… little touches

I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving weekend.

I did. . . but for me that means staying as far away as possible from stores & the craziness of shopping frenzies & the crowds. . . (I am not a 'crowd' person at all.)

For me, Dad & Bailey. . . we had a wonderfully quiet weekend, filled with a little bit of getting the house ready for the holidays. Dad worked a bit on the outside, & I worked on the inside.

I hauled a few of the Christmas boxes down from the attic & decided that I would use what I found in those boxes only, & not bring everything out. I thought, at first, that it might not work, but as it turned out. . . it was fun! The decorations this year have a little more homespun look. . . & I'm liking it a lot. 

After a couple of years with Dad not really wanting a tree put up, I did put a little 3 foot tree up this year. I started hinting to him about 3 weeks ago that I was thinking of doing a little tree this year. . . so he could get used to it. . . & I'm thinking he is actually really liking it. My big hint was when, one of the boxes had a little 18" tree in it. . . & I mentioned to Dad that it would look really nice in his room . . . on his dresser. I left it out on a dining room chair (plugged in & lit-up), & before I knew it. . . he had taken it into his room. . . where it is bringing a wonderful soft light to his room. (sigh!)

I'm off to the quilt shop today. . . but before I go, I want to say, "thank you!" to all of you who have taken part in the 'Counting My Blessings' sale that is going on at the website. . . & to remind you that this sale will be ending in a couple of days. . !. . . so be sure to check it out before it's gone! (. . . I've also added a few more quilts to the 'sample quilts for sale' page. . . perfect for gifts for a special person!)

Hope you day is full of blessings!

♥  Bren

… seeing the gifts. . .

What a blessing it is that we have this day

to stop & think of all the blessings that we have.

Sometimes these blessings are simple gifts 

that we can too easily take for granted.

I find myself surrounded

with blessings

. . . & those wonderful simple gifts.

Included in my simple gifts . . .

. . . the sound of Dad in the kitchen getting the turkey 'dressed'

. . . that I get to prepare all the rest of the fixin's while he will be taking a nap. . .
& a bit later we will sit together, hold hands, thank the Lord together,

. . . & simply. . . that we have this time together.

I am truly blessed.

I pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, & that the blessings & simple gifts that are yours come to your mind & heart throughout the beginning of this busy holiday season.

(. . . by the way, I count you as a blessing too!)

. . . & if you can take a minute or two. . .

here's one of my favorite songs. . . perfect for today 

(done so beautifully by Yo Yo Ma, & Allison Krause)

♥ Bren

daybook ::42::

for today :: November 16, 2011  
(I feel like I should start bidding 2011 farewell. . . because it's going by so quickly!)

outside my window. . .  after some (wonderful) cloudy, drizzly days. . .(we get kinda excited about having rainy days). . .  we are having a beautiful,  sunny autumn day (love these too!).

I am thinking . . .  about some fun little quilt-y gifts I'm making this week.

from the kitchen. . .  coffee (of course!), . . . & some of my favorite Ghirardelli 60% Caoco chips. (. . .a must have for pattern writing. . . !)

I am wearing. . . t-shirt & comfy J.Jill pants. . . (just like wearing jammies. . . but not as embarrassing if I need to answer the door!)

I am creating . . .  a shopping list  - for all the cookies & yummies I am planning to make! (. . .  love baking!. . . & even more so - this time of the year.)

I am remembering. . .  to slow down & appreciate what I have.

I am reading. . .  just finished 'The Scarlet Thread' by Francine Rivers . . . & am actually pondering the next book. . .

I am hoping . . .  to get out my watercolors this week.

I am hearing. . .  one very busy (& noisy) birdie - outside. . . & Bailey making his 'I'm-running-&-running-&-running-in-my-dream' little noises. (. . . oh, how I wonder what he is dreaming!)

around the house. . .  lot's of shipping envelopes & boxes. . . just waiting for 'By My Hand' to arrive from the printer.

I am going. . .  to go on a 'date' with my Dad. . . to the library to get him a card & then to lunch.

one of my favorite things. . .  when we actually get chilly weather in autumn & get to wear sweaters!. 

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . working one day at the quilt shop, making gifties, shipping orders (thank you for all the orders!. . .  keeping me very busy!), & more pattern writing!

from my picture journal . . .

close-up of one of the 'By My Hand' blocks.

(. . . can you tell I'm already thinking about decorating my tree?. . . I am!)

. . . wishing you a wonderful autumn day!

  ♥  Bren

… counting my blessings

Yep!. . . It's that time. . .

. . . when I like to share in my blessings 

& let you know how much of a blessing you are to me! ♥

On the website patterns & books are 30% off (or more!). . .

. . . & I'll be adding a few sample quilts as well!

. . . & there are a bunch of cute little giftie things too!

Also, (just for you!),

I've added some fun little bundles of my newest line -

 Durham Collection Anew 2011

So, I just wanted to pop in here & let you know,

. . . & to say 'thank you'.

In so many ways you are such a blessing!

♥ Bren

… Durham Collection Anew 2011

I know that I promised this peek quite a bit ago. . .

I'm hoping that you'll forgive my lateness. I wanted to be sure that is was okay with 'headquarters' (Lecien) to show. . . & since it is up on the Lecien USA website (you can find it here). . . & I just noticed it on the Fat Quarter Shop website (under 'coming soon'), & Fall Quilt Market is this week & everyone there can see it. . .

. . . so. . . I'm guessing that now is a great time to show you. . . !

So, here is my fabric line for fall by Lecien  - Durham Collection Anew.

First, here's the line by designs. . .

main floral -

gingham floral -

paisley - (sigh!. . . they did such a great job with this!)

small flowers -

tonal floral -

dots -

. . . & just for fun. . . here is the line - by colorway. . .!

whites -

pinks -

reds -

yellows -

greens -

blues -

& greys -

I have been having soooo much fun playing with these fabrics. . . getting things ready for my vignette in the Lecien booths for Market. (. . . & I'm thinking that the next few evenings are going to be on the long-ish side!). 

. . . I'll post a couple more photos before I go - of some of the items that I've been 'playing' with!

♥ Bren

… By My Hand

For the first of the new designs, here is one that seemed to fall together all by itself . . . like it was supposed to be.

. . . It first started with my ever growing love of stitchery samplers.

. . . Then I saw the new Lecien fabric line 'Mrs. March's Basic'. . .(sigh) & it was love at first sight. 

(Seriously. . . if I were a quilt shop owner, I would order a bolt of every single fabric in that line!)

. . . & then, after some research into some old samplers (especially ones made by younger girls,. . . I love those the most!), it was, honestly, simply a bunch of fun & play putting everything together.

So, here is my version of a stitchery sampler - a quilters version . . . 

'By My Hand'.


. . . first there is the alphabet (a mix of embroidery & simple fusible applique)

. . . then, there had to be some acorns. . . (of course!)

. . . & then some favorite sampler elements. . . 

. . . then row by row, it all comes together. . .

'By My Hand' is 40" x 52", & the pattern will be available around mid November. (I will have it up on the website right after the first of November & will be taking pre-orders so that we can start shipping these as soon as they arrive from the printer.

If you are attending Quilt Market this next week in Houston -  you will be able to see 'By My Hand'  & the info for the quilt in the Lecien booths. 

So there you have 'By My Hand'. . . by my hand. I hope you like it! I know that this one will be hanging in my studio. . . for a long, long time.

♥ Bren

…remembering. . .

Four years.

It is really so hard to believe that it was four years ago this evening that I said my final 'good-bye' to Mom.

I know it's said of how fast time 'flies by'. . .

. . . but it really does seem to.

I love this photo of Mom. (. . . oh how she did love her coffee! I do think that's where I get it from. . .)

. . . & this photo. . . It is Mom back in Minnesota the first time she 'met' my brother's first baby - Angela. Oh how Mom did love babies. She had such a way & was at such ease with them & would sing to all her granddaughters. . .

Thankfully Mom did get to see all of her granddaughters in the months before we said good-bye to her. . . but she never did get to see any of their weddings. So far two of her granddaughters have married. . .  & just this last month I got to be a part of this sweet occasion . . .

 . . . Angela (the sweet little baby above) trying on wedding dresses . . . 

(sigh)

. . . Although this was not the dress (it was the first of several & this one was to see if she liked the straps (they got a 'no' vote). . . & although she looked so pretty in all of them. . .  there were a few dresses that took our breath away. . . & one that brought tears. . . (I sooo get why there are tissue boxes all over the dressing areas!) . . . & I couldn't help but think that Mom was somehow there. 

. . . even though she isn't here with us now. . . her love. . . all that love that she gave so freely to us all. . . & has shaped so much - who we are. . . still is ever present.

I miss you Mom. . .

. . . & I love you so.

♥ Bren

… little studio peeks

. . . just dropping in 'real quick' to post a few teaser photos of some of the busy-ness going on in the studio these days. . .

. . . I'll be back with a bunch of 'real' photos for you later this week. . . 

. . . promise!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

♥ Bren

daybook ::41::

I know it's been way too long. . . (almost a month!) since I've posted. . . & please acept my apologies. (. . . & thank you to those of you who've emailed to see how we are doing!) . . . (Dad, Bailey & I are doing fine!). . .

It's been a crazy-busy month with lots of traveling & now getting ready for Fall Quilt Market. . . but I wanted to pop my head in & say "hi!". . . & let you know I haven't fallen off the planet. . . (I'm just tripping along!) ♥

stitching. . . stitching. . . & more stitching!

for today :: October 14, 2011  
(I feel like I should start bidding 2011 farewell. . . because it's going by so quickly!)

outside my window. . .   beautiful sunny, 'indian summer' type of autumn day

I am thinking. . . of my Quilt Market to-do list . . .

from the kitchen. . .  coffee (of course!), . . . & I just finished my morning bowl of yummy oatmeal.

I am wearing. . . t-shirt & shorts. . . (it's going to be in the 90's today!)

I am creating. . .  a little sewing pouch using some of my new Durham Collection - Anew fabrics, & a great new stitchery product that Lecien is introducing at Quilt Market (see photo above).

I am remembering. . .  how blessed I am

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

I am hoping . . .  to get everything that I have planned in my sketchbook made in time for Market.

I am hearing. . .  Alfie Boe singing 'Bring Him Home' on the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary dvd that's playing in the studio.

around the house. . .  little projects here & there.

I am going. . .  to get another walk in this evening. . . the weather is too perfect not to. 

one of my favorite things. . .  windows open wide while working in the studio. 

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . Some pattern covers, & making some pretties for my vignette for the Lecien booth at Quilt market)

from my picture journal . . .

'Acorn Fairy'  by one of my favorite British artists. . . Cicely Mary Barker. Perfect for autumn, yes?

Hope you have a wonderful autumn day!

♥ Bren

… breathing a little easier

This morning, Bailey & I got up & went for our morning walk. . . & as we walked, I found myself looking down the leash to the little sweetie-pie that is my best buddy & praying that our morning visit to the vet would have good news. 

I also spent a lot of the time thanking God for such a wonderful little gift that this little one is to me. In my heart he goes everywhere with me. . .

When we arrived at the vet, he was waiting for us & he took a good long look at Bailey's leg. . .

He was happy with what he saw. . . & I think that Bailey knew what he was saying was good. . . because he almost got the 'stuffin's hugged out of him by me while the vet was giving me the good word.

I think that God was also looking down, smiling, knowing my heart & knowing that it is so very thankful. 

We're not completely out of the woods, as the spot is still there. It did get a bit smaller & I will continue treating it. . . but so far, it is not acting like cancer (cancerous spots don't respond to the ointment like Bailey's did) - but the vet said that you can never say never. 

So, for now, I will keep using the ointment to see if it continues to help, but if the spot starts to bother Bailey again (he's been so good & has been leaving it alone!). . . then we will be back at the vet & would then need to see a specialist.

But. . . we are not thinking about that yet. . . we are just celebrating that it isn't acting like it's cancer - & is instead probably a dermatitis issue that is so much easier to deal with.

So, while this scary little chapter is closing. . . the story of my sweet little fluffy boy continues. . . & I cherish every day that I have with him.

. . . & he definitely continues to be the 'apple of my eye'. . .

Thank you. . . so much

for all your e-mails & tweets & comments asking about how Bailey is doing.

It has meant so much.

. . . & trust me. . . he is knowing how much he is loved! ♥

(the photos for this post were created using Photofunia. . . & yep, I've got a whole folder filled with Bailey photos using these!. . . (hint - more to come!) :o)

♥  Bren