… the first batch

I wanted to title this post

'cue the angelic choir' . . .

. . . because it felt like a little miracle getting through the process

of getting this done!

But it did!

 & I'm so happy it's done!

 So. . .

without further delay. . .

I am soooo pleased to announce that the first batch (10 of 'em) of

PDF downloadable patterns are available on the website!

One of the perks of these patterns is that they are available immediately

once you complete your purchase. . . (no waiting for the post!)

& there are no shipping costs! (yippee!)

(A special thank you to my international customers 

for 'encouraging' me to work on this. 

I know the international shipping costs can be prohibitive.)

I will be adding more of my patterns/designs as PDFs,

but if there is one of my designs/patterns that isn't yet offered as a PDF

 & you would like it to be in the next batch, 

just drop me an email & let me know.

Thanks for the encouragement while I worked on this 'step' in

expanding my little business. . .

You folks are the best!

♥ Bren

… tick . . . tock . . . tick . . . tock . . .

That’s what it felt like this past week.

. . . waiting for the ‘powers that be’ to respond 

when there was a little issue with getting my website cart

to recognize the pdf downloadable patterns. 

(sigh)

(first a little vent. . . then some news!)

I actually was successful installing the software to the website

on the first day (!) 

(. . . although it did take me all day (12 hours) to get the ‘test’ download to work. . .

. . . you would have had a good giggle . . . 

as there was a squeal & a little happy dance involved!)

But then. . . for the last step, the website shopping cart wouldn’t recognize the pdf items as downloadable.

(bummer)

So, the next day, I emailed the software company 

(which is in England), 

& even though it was about 10:30 pm their time - 

I heard back from them within 30 minutes. (bless them!)

They had checked all my work on the things I uploaded 

& let me know that it all looked good. (. . . & I must admit, 

it felt good to have the affirmation that I could do it!) :o)

They looked into a couple of other things & found an issue with the 

id codes & the website shopping cart & suggested that I ask my web host if they had disabled the id numbers in the cart. 

(the software needs to have the id numbers for it to recognize the item as a downloadable item.)

So, I did. . . I sent in a support request to my web host, 

. . . it shouldn’t take long - as it was a simple question. . .

. . . & they are located in Oregon. . .

. . . I waited. . . (1 day. . .)

. . . & waited. . . (2 days. . . 3 days. . . 4 days)

. . . & then on the 5th day. . . I sent in a new support request, asking if anyone was home. . .

. . . (nothing) . . . I started looking into new web hosts.

Thankfully, I heard back from my web host this morning, 

& they assured me they hadn’t forgotten me. 

(felt like it though. . . enough for me to look into switching everything!)

I’ve heard of several other folks have had issues 

with getting web hosts to respond, & I’m wondering 

if there is a big influx of new websites at the beginning of the year 

& they are overwhelmed with too much to handle. 

(. . . or, they are still napping after their New Year’s ‘celebrations’. . . ?)

Either way, the good news is that within the next 24 hours, 

I will be working like a little bee to get the first round 

of pdf patterns available on the website. 

(. . . & yes, there will probably be another little happy dance!)

So, until that happens, I thought I’d show you what is making the news here in southern Arizona. . .

For us - this is really cold!

Pipe-freezing cold!

It’s kinda cute (after living in Minnesota) 

to hear the news broadcasts here.

They spend lots of time trying to warn folks of what it means when the temps get this cold.

I’m sure that all the ‘snowbirds’ that live here in the winter (folks who live in the north for the rest of the year, & come & live in Arizona for the ‘cold’ months). . . find it funny too.

(by-the-way, it is the afternoon now & we just reached the 30’s. . . I’m doubting we make it to 48 like the forcasters thought!)

I actually like it.

I get to wear my coat & scarf (& even my mittems the other morning),

. . . & it’s a change from the norm here.

(by the way. . . we’re supposed to be back up into the low 70’s by the end of the week.)

The first & last photos on the post are of one of the plants that I’ve been bringing inside each evening.It’s a cute little geranuim that a sweet lady gave me. . . 

& I am smitten with it’s color!

It’s the prettiest coral-ly pink.

Okay. . . I’m off to the website. . . 

Hope you have a great day!

♥ Bren

… giving it a try

It's not my thing really. . .

. . . working with  the 'techie' side of my website.

But, I do feel better knowing that I have a little bit

of knowledge & can work on things if I really needed to.

I didn't design or install my website,

(I had someone who knew what they were doing!)

but I do the adding of items & pages. . .

So. . . when it came time to make some of my patterns available as pdf's,

I decided that I would try & do it all myself.

Tweaking & creating the patterns in a pdf format was no problem,

. . . & I found the company that has the software that works with my website host. . .

. . . but now there is all this uploading to what I refer to as 'the guts' of the website. . .

. . . & honestly, it's taking every brain cell I have.

So, of course. . .

 . . I'm taking a break!

I thought I'd pop in & say "hi!".

. . . & here's a peek at what I'm working on. . .

(. . . & wish I could be working on today!)

. . . more on these soon!

As for the pdf pattern versions. . .

Hopefully I will get it all worked out by week's end,

& they will be available on the website.

(Prayers welcome!)

♥ Bren

… little things that make us happy. . .

I was going to look for a cute little 'New Years' graphic to post. . .

but then I realized that this was as cute as it gets (for me at least!)

This is Bailey 'in action' with his new toys (from his Christmas stocking).

I was stitching, & Bailey was on the floor gnawing on his toys,

when he took a little break & sat up & just looked at me.

(. . . with his 'fluff beard-y thing going on. . .)

I just laughed & thankfully had my phone right next to me.

He was a very good boy & did his 'stay' command very well. . .

& when I rounded to the other side of him. . .

there was Mr. Moosie. . . or what's left of him. . .

But that's okay. . .

Bailey likes his 'babies' flat.

. . . & actually this was a record-breaker!

 Mr. Moosie lasted 6 days!

(the previous record was 36 hours.)

For me, I've prepped block #2 for Beyond the Cherry Trees.

. . . so you know what I'll be doing as we celebrate the new year!

Bailey & I hope that as you reflect on this past year & look toward the new year,

you are filled with hope for the promise of what is to come!

♥ Bren

... windmills quilt

I thought I'd show you the quilt that I made 

for my niece, Nicole, & her groom. Eric.

It's the medium size of my 'windmills' quilt (from the 'farmhouse collection').

I had such fun making this quilt. 

I've included photos of the different 'windmill' blocks (that are coordinated),

& then also a photo of the center block - that I call 

the 'Amish block' - or the humility block,

where each of the 'blades' of the windmill are from each of the other blocks.

. . . Just to remind the young couple that even though things may not always

be perfect. . . they are still a part of the whole & have their own beauty.

It also is a reminder that no one is perfect - except God.

The pastor that oversaw at their wedding ceremony, 

gave a wonderful talk about this,

& so it had great meaning to them when I explained it to them.

(. . . I just love it when that happens!. . . Thanks God!)

The quilt is what I call 'snuggle size' 

- perfect to snuggle under for a nap -

 or to snuggle together to watch a movie on a snowy day 

(Like what they have been having!)

The last photo is of my block one for the 'Beyond the Cherry Trees' quilt.

The blocks were offered as a free download each month a couple of years ago,

& I was good about downloading them. . .

. . . just never good about starting them.

I'm thankful for that now - as I've been seeing some of the finished versions,

& I've fallen in love with one that uses mostly French General fabrics.

So, it inspired me, & that's what I'm doing (heaven know I have enough of them!).

I'll post them as I get them done. . . (this one is going to take awhile though - as there are 25 blocks & appliqué borders as well!

But I've been loving getting to sit & work on something that is wonderfully vintage 

& it's the perfect mix of being 'Baltimore-y' & 'primitive-y' at the same time.

I hope you are enjoying these wonderful days. . . between Christmas & New Year,

they feel wonderfully quiet & the perfect time to reflect & plan,

& to simply enjoy the days. I know I am!

♥ Bren

(p.s. I'm working really hard at getting the PDF patterns ready & uploaded

to the website. . . it will be soon!!!)

… it's the little things. . .

. . . from the availability of peppermint bark

(. . . & I love the little 'Dove' pieces of peppermint bark,

just the right amount!)

. . . to all the wonderful variety of poinsettia colors!

This one is in my bedroom.

It's the most wonderful coral-y pink tinged with red edges.

I love it, & I hope it lasts long into the new year. . .

. . . And then there is this very special ornament.

It has become my favorite.

A neighbor made it for Dad & I, five years ago.

She took the photo (my favorite) we had of Mom 

that was used in her memorial service program,

. . . & she placed it inside a glass ornament that she painted 

with delicate snowflakes.

Secretly. . . I never put it away. . . it hangs in a tree that I have in the house

. . . all year long.

. . . but for now, it is carefully placed beneath our little Christmas tree,

. . . reminding me of what a gift the time I had with her was.

It's the little things. . .

. . . that make the biggest difference to me.

I want to thank you all for visiting today,

& I pray that you have a very special celebration

of the wonderful gift that God has given us.

Merry Christmas everyone!

♥ Bren

… a final one. . .

I've had these photos ready for several days. . .

. . . but after the Friday's news, 

it just didn't fell right to post about new fabrics.

There were other things (way more important things)

that took over my head & my heart.

My prayers are with the families of Sandy Hook.

It feels as though words fail, but I know that there is great power in prayer,

. . . & so I will continue to lift them up in prayer

for the promised "peace that passes understanding".

It is also a reminder to shower those around us with love,

& to celebrate the blessings that we often overlook day-by-day.

I am striving to look around me & to see & celebrate the

blessings that have been laid before me.

One of those blessings, in the past few years

has been to have the opportunity to design fabrics.

It was a dream - when I first started designing quilts,

& it felt like a dream when I saw my first line come to fruition.

The photos above are of my upcoming line,

Durham Collection Anew (2102).

It should be in shops around February/March.

(also, just so you know, the colors in thee photos are more true to the actual colors 

than the scanned promotional images that I've seen on the internet. . . 

just in case it matters to you.)

I've been enjoying folding & refolding my pieces, 

& I've placed my order for bolts of some of my favorites.

(I wanted a bolt of each one - but I've no room!)

For this Durham Collection Anew, I've added a warm vintage tan colorway,

. . . & I'm thinking that I will be making a quilt entirely from this colorway.

I just love it.

I'm thinking of making quilts for my 'farmhouse collection'  series

from this line that would be the kind of quilts that

would be at home on any porch swing.

This line will also be my last fabric line for awhile.

I've decided to not continue in designing fabrics for a bit,

so that I can focus more on creating designs for quilts & needlework, 

as well as some other things that are currently on the back burner.

Lecien is doing some re-organizing & although I have talked with 

a couple of other fabric manufactures, I just feel it's time to take a break.

(I definitely will though - continue to work on new designs for my portfolio. . .

. . . designs that can be used for fabrics & other things.)

I've really enjoyed having the opportunity to design & work with fabrics that 

are a part of who I am. . .

I hope that you have enjoyed it as well.

I have a very limited amount of sample fabrics,

 & I've taken part of them & made a very limited number of bundles.

There are a couple of fat-quarter bundles, & also some fat-eighth bundles 

if you would like a little head start on a project using these fabrics.

I also want to thank so many of you, who have been so supportive of my

fabric designing. To know that some of you have actually 'collected' them is

beyond my comprehension, & it has given me such joy.

Thank you.

So, as I enter this week, I do so with a humble heart,

& one that will continue to look for the blessings that

I have been given.

Please know, that you are one of them.

♥ Bren

… homey little touches of Christmas

This year, I wanted to make the house feel really home-y with the

decorations that I pulled out of the boxes this year.

(I took these photos in the evening - with no lights on, 

except the twinkle lights. . . so you could get the 'feel' of what we see.)

So, I picked the 'natural' themed trimmings for our little tree.

. . . little bird nests, fruits, & acorns. (. . . of course!)

There are lots of white lights - that are left on all day too. . .

. . . just because twinkly white lights make me happy!

Then there is a special little milk glass vase that I have 

that holds it's bouquet of peppermint lollipops.

 It has become a 'must-have' part of the Christmas decor 

in the past few years, as we love these seasonal lollies!

(In fact. . . I've been known to hoard some bags of them 

before they disappear from the shelves at the market. . . 

just to be sure we can still have some after the start of new year!

Now, it's time for me to go & make a mocha & sit with my little guy

& enjoy the white lights & my memories of this blessed season.

♥ Bren

… a little blessing & a lot of love.

On December 1, 2012,

In St.Paul. Minnesota,

my sweet niece Nicole married her sweetheart, Eric.

The wedding was incredibly beautiful.

Every detail thought out.

I only had my iPhone with me - but I did get a couple of photos.

(. . . kinda blurry - like our memory of the day!)

(The lantern (top photo) was one of two that greeted everyone 

at the big wooden doors of the chapel, & was in honor & memory

of the great grandparents & grandparent (my Mom).)

Tears. . . even before the ceremony.

The chapel - is set on a lake & is made of stone 

& was an lovely setting for a wedding.

The second photo is of Nicole & Eric as the vows ceremony started.

She looked like a princess & you could see how much Eric treasures her.

The last photo I have is a rare one.

It is of my handsome brother, Scott,  & his beautiful wife, Jodi.

I say that it is rare - because it was one of the rare moments

 that they were both sitting down at the reception!

They made sure to greet everyone (about 300!) who came!

The bride & groom are coming home this week from their honeymoon 

in the warm, sunny Florida Keys. . .

. . . to a lot of snow that has fallen  while they've been gone!

The weekend was a fast trip for me & blur!

. . . & I'm looking forward to my next visit

. . . hopefully in March!

Hope you have a wonderful start to your week!

♥ Bren