:: a little get-away

(my handsome brother, Scott & his beautiful wife, Jodi.)

(Dad & Scott - the two handsome men in my life. . .)

(… & the other handsome little man in my life!)

Last week, Dad & I were able to go on a little get-away. My brother (Scott) & his wife (Jodi) came to Arizona for a little vacation & we all met up in Sedona. Scott & Jodi live just outside Minneapolis & they had been looking so forward to coming out to Arizona. As I had talked & texted with them over the past few months - you could just hear the weariness of the winter & the extreme cold temperatures (I’ve been informed the term ‘polar-vortex’ is now considered a bad word/term. . !). So wouldn’t you know that the week they came . . . Sedona’s weather took a turn for the colder side. One evening - as we had been waiting for a little rain to start, we were watching television & Scott stepped out to go over to their unit for something, & immediately after he stepped outside, i heard a knock on the door & I could hear him outside saying that we didn’t have to worry about it raining. . . As I opened the door - bless his heart - there he stood & there were snowflakes falling all around! I will never forget the pitiful look on his face! Thankfully, it didn’t stick & they were good sports about it all - stating they must be to blame & had brought the cold with them!

We had a wonderful time though, getting to visit & catch up. One day we took a little trip to Jerome, AZ - an old mining town that was built - literally on the side if a small mountain. (There are lots of steps to get from one street to the next!) We had lunch at a restaurant that my Dad remembered from many years ago & that pleased him so.) Plus, the views were beautiful!

The overall scenery in & around Sedona are incredibly stunning. . . Scott & Jodi had found a favorite trail to see the sunset & they took us there. Even driving into town about a few miles after getting off the highway - you take a turn around a bend in the road & the red rocks suddenly appear & it literally takes your breath away! I will certainly be taking more trips up to Sedona.

Right after arriving back home, we celebrated Bailey’s birthday. He is eight years old! He’s now officially my ‘big boy’. . . & I can’t believe how fast time has flown by. (sigh)

Although I haven’t made my way out to the garage to begin my spring cleaning out there, I did dip into my wool & I made up some wonderfully spring-y wool bundles. So for those of you who have asked me about the wool colors I used for the wool pennies on my ‘Spring Tulips’ design. . . these are a perfect set of hand-dyed wool colors for this design & any design that you want to use fresh, spring colors in 100% wool.

So, that catches me up with the blog-o-sphere. Here’s hoping I make it out to actually start my work re-arranging in the garage before my next post. (!)

♥ Bren

:: daffodils. . . & adventures with Dad. . .

Around the beginning of February, I get a little antsy for the time when I can find daffodils at the market. There’s just something about them I love, that seems to ‘trumpet’ that spring is arriving! (... or in our case - has been here for awhile!) I love that they are very affordable - & so I can get bunches & bunches & have them all around the house. I buy them when the buds are still completely closed - because they open up so quickly (within 24 hours) once they are put in water! 

This year I’m especially loving them in the new green Ball jars that I found. The green jars seen to be perfect for holding flowers - they compliment all kinds & colors. I got mine on Amazon, because I also wanted the quart size - as well as the pint size & it was the only place I could find both. They were a little treat I gave myself for spring.

This week has already proven to be a busy one - filled with expected & some unexpected happenings. Yesterday, Dad fell in the front yard while working on a ground light fixture (up-lights one of the trees). It gave me a fright, as our front yard is covered in the typical Arizona front yard cover - small rocks (We're very water conscious here. . .)  Also, the front yard has a little slope down to the sidewalk, & so when Dad took his tumble - at the top of the yard - he ended up rolling all the way down as well. Thankfully he didn’t hit his head (& trust me - I checked & checked!) - but his left hand, right arm, & knees took the brunt of the fall & he lost quite a bit of skin. So, I doctored his “boo-boos” (as he called them) & I confess I did boss him around for the rest of the day - not letting him do much of anything. I needed to run the the market to pick up some more bandages - as we used up all the large ones we had - & Dad promised he would stay inside while I was gone. I also told Bailey that he was ‘in-charge’ & to be sure that ‘Grandpa’ behaved. When I got back home - Bailey came running up to me with a look in his eyes like, “I tried. . . I really tried!”. Sure enough - Dad had gone back outside to survey where he had been working - to be sure I covered it up well. (Stinker!)  I was concerned that he would wake up really sore this morning - but he seemed to be doing okay. (Or he’s putting on a good show - just to prove to me that he’s tough!) I”m trying really hard to not nag him & give him his space - but I fear my blood pressure will be tested this week!

Tomorrow, I’m going with him to a doctor’s appointment for a surgical consult on some upcoming surgery he must have. Dad has often had issues with skin cancer & has had several face peels & surgeries - to either help keep things in check or to remove areas that tested positive. The last surgery - two years ago - removed a basel cell cancer that was positioned about 1-inch from his left eye. They ended up needing to take more area than they first thought - & they also had to take about a quarter-inch of his upper eyelid as well. This was a bit traumatic for him & required having to have a plastic surgeon do the closing & a little more work several months later after all had healed. Well, this latest find is located on his right side the same area - about 1-inch from his right eye. Thankfully, it is also a basel cell type - but they already know that it is covering more area than the first one did. He’s a little worried about it - I can tell. But, we are so thankful that is is not melanoma - which is what he thought when the doctor first called with the test results. He came into the studio to tell me that he had heard back about the tests & when I asked him what kind it was - he couldn’t remember. I asked him if it was the basal cell kind & he said, “no. . . the doctor said something else.’ When I asked him if they said melanoma - he said yes. . . & I have to admit - my heart dropped a little. It was an anxious 24 hours waiting to hear from the surgeon’s office. When we didn’t - we called the dermatologist’s office & discovered that it was indeed a basal cell type of cancer. Whew! I can only figure that the doctor was tying to assure Dad that the cancer was not melanoma - but all he heard was cancer. . . next to his eye (again). . . & he remembered the word melanoma. So, even though we are praying (hard!) about how far this basel cell cancer might extend - hopefully not into his eye) - we are so extremely thankful that it is not melanoma!

Okay. . . back to spring-y things!. . .  Several years back, I was blessed to be featured in Australian Homespun magazine (a magazine I love!) - & for it I designed a special project - a penny rug - just for spring. Because the magazine was a little bit difficult to find for a lot of folks here in the upper hemisphere, every time I posted a photo of it - I would get requests for the pattern. Then when I taught a wool club last year - all the ladies wanted the pattern. So, . . . finally. . . I have re-made the pattern! I decided that it will be an exclusive - only available on the website, & so that it’s as easily available for everyone, & as cost effective as possible - it will be available as a PDF download only. So, because of that - I’ve priced it at only $4.50 (USD)! I know that put mine out every spring (& even into summer!) & I hope that for all of you who have asked - this will make your day a little brighter! (. . . & that you will forgive me for taking soooo long!)

Well, I think I’ve made this post long enough. . . so I will end wishing you sunshine ⛅ & warmth filling your day!

♥  Bren

… it's coming so quickly!

Just got a peek at my last post & I realized that I'd better get a new post up. . . 

. . . Thanksgiving was almost 2 weeks ago!

If you've been following me on Instagram (which I must admit - I post on a lot more frequently!),

then you've been seeing my progress on this table-runner.  It's the project that the wool club that I've had the privilege to lead this past year has been working on since September. It's called 'Seven Snowmen' & it's a pattern by Bonnie Sullivan (All Through the Night). It's all wool, & I've had so much fun stitching on it. (You can find it by clicking here.) I've put my final stitches in it - since Thanksgiving weekend. . . (I had to make myself stop!. . . I can still think of so many things that would be so fun to add!) I could see making this as a really cute tree skirt as well. . .

I know that it's been getting very busy for most folks - but I wanted to also pop in & let you know that we've gone through the last bin (I think!) of quilt show items that I had stored & have added them to the website. Some on the 'Gift & Treasures' pages, 'Notions & Tools' pages, & some on the 'Tag Sale' pages. I've priced them to move & a lot of the inventory has been getting snatched up - so don't delay! 

Also, I have added some kits & some finished quilts (all ready to give. . . (or keep!)) & they are either one of a kind - or are limited in quantity.

Also. . . a biggest news (& your reward if you read through this entire post. . . (thank you!)). . . is that we will be offering free domestic shipping for all orders over $50.00 through midnight (MST) Friday, December 13.  So for any (U.S.) order over $50.00 (before shipping) - we will refund the shipping charges! (For international customers - while I wish I could offer the same. . . for orders over $50.00 - we will refund the equivalent to what the domestic shipping charges would be. . . hoping it will help a little too!)

But remember - you must order by midnight (MST - Mountain Standard Time) on Friday, December 13.

. . . Hoping this will help a little to help make your holidays a little brighter!

Have a great rest-of-the-week & for the majority of the US residents. . . stay warm!  ❄

♥ Bren

… finishing & starting. . .

Thought I'd give you a look at my progress on the snow-people table runner. . . as it's getting close to the finished stage. I'm almost done with stitching the border down & then it will just be adding a few final touches & I will have this ready for decorating the house! I usually wait to start with decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but since Thanksgiving is so late this year, I've decided that I'm going to start decorating this weekend. Also, since being on Instagram (& following others). . . I've realized that most of the folks in other parts of the world have started decorating for the holidays! So, since I haven't added much to my autumn decorations for quite a while (need to work on that!),  I'm thinking that the white pumpkins that I have out can be incorporated nicely with some Christmas touches. . .

So with all the stitching that's been going on. . . I've discovered a new favorite. . . Dove Dark Chocolate Mint Swirl pieces.  Oh. My. Yummy-ness. I'm hoping that these are not seasonal as I'd love to keep them around all year 'round. (…& don't they look right at home in my aqua Ball jar?!?)

The other think that I've been busy with, has been cleaning out my office. I have 'straightened-up' in there over the years (I can be a 'pile-r'. . .), I have never done a big clean-out in there since I moved my office into the back bedroom almost six years ago. So, it was due overdue. 

My thought was that it had to be thorough. . . & it was …every drawer, every file, every cubby kind-of-thorough. It took me 3 days, & to be completely honest - I still want to spend another morning to finish up a few more things. I took a photo of it when I was midway. . . but I'll save it for when I take the 'finished' photo.

With going through all the items in the office - I found a couple of boxes of items that I had pulled for my website, but they got buried . . . so now that I've done the photography & listings. . . I wanted to let you know that I've also just added pages (several of them!) of items (fabrics, kits, notions, tag-sale items) to the website! Also, we've added another colorway to the 'Remember 'Whooo' Loves You' special order quilt options. We're having so much fun with making these & if you've been thinking about having one made - to be able to give for Christmas. . . it's looking like the cut-off date for that will be mid-week next week. (Unless we get more that we expect & then it will be sooner.)

. . . & then there's my little guy. . . doing the thing he does best - wondering when I'm going to go to bed - um, supervising.

Hope you have a great week.

♥ Bren

… a little (more) wool

This past year, I have had the pleasure of leading the wool club for one of our local quilt shops, The Quilt Basket (it was chosen as one of AP&Q's top 10 shops this past spring!).

After finishing the 'Tavern House' (top photo) this summer (sorry, my photo is a bit blurry), we decided to make something seasonal this time around, & so we decided we couldn't  resist Bonnie Sullivan's (All Through The Night) 'Seven Snowmen' pattern.

Oh. . . my. . . gosh! How fun this design is! It's like playing with paper-dolls. . . except they are snowmen (& women)! I decided to do mine on a lighter wool background. . . & I'm mixing both of the design options Bonnie gives you together. I'll give you progress reports as we go along. But seriously. . . is that not the cutest wool bunny you've ever seen?!?

After completing a couple of large graphic design projects this past week. . . it felt so good to get to sit & stitch down this center part. And, now that it's all stitched,  I think I'll head into the studio tonight & glue down the next few snow people. . . (honestly, they are that much fun!)

Speaking of Bonnie Sullivan & her cute patterns. . . if you have not seen Bonnie's new 'Bertie's Year Club' that Shabby Fabrics is offering. . . you must check it out. Adorable!
(. . . & I giggle at each month & Bertie's special hats!) Bonnie is so creative & I know this is one that I am going to have to make the time to do!

(By the way. . . Shabby Fabrics still have a couple of the kits for 'Betsy's Closet' left. . . so if you've been thinking about getting a kit. . . this could be your last chance.)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. . . I'm looking forward to autumn finally arriving!

♥ 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

… a little bit of woolie-ness

Remember photos of these?

I had always been busy dying my wool colors to ship off to shops (which I still do. . .) & for Market, & often I would get emails asking 'where could folks find these colors?'. . . Well, I decided that for the last bunch of wool that I had around the studio - that I would finally put together some of these bundles for the website. 

(. . . I know!  . . .  f i n a l l y!)

There are bundles of all 24 colors in a couple of sizes. . .

. . . & then I also made some pastel bundles with the 6 pastel colors in a couple of sizes. . .

So. . . if it's wool in these softer, vintage-y colors that you are interested in, you can find them here!  (Please know that the number of these bundles is limited!)

Elsewhere around the studio, you all have been keeping me very busy shipping with the sale at the website. . . (& I thank you very much!)  I've also been working on a new stitchery project that I'm quite excited about & then I've also been working on a Secret Santa project that I will take photos of but can't share. . . just yet. . . just in case! ;o)  I can say that I'm using a pattern that I got from my sweet friend Rosalie Quinlan at Market this past fall. (Rosalie, Denise, (& Lecien!), & I shared a secret space behind our booths at Market!. . . a secret space that quickly became impossible to move around in!)

This week is full of lots of deadlines. . . so hopefully I will get back to the blog at least once before the week is out!  I'm be working on the next Durham-Anew line for next fall. . . (& those of you that made some color requests. . .  I haven't forgotten & I'm putting in the options for their consideration. . .! (. . . you know who you are! ♥)) I'm very excited about getting to design the Durham line again. . . & all the possibilities are making the start of this next line a bit mind boggle-ing!

For all you getting snow. . . stay warm & have fun! (. . . & please make a snow angel for me!)

♥ Bren

daybook ::32::

 . . . the "rug" I made for my booth!. . . (from my Georgia Lou line)

for today :: October 27, 2010

outside my window. . .   clear, sunny wonderfully crisp autumn morning.

I am thinking. . . about today's to-do list. . . it's not too bad - I'm pretty much ready for leaving for Quilt Market tomorrow.

from the kitchen. . . coffee. . . so far. I'm thinking a nice egg white omelette with some sharp cheddar (yum!)

I am wearing. . .  t-shirt & crop pants.

I am creating. . .  quilt tags for my booth. (. . . & will prep a new stitchery today - to take on the plane)

I am remembering. . .  Mom. . . she is flooding my thoughts. (I am going to Houston & doing my booth by myself - but really, Mom will be there with me. . .)

I am reading. . .  (re-reading really)  'A Lineage of Grace - by Beverly Lewis. . . (I'm waiting for my pre-ordered copy of 'Decision Points' - by George W. Bush to arrive - next week!)

I am hoping . . .  that I sleep well tonight. . . tomorrow (flight to Houston & starting booth set-up) will be a long day!

I am hearing. . .  (besides the buzzing/ringing in my ears (!) - does that happen to you?) - the wonderfully quiet of the morning. . .

around the house. . .  suitcases out - last orders ready to be shipped. . . a little bit of organized chaos.

I am going. . .  to go through the to-do list one by one. Hoping to be done by afternoon.

one of my favorite things. . .  knowing that once Market starts - I will get to "rest" compared to getting ready for it!.

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . the Fall International Quilt Market! 

from my picture journal . . .

 . . . actually these are a peek of a some of the new designs that I'll have at Market. . .

. . . two of the versions of  new quilts in 'Opie's Home'

. . . & here's a peek at the little woolie mats that I made called, 'Buttons, Needles, Needles, & Pins' -  (there are also embroidery versions. . .)

So, I'm off to Market. . . Hope you have a great weekend!

♥ Bren