… a bit of a life changer. . .

About nine months ago, I felt a real desire to change the way I was spending my days. . . living my life really. . .


I was feeling like had been so caught up in my business & in what I had started to think I needed to do to be 'successful' . . . that I discovered that I was losing hold on the 'love' & the reason why I started designing. It was getting swallowed up by the pressure to promote & the fads that come & go. . . They weren't me & I the contentment that I have from designing & creating were getting swallowed up in them.


So, I purposefully took a step back. . . & I began to get in touch with what I wanted my business to be. . . my life to be.  I stopped looking at what others were doing so much. . . & I began to look at what really inspired me. That's  when I started working in a local quilt shop. It's the same quilt shop that I took my first quilting classes in . . . & it has been so wonderful to get out of my home studio & get to meet, assist & get to know what is important to other  quilters. 


It was the beginning of a 'coming home' for me.


Since then, I have been re-thinking a lot of the things I was doing in my business. . . & the way I was living my life.


I'll be honest. . . it hasn't always been so easy. There are times that I still feel like a need to play some game. . . to follow some unwritten code of what I should do to be successful. But day-by-day it has become increasingly easier. I'm hearing (& listening to) my own drummer again. . . & all around me I am finding reminders of what my heart knows. . . Just this morning, & heard again something I used to have on a bulletin board:

"God does not call us to be successful. . .

He calls us to be faithful."

- Mother Theresa

Which brings me to the photo of the book above. It is the current book on my bedside table, & it is such a 'gift' in it's own right. The timing of me discovering this book is nothing short of the impeccable perfection of God's timing in my life (. . . which I've experienced over & over. . .), & it is a part of filling my heart (& head) with the things that help me really see the blessings that surround me.


I've also discovered that so many others in the blogging world are also reading 'One Thousand Gifts', & that it is also having a profound affect on their lives as well. 


Here's a little preview of the book. . .




So. . . here's to slowing down & looking for & seeing the gifts. . . & when life feels all frazzled . . . here's to realizing that it doesn't change the fact that the gifts are still there. . .


. . . for me, it's life changing. 


Even though I knew it all along. . . it's been such a gift to be reminded. . . 


♥ Bren

daybook ::38::

for today :: March 2, 2011

outside my window. . .   beautiful . . . blissful. . . warm sunny day. . .!

I am thinking. . . of how much I love the weather where I live. . . the beauty of snow covering everything on Sunday morning. . . & by today (Wednesday) . . . it might just reach 80°. . . (sweet!)

from the kitchen. . .  my favorite coffees (see photo above) - today it's the vanilla. . . (ahh. . . yum!)

I am wearing. . . t-shirt & capri pants. . . changing soon to shorts when I go out to the backyard.

I am creating. . .  lists. . . for my meeting tomorrow morning with my accountant.

I am remembering. . .  that getting ready for the annual 'taxes' meeting. . . isn't really as yucky as I make it out to be in my head. . .

I am reading. . .   'one thousand gifts' - by Ann Voskamp. 

I am hoping . . .  to make some time to work on the next fabric line (for fall)

I am hearing. . .  birdies. . . a sweet sound of spring!!

around the house. . .  took down the 'winter' quilts this morning. . . & hung 'spring' quilts. . . the weather was just too pretty not to!

I am going. . .  to take an afternoon break out in the sunshine. . . in the back yard. (I think Bailey can already sense it. . . he's getting a bit restless!)

one of my favorite things. . .  letting a single Ghirardelli 60% Cacao chocolate chip melt on my tongue.

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . taking photos of the two quilts, one wool penny rug, & one embroidery project. . . also working on the colors for the next Durham Anew line. . .

from my picture journal . . .

♥ Bren

. . . our little piece of winter. . .

I know that many of you have had so much snow that you don't want to even think about getting any more. . . but this morning. . . here in Tucson,  Arizona . . . this is what we woke up to. . . & we are very excited!

Bailey didn't seem to mind it at all!. . . 

. . . he came out with me (me still in my jammies!) to the front yard to capture all we could. These were taken a little after 6 am. . . &  although the sun hadn't risen yet, I wanted to get as many photos as I could, because I knew that the soft fluffy snowflakes could turn to rain at any moment.

Here's my sweet little rosemary topiary at the from walk. . .

. . . & here's a shot of our street . . . no drifts (not even close!). . . but we are loving our  up to 1" . . . & it has sparked our wonderment & awe of the beauty of it all. . .

. . . & we will be needing to rely on our memories of it all. . . as it will be in the mid-70's by mid-week!  (. . . I just love winter here!) 

❅

♥ Bren  

… x x x

I saw this video a few weeks ago & then again on a blog yesterday. . . & I think it's just too good not to share. . . 




♥ (& hugs!)  Bren

… the comforts of home

I just love the look of the 'crema' (the thin layer of foam at the top of a cup of espresso) when it includes the chocolate used when making a mocha. . .

. . . it looks so soothing & almost perfect! . . .

. . . almost.

. . . ahhh. . . there. . . now this is one of the comforts of home that I do love.

I have to admit that it's so fun to get away. . . but for me, it's even better coming home.

Last week, I took a working 'retreat' to San Diego. . . (where I grew up & my Dad still has a timeshare). . . & while a had a great time, I actually came home a day early. The weather was beautiful most of the time - but at the end it was turning a bit messy. . . & since I drove there & the weatherman kept mentioning that the mountains could get snow. . . I decided to head home a day early.

I got home on Thursday evening. . . & I've been kept very busy the last few days shipping orders that came in while I was gone. . . (thank you for all you who ordered from the website!. . .  your orders have been shipped!) & while I had great weather to travel by last Thursday, it seems that the storms that were approaching California at the end of last week. . . have made their way here. So, we've had a couple of grey, windy, cold & drizzley days. . .

. . . perfect 'mocha' weather!   (. . . but then, almost any weather is perfect 'mocha' weather to me!)

♥ Bren

… a day the share the love. . .

I just love this day. . . don't you?

. . . not the hype about selling lots of flowers, chocolates, & gems. . .

. . . but the thoughts & expressions of love behind it all. 

Our hearts are such precious things. . .

 . . . & the hearts of those we treasure. . . even more precious.

So, for this day that we remember & celebrate St. Valentine. . . 

. . . & the way he stood for love. . .

. . . & the way he made sure that those he loved - knew it. . .

 . . .  I wish for you a wonderful day. . .

. . . celebrating your heart . . .

. . . & celebrating the love that we all have to share. . .

xoxo!

♥ Bren

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;

 but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

daybook ::37::

for today :: February 7, 2011

outside my window. . .   dark & a chilly 37°! 

(There's just a sliver of a moon. . . & it's only 3:45 a.m. I woke up at about 12:30 & after a couple of hours, I gave up falling back asleep. . . & so I've been updating my book list (in the left column) & thought it would be fun to do this week's daybook - before dawn even arrives! . . .

I am thinking. . . of what projects I want to prep for a personal retreat that I'm taking soon.

from the kitchen. . .  just the night-light over the stove. . . but turning on the coffee sounds really tempting. . .

I am wearing. . .  jammies. (with a side of quilts & a soft warm puppers curled up beside me.

I am creating. . .  finishing the quilting on the last of my two new embroidery projects. Also the sketchbook is filled with bunches of new ideas. . . I could fill a book!

I am remembering. . .  honestly. . . not much at this hour(!).

I am reading. . .   'The Scarlet Thread' - by Francine Rivers. 

I am hoping . . .  to do better at walking. . . (I've been slacking a bit.)

I am hearing. . .  the heater just kicked on. . . otherwise just the soft whirl of my laptop fan. . . (oh, & the little snores of said puppers)

around the house. . .  I've got projects in all sorts of stages in the studio. I still have winter quilts out - but I'm thinking that will get changed in the next week as out temperatures are going back up to spring-like temps! (yea!)

I am going. . .  later today. . . (after the sun rises. . .) to the market. I'm out of almost everything except milk & oatmeal!

one of my favorite things. . .  soups. . . I'm a soup girl. . . wouldn't mind having it every day.

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . prepping new projects. . . getting bindings ready for 3 quilts. . . & taking Dad out to lunch.

from my picture journal . . .

Hope you have a week filled with wonder!

♥ Bren

… a wee bit chilly

(Okay. . . actually. . . in my heart I want to say how incredibly cold it's been. . . but in respect for all the folks who live in the midwest & east that have had such overwhelming amounts of snow & cold. . . I wont. . .  (quite).)

But. . . oh my! For a town in southwest Arizona, we have had quite the chilly temps! For several days, we broke the records (some back to the 1800's, & some for all time) for overnight lows & daily temps. I have lived here for 20 years & every winter we have a few nights of a hard frost warnings when we have to cover over the small plants, but we actually had a few days where the highs didn't even get out of the 20's (F)! It was down into the teens overnight & with wind-chill, we actually hit 0°! If we would have had any precipitation - we would have had quite a bit of snow. ❅  . . . But we didn't. . . just cold. (. . . um, I mean *chilly temps*.)  If it weren't so serious - it was kind of amusing to hear the evening newscasters trying to warn & teach folks about how easy it would be to get frostbite & hypothermia.


Here. . . in Southern Arizona. . . Incredible.

The photos are from a couple of the fountains that we have in the backyard that became frozen. (Too bad there weren't any birdies there. . . they could have had some great ice-skating parties!) (click on the photos to see all the frosty goodness!)


Okay. . . (again). . . I actually was quite excited about all this! It is great fun to have such a difference in weather here. . . & to get yo wear my wool coat!  (Although I did feel bad for the folks who travelled here to get away from the winter weather back home.)


And. . . to end this little post in a fairy tale sort-of way. . . we should be back into the 70's by Monday! 
☺
Hope you have a great weekend! (. . . keep warm!)


♥  Bren

… a bit of a break

. . . I didn't mean to take a blogging break. . . it just kinda happened. I thought of you all often. . . I just didn't have the words for what was in my heart, & every time I thought about blogging, I just couldn't. I guess it was time that I have needed to be able to share what has been going on.


First,  for all of you who might be followers of my blog for a while . . . Dad & Bailey are just fine. (In fact, we just celebrated Dad's 83rd birthday yesterday!) Actually, the events of January have brought us even closer & have reminded us of letting each other know how much we treasure each other. I have learned so much in the past month. . . have been shown so much this last month. . . & have really searched my heart.


It all started with the start of the new year - that had me searching for a word that would be my 'word for the year'. I had a couple & I was trying to narrow it down. . . & then on a sunny Saturday morning our world - here in Tucson - was turned upside down. I live northwest of Tucson, & at a neighborhood shopping center gathering of citizens (including children) & our local U.S. Representative, a tragic shooting occurred, taking the lives of 6 innocent victims (including a 9 year old girl) & wounding many more. It was one of those things that most of us think happens 'somewhere else'. . . not in my community. I know that the national media covered this tragedy - as our U.S. Representative, Gabby Giffords was critically wounded (. . . & has not only survived - but made miraculous strides in her recovery) . . . & I know that I heard several of the national media people state that they were touched by the response of the Tucson community . . . & I think that this is what is so difficult to express, & why I came short with the words when it came to posting anything for the last several weeks.


For most of the country, I know that other news has replaced the events of 1-8-11 here in Tucson. . . but for those who live here . . . those events have changed us. No longer do we take daily things for granted. . . we have done so much hugging of our loved ones & of expressing to our family & friends how much they mean to us. . . I have seen my community come together to protect the families of those who lost members, by wearing white &  lining the roads to the churches where the services occurred - when a radical 'cult' (my term for them) threatened to protest at the memorial services. . . & even now - the memorials at the hospital & the market where the shooting occurred still grow. People still bring flowers, notes & candles to express their respect & how much they care.


I have heard tragic news stories many times before - but this one. . . so close to home. . . has had a profound effect on me. 


I wasn't expecting that.


. . . but it has helped me clarify so many things. . . things that I had been pushing onto the back burner time & time again. . . things that I realized I needed to be honest with myself about. I had been given a big wake-up call.  I'm sure that some of those will be popping up here on my blog. . . I can tell you that you will probably see some subtle changes. What I do know is that I'm listening to my heart. No more pushing it onto the back burners any longer. (. . . Sorry if this is a bit vague. . . I'm sure that over time. . . it will become clearer.)


Now, . .  since I don't want you to think that I haven't been 'working' (. . . I still find it funny to call it 'working'!) on anything. . . I have! (. . . she said with a big happy grin!) The top photo is a hint. . . do remember this quilt? It is called 'Seasons'. . . & has always been one of my favorites. One day, about a year ago!)  a sweet customer told me that she loved it - but wished it was available for embroidery. . .


. . . Yep. . . How could I not. . .? Here's a little peek - just before it went out the door to my quilters'. . . 

. . . (there's also a redwork version!) The pattern has some changes. . . & options & it should all be ready by the end of the month. . . & I'll be giving you more peeks soon!

Also. . . I don't want to end this post without letting you know how much I appreciate your visiting my blog. (. . . especially if you got all the way through this post!). . . & when you leave comments - well, please know that you often make my day. 


So thanks. . . & please remember to hug someone you love today.


♥  Bren

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. . .   

- Ecclesiates 3:1

daybook ::36::

for today :: January 3, 2011

outside my window. . .   clear & cool cold! (32°!)

I am thinking. . . of what I need to add to the to-do list for the week.

from the kitchen. . .  oatmeal & coffee. Yum. . . a great way to start a winter day.

I am wearing. . .  t-shirt & brown pants, pink sweater & socks. 

I am creating. . .  still working on my two new embroidery projects. Decided to add an embroidered border to one version. . . & that should be done by the end of the day!  ☺

I am remembering. . .  the lessons I learned this past year.

I am reading. . .   'The Scarlet Thread' - by Francine Rivers. 

I am hoping . . .  to be a better letter writer this year

I am hearing. . .  HGTV in the background. . . (& realizing I really have no idea why the TV is on!)

around the house. . .  the last of the decorations that I keep putting off taking down. . . (I just love the boughs with lights. . . I'd leave them up all year if I could!)

I am going. . .  to the bank, Office Max to buy printer ink cartridges & office supplies (I have my 20% off bag!), & then the market (I haven't been since last year! ☺), & then it's back to 'play' in the studio.

one of my favorite things. . .  actual cold days in winter. (I just love having to wear a sweater!)

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . finishing the new designs, writing the instructions, & getting the first draft done for a freelance graphic design project. Also, I need to dive in & gather all the 2010 things from the office & get it organized for this new year. . . so, my blog posting might be a little scarce this week!

from my picture journal . . .

 . . . part of one of my 'goals' for the new year. . . to eat more fruit! I frantically went out & picked all the tangerines I could from our tree - as we have had hard frosts for several nights -  so that we wouldn't loose them. . . & it ended up that they were perfect for picking. . . yum!

Wishing you days filled with sweet memories for this new year!

♥ Bren