… 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

... a little psa (public service announcement)

Although I'm in the midst of (trying to) getting distributor orders out the door, some design deadlines, & getting ready for some stitching friends to come over. . .

my UPS man just brought these. . . & I had to let you know!

'These'. . . are the latest line from Primitive Gatherings - called Floral Gatherings (the top bundle), & Floral Gatherings Shirtings (the bottom bundle), & I have been smitten with them ever since I saw them a few months ago. (!) The colors are classic, the prints are classic shirtings prints & they are altogether lovely.

I'm posting this because I did get some extra bundles so that I could make some available for you! I got fat-eighth bundles - so that they are affordable & are such a great size for some stash 'enhancing'. (Although, I'll be honest - mine won't last long in my stash, my head is swimming with ideas!)

The yardage won't be out in shops for about a month - but I have a feeling these won't last that long! (oh yea!. . . you can find them by clicking here!

Hope you're having a great start to your week. . .

. . . now, I've got some orders to finish!

♥ Bren

... instant vintage

Okay... there really are some photos. . . but first this story of how it all came about. . .

About a week ago, while my Dad was out of town, I decided to do a thorough clean-out of the guest room. (Which, had in all honesty become a bit of a 'dumping' room for quilts, patterns, books, kits... etc.) Once or twice a year I usually get a 'spring cleaning' bug, & I weed through things to do a good cleaning & sorting, but late this summer I have felt the need to go much deeper. Even though I've done the weeding through for the past few years. . . I still found that I had items (craft items, books, fabrics, clothes, etc...) that after a year or so I still wasn't using... & honestly didn't know if I really ever would. It struck me that keeping all of it was really weighing me down. Then the thought came to me that if ever something would happen to me, that someone would have to deal with all that 'stuff' (yikes!!!).

So, my first step was to empty everything out of the room (into the breakfast area & the end of the studio). . . every shelf, every drawer, every box, & everything in the closet. As I pulled everything out, I sorted through things & put a lot in boxes to donate. But there was still soooo much stacked up. As I was wondering how much more I could 'delete'... I took a break for a day. (This is why I waited until my Dad was out of town.) I would walk by the clean & empty room, & I soooo loved how it looked! (It's across from my bedroom... so I look into this room numerous times during the day.) What happened next, I wasn't expecting... Where just 24 hours before, I was wondering how I could whittle down the piles of things that came out of the room, perfectly good things..., I found that when it came to putting things back into the room, I was able to make what were such tough decisions just the day before, so much easier. I was able to discern what was something that I would need & actually use, & not just keep something (that I hadn't used for years ... or was something I had but had never used) just because it was nice or cute or pretty. Even if it were (nice, cute, pretty...), but would just be stored away & never enjoyed suddenly made it so easy for me to only put back what I knew I would use. 

What I now have is a three drawer dresser that had two of it's drawers emptied... five+ shelves emptied, not one pile on the floor, & a bunch of room in the closet. (Insert happy dance here!)

One of the things that I had to really think about was the amount of quilts that I (still) had. I had to make some tough choices & put a couple more sample quilts for sale on the website. (I will try to get some better photos of a couple of them...) Then, while sorting through the quilts, I found one that really has never been used, except for display in my booth at quilt market three years ago. I loved making the quilt (the smaller version of Opie's Home), but I knew that the colors were just a little bright for me to use in my home. I had thought it might become a gift, but I really do love this design, & I thought that if maybe it was a little more 'vintage' looking, it would work for my own home.

I remembered a process that I had read about in a book (Home Sweet Home) by Barb & Alma of Blackbird Designs, where they used a two step process to age fabrics. First, you wash the fabrics with a package of Rit Color Remover.... (I know, a little scary sounding!), & then put them through a dye bath (in the washer) using Rit tan dye.  I had played around with the process a few years ago (lightening a quilt - that was way to bright), but then couldn't find the Rit Color Remover until a couple of weeks a go. Now please know, that in the book, Barb & Alma use this process on fabrics before they are used to make a quilt, as you don't always know how a color might react in the color removal process, ... but I took the chance & tried it on my finished quilt. (... & to be honest it was a little scary & fun all at the same time!)

Here is the quilt before I started. Cute fabric, 1930's style, but a little too bright for me to use...

...then came the wash cycle with one package of the color remover...

I forgot to get a photo of the quilt when it came out of the first wash. (oops.) I liked it, but a couple of the colors were still a little too bright. And, when I saw the progress, I could tell that adding the tan dye bath would make this a great autumn colored quilt... (Which I have very few of.)  

When I took it out of the washer, after the tan dye bath (& then a full wash), I couldn't wait to  put it in the dryer... I could see that all of the colors were more subtle, & I knew that when dry, they would be even lighter... I loved the results!

All the blues, & greens turned to shades of aqua... The lavender/purple turned a wonderful pebble-y grey... The reds turned to browns, & the yellows kept their yellow hue, but it was a more buttery version. (I was a little fearful that the yellow might disappear.) ... & the pinks softened up I am smitten with them! (So much so, I'm thinking of making a quilt using pink & white fabrics, and then using this process...!)

I know it might not be everyone's favorite, but I love it. It looks like it's been around for years & years & I can hardly wait to decorate with it now that autumn is here. My plan is to use it on the dining room table & group together some of my vintage aqua Bell canning jars filled with some mums & daisies ... & a couple of white/creamy pumpkins too!

(Time to go to Trader Joe's!)

Until then, I've got some patterns to finish writing... 

Hope you have a great weekend!

xo, 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

... late summer days . . .

Once again, 

days seem to be passing so quickly! (Hi September.)

. . . I even lose track of what day of the week it is sometimes! (seriously, all day Thursday, I thought it was Wednesday. . .)

Except for working on shipping orders, I've not even at my computer hardly at all, so I decided to try a new app for blogging so that I could blog from my iPad. A while back, I had tried a different blogging app, & wasn't too crazy about it, so we'll see how it goes with this new app with this post.

Okay... so, to catch up... 

The Needlework Market was wonderful! It was so fun meeting needlework shop owners, other designers, & there were even several quilt shop owners who attended (my dream shop! . . . stitchery & quilts!)

I did take some photos & I will post them in my next post.

Upon my return from Needlework Market, my days have been filled with filling orders, & believe it or not, I've been back to quilting!

I've been quilting & binding the smaller version of a new 'farmhouse collection' quilt. It's called 'meriwether', & it's based on a courthouse step block with embroidery (or appliqué in a larger version) around the borders. I'm hoping to have the patterns ready by the end of next week, & good news (!) . . . there will be kits available for the smaller quilt (seen above). I'll let you know as soon as they are ready.

I've been loving getting to sit & bind a quilt... it is one of my favorite things to do. I actually get a little melancholy when I'm almost at the end of finishing the binding! For me, put on a good movie, & I'm a happy camper getting to sit & bind while I 'listen' to the movie.

One little bump in our daily routine has been that little Mr. Bailey has reverted to licking on his front left leg again . Even though he's been such a brave little boy with all the thunderstorms we've had this summer, & I think with my going away for Market, he succumbed to being a little anxious, & reverted back to licking on his leg. So... you guessed it... yesterday the cone had to go back on...

He's being such a good sport about it... He was even wagging his tail when I pulled it off the shelf & was putting it on his collar. It was as if he was saying, "Well hi there buddy!" So, with the addition of  a couple of drops of 'Rescue Remedy (a natural stress relief formula by Bach - Original Flower Remedies) to his water dish, we're taking it day by day with the cone wearing.

So, even thoug it feels like its flying by... life goes on here at home & in the studio... & I'm plugging away & will hopefully have new patterns posted.! Until then, take care, & thank you for caring.

xo, Bren

… countdown . . .

Things have been a little crazy around here.

 I'm getting ready for my first Needlework Market, (exhibiting that is. . . I've attended a couple to check them out), & I feel just like I did when I did my first Quilt Market! 

I'm feeling a bit nervous, wondering if I'm bringing enough patterns, flyers. . . etc.

I find I'm laughing at myself, at how anxious I'm making myself. I know that it will be just fine, & I'm so looking forward to getting to set up my 'booth' in the living area of my hotel suite! The Needlework Markets (for counted cross-stitch & embroidery) are held in an Embassy Suites hotel, & instead of having to go to a convention center, you set up your display in the living room area of your hotel suite, open your door, & everyone comes to you. . . isn't that great!?!  When I have attended a couple of needlework markets in the past, I have loved how comfortable & 'homey' they feel. (. . . & it's so nice to have your own bathroom & kitchenette right there!) 

So, I've been busy finishing my new needlework (counted cross-stitch) designs, deciding which of my existing embroidery patterns to take, picking up new pattern covers, 'stuffing' patterns, making some fun little samples (peeks coming!), printing flyers, . . . you name it, I've been doing it. In the past few days, there have been a couple of times that I have wished that I had everything done already, but then I realized that I would just be getting antsy to leave - so it's good that I have things on my 'to-do' list. (Although. . . that list is getting really small!)

One of the things I am introducing is the beginning of a stitchery collection I'm calling the 'Chalkboard Collection'. I just love chalkboard art, & so this series of designs will be capturing the look. . . but with stitches instead of chalk. I found a wonderful over-dyed linen from Weeks Dye Works that is the perfect dark grey & it looks so much like a well used chalkboard. Then they also had a perfect over-dyed floss that is a white with a touch of grey, that resembles the uneven white you get with chalk on a chalkboard. (. . . & yes - there will be some kits coming!)

I will be showing you all the new stitchery designs in the next week. . . & soon (when I return from Market) they will also be available on the website.

Yesterday, I caught my Dad sitting on the couch, talking with Bailey. . . & they were making 'guy' plans for when I go to Market. . . Those boys!

I'm off to bed. . . tomorrow is filled with more 'to-do's'!

♥ Bren

… still quilting (honest!)!

I wanted to let you know that while I'm doing some remodeling to the website,

I'm also doing some cleaning out of the studio & storage, & that there are a few quilts that I've listed on the 'sample quilts for sale' page on the website.

. . . BUT, I do so cautiously, because from the emails that I've received, it seems like several of you got the idea (with my last post) that I'm leaving quilts & designing them behind. . . So not true! Please know that I still love quilts as much as I always have. . . I'm just expanding the areas that I use my designs. I know that it's been a bit since I've released some new quilt designs, but please trust me that by the end of August there will be about three new quilt designs. (. . . really!)

The quilts that I've listed on the 'sample quilts' page are mostly the sample quilts that I made from a few of my fabric lines, as well as two great Moda Home toile quilts. I have one of each of these, & I didn't realize that I still had these two!. . . (oops!)

So, there you go. . . a 'remodeling sale'  on the website, & now newly listed sample quilts too!(. . . a great time to think of some Christmas presents. . .!)

Tomorrow, I'm painting some frames & a box for a couple of my new stitcheries. I spent months looking for just the right frames & although I could find the 'look' I liked in the frames, I could never find just them in the right color. . . So, it's out with the paintbrushes, paints & glazes.

(. . . & secretly, I'm really looking forward to it!)

♥ Bren 

… a couple little updates

. . . oh my goodness!

. . . time is flying by so fast! I'm just trying to keep up with my 'to-do' list, & the next thing I realize is that we are (again) entering into a new month.

So. . . firstly - Happy August! It's hard to believe that kids around here have either already started - or will be starting back to school this week. I got the letter from the school that used to teach at, 

wondering if I wanted to be one of their substitute teachers again this year, & I'm looking forward to it. 

As you can see from the photo above. . . my head has been pretty much parked at my computer screen, working on completing the new patterns. . . patterns that will be released at the TNNA Needlecraft Market, in a little over 2 weeks! (eeek!) 

I have five cross stitch patterns (photos soon. . . I promise), & since the needleart division is 'counted thread & embroidery', I'm also going to be taking several of my existing embroidery patterns as well.

I'm so very excited about this new branch of my designs!

. . . & with this 'branching out' comes some changes that you will be noticing. So, with that, I thought I'd give my blog a little updating. . . simplifying, as that is what I'm needing these days. There will be some more 'tweaking' in the near future with some additional pages & fun (I hope!).

Also with the addition of the cross-stitch branch - I have needed to re-organize my company. Actually the re-organization was done about a year ago. . . I just took my time to jump into the needlework market. But, what you will see is the new company name, brenda riddle designs reflected on the website & also in other places. You will see the new cross-stitch & needlework only designs under the brenda riddle designs label. Please know that Acorn Quilt & Gift Company is still ongoing, & I will still be designing quilts! It is now simply a division under the umbrella of brenda riddle designs.

If you visit my website, you will notice that there is a new 'logo' that reflects both divisions, as the website will be representing both divisions. In the next couple of weeks, there will be a bit of rearranging happening on the website. . . so just to say "please excuse the mess". . . I've decided to have a sale of all patterns & books. They will be 25% - 75% off. . . just to say thanks for putting up with the 'remodel'.

So that's the latest. . . Sorry I haven't posted the most interesting photos lately. Actually, because of the ease of use & how fast I can post, I've been posting to Instagram more often. It's so easy & fun to follow folks!. . . must be the visual side of me that likes it so much. 

I've put a link on the sidebar. . . or . . .my Instagram  page is brengr.)

Wishing you a great week. . . & I'll be back with more soon.

♥ Bren

… summer days

 

Hi folks.

I finally got to do a little catch-up blog reading, & so I know I'm not alone when I say that it feels like days are rushing by! It's the middle of July already!?!. . . really? 

whew.

I've been keeping so very busy, finishing the stitching on all my new stitchery designs (counted cross-stitch) that I will be debuting next month at the TNNA Fall Market in St. Charles. I still have the framing & finishing to do, but I feel good to have all the stitching completed. . . & I loved every minute of it.

I hadn't done any cross-stitch for several years, & as I have been drawn back to it, I have realized how much the scope of it has broadened & how much love there is now for samplers & how so many stitchers are taken by & love the history of needle-working. It excites me very much, to be creating new designs that are inspired by the past & somehow, in my heart, connect with the needleworkers of the past (& hopefully of today as well!). I will try to take some peek/teaser photos of some of my new designs to share. (. . . & I will try to be a better blogger!)

I also have a few new quilt patterns that are taking a bit of a back seat to the stitching, & one that I'm finishing up the embroidery border for, as I seem to always have a needle in my hand for some project. (♥)

Because I had been away from my sewing machine for a little bit, I was missing piecing, . . . & when I saw the cute little basket block challenge from Temecula Quilt Co., I was immediately hooked. (scroll down to the June 30 post for the info & link to the pattern)

They are wee little blocks (finishing at 2" x 2")!. . . but are honestly addictive. The challenge is to make one each day for the months of July & August, but with the needlework market in August coming up, I cut all the background fabrics for all the blocks first (I'm using Moda Muslin - warm white), so that I could make some ahead of the one-a-day pace. For my basket fabrics, all the fabrics I am using are coming from my stash. Yesterday was my sew day with some friends, & so I used the time to cut all but a few of the rest of the basket pieces as well.  This means that in the next few days, as I'm fine tuning the charts & patterns for the new stitcheries. . . & the *need* to walk away from the computer for a little bit, I can go in & sew together another wee little basket block! 

(. . . happy girl) !

I also want to thank all of you who left comments & sent messages about Bailey & asked how he did with his 'Thundershirt'. 

(Bailey says "thank you" too!)

Believe it or not. . . we didn't have to put it to the test on July 4th. Not a single neighbor shot off fireworks! I was amazed. . . (& so thankful!) Since then though, the summer thunderstorm season has started & so we have put it into use & it does help calm him. He's not oblivious to the big booms when they happen, but he doesn't pace or pant like he used to. So I'm feeling that it does help him. . . & anything that helps out my little boy not to be so scared is great in 

my book. 

So, for today, I'm off to finish up the charts for the new stitcheries. . . & maybe make a basket block or two. . . (. . . or three. . . or four), & I'll be checking twitter now & again to see if there is any royal baby news(!)

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ Bren

… getting ready

Hi there. Sorry for the lack of posting. . . I've been having issues with our internet connection for the last few weeks. . . & so trying to do anything more than getting some emails done & shipping printed has been most of the extent of my online experience lately. We have been replacing cables to see what the issue might be & now are hoping that we might (?) have solved the issue. We'll see. (crossing fingers!)

With all the July 4 preparations winding up here in the US

. . . for me it brings a bit of worry. . .

. . . worry that this little guy will have to suffer through hours & hours of fireworks going off in the neighborhood.

Now, I first want to say that I have always loved firework shows (& still do!). . . but for some reason, the people who live in my county voted to make it legal for anyone to shoot off fireworks. (sigh).

 So what ends up happening is that the booms & loud pops start around sunset & continue on & off until after midnight, causing Bailey to shake & fret for hours on end. Then, for the next several evenings, as the sun sets, he gets scared all over in anticipation of the booming starting again.

Poor baby.

Thankfully, last year - because we had not received any rains yet - the fire marshall put a ban on the public setting off fire-works. (they actually even called off the commercial displays last year - it was so dry.) I know I sound like a party-pooper, but to have my little guy suffer so breaks my heart. So-far this summer, we have had about 30 days of 100° (F) (or higher) & no rain & I'm actually hoping that we don't get any rain until after next Thursday, & they set the ban for no fireworks in the neighborhoods again. (. . . but I'm hoping they do have the professional displays. . . they are far enough away that the noise is manageable for us.)

But, just in case, I got Bailey a 'Thundershirt'. They are created for helping dogs that suffer anxiety from thunderstorms, fireworks, separation. . . etc. I went down to our local PetSmart & found his size & talked with the lady there & they say that they have a more than 80% success rate. They are made to literally envelop & hug the dog & hit specific pressure points that help calm them & most will even relax to the point that they fall asleep! (. . . here's hoping!) I also picked up a new little fox (unstuffed - how perfect!) & after I tried the 'Thundershirt' on Bailey - he got his new 'baby'. . . so that hopefully he will already equate that putting the 'Thundershirt' on brings good things. I actually thought he light not like having to have it on - but he actually didn't mind it at all. He chewed on his new little fox for a little bit & then settled in & napped. Gives me a bit of hope that he will get to have a calm holiday.

By the way. . . there are some new items that I've put on the 'Tag Sale' pages on the website. . . !

Hope you have a great week.

♥ Bren