tends to have a pretty powerful influence 

on my abilities to get a post together, 

no matter how much I think about putting a posting.

So, . . . while I wait for Downton Abbey to air tonight,

I thought I'd catch you up a bit with what I've been up to.

. . . For one week mid-January, I subbed (teaching)

 I love subbing - but it was a long week. . . & exhausting.

My wool stash has been calling my name. . . (I love it so!)

. . . keep a look out for some new designs using wool.

I got to get up to Phoenix for a mini weekend retreat 

(& have lunch & catch up with a favorite quilting friend!)

. . . Dad had his birthday. . . 85 years young.

I feel so blessed that he is doing well & that I get to spend time with him.

My Dad's cousin came for a visit & while he & Dad did quite a few 'tourist-y' things, we did make the trek up to the top of our favorite mountain, Mt. Lemmon, to visit the little village at the top & we had a wonderful lunch.

. . . & just today, I am finishing the stitching on my wool (on flannel) 

version of one of Kathy Schmitz's designs from her wonderful book,

'Gather the Passing Seasons'.

I love this book. So much so, that when I was asked to step in & hostess a woolie club at a local quilt shop. . . I chose this book to use for the projects we will work on.

Even though the book was really written for cotton fabric appliqué, 

they are turning out so cute with wool!

(By the way - if you live in the Tucson area, & want to join our little woolie club, call The Quilt Basket & join us! Our first meeting in Saturday 2.9, 

. . . we would love for you to join us!)

I'm also working on getting some more patterns ready as downloadable PDFs.

You have been so wonderful with teaching me how much you like & appreciate them,

so I'm doing my best to make more available for you!

There's a handful of new quilts & designs almost finished, 

but I didn't get any photos yet.

I'll work on that. . . so that you get some peeks!

(peeks are fun!. . . at least I think so!)

Hope you have a wonderful start to your week!

♥ 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