:: nine months, three weeks, five days... (or so)...

Honestly...

How sad... that I've not done a blog post for that long! 

So how are you?!!! So much has happened, & even though in my mind, I think that I could spread things out over several posts... I know that I've failed on that one before, so I think I'll try & do a 'catch-up' post this time.

So let's see... I know that Bailey caught you up a wee bit about what it was like just before Spring Quilt Market, including introducing my new line for Moda, called Windermere. You can see the upcoming line by clicking 'here'. You can also see all the new patterns that are up on the website...

I guess to pick up right after the happenings of my last post, (& something I didn't write about because at the time, I wasn't sure what the outcome would be... & I'm not a fan of speculation)... about two weeks after I got home from last Fall Quilt Market (around mid-November), I fell & broke my left wrist. (& I'm a lefty!). That put the brakes on a lot that I had planned to do right after Fall Market, like some house projects (painting, room sorting...) At first they thought I either broke two bones, &/or I might have some ligament damage, but thankfully it appears it was just the bigger bone & the break was clean. Unfortunately, I didn't get any physical therapy until the end of March, & so any detailed hand work was out of the question. (I did though, get a lot better at being ambidextrous!) With all that happening, I missed the deadline for my next fabric line to debut at Fall Market, but it has been sent to Moda & will hopefully be not too far behind. I'll let you know when it will be shown to shops (hopefully soon after the new year)... (I promise!)

My second line with Moda, Windermere, did debut at Spring Quilt Market, & I'm excited about it arriving in shops in November. (you can see the entire line by clicking on the 'Windermere' graphic on the sidebar.)  One of the fun things about Market this past Spring is that it was in Minneapolis & my brother, Scott & his family lives there, & he got to stop by the convention center & got a peek at what this is all about. He said he was surprised at how big it was (& this was Spiring Market - which isn't quite as big as Fall Market), & I was just so pleased to have him stop by. (That's Scott & me in my space in Moda's Designer Studio in the photo above.) 

After Spring Market, I was off to Norway! I had been looking forward to this trip ever since Fall Market when two lovely quilt shop owners invited my to come to Norway & do some workshops & trunk-shows. (Hi Åsne & Siw!!!) I had such a wonderful time... & that is something that needs its own post! So I’ll be gathering all my photos & will be back with those soon! (The first of the two photos of Norway in this post was taken at a bit after 10 pm!... gotta love the 'midnight sun'! The second was the lovely view I had of the Oslo Fjord that I had from my kitchen window.)

Until then, the new patterns are up on the website, both printed & PDF versions, & coming soon - some Ambleside (just in case you missed some) & Windermere pre-cuts. I just finished putting the finishing touches on my line for next Spring Market, & now that it’s sent in, I'm hoping to do some updating to the website... with some new items & a new look! I hope you check back to see!

Before I sign off, I want to thank everyone for all you enthusiasm about Ambleside. I have had so much fun seeing all the beautiful things you are making on Instagram  (including all the cute YouTube tutorials that Jennifer at Shabby Fabrics did using Ambleside!). It has touched my heart, & I thank you so much. Also, if you are following this blog, I want to thank you for hanging in there & waiting patiently for me to get my 'ducks-in-a-row' & start blogging again. It is one of my big goals to get much better at it! 

I will be back with a few more special things from this past Spring Market... & Norway!!!

❤️ Bren

:: 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

… welcome November!

Happy November!

One post in October... pretty sad. Funny though, I thought about posting this & that. . . just never when I had the internet handy. So, I'll play 'catch-up' with this post.

Had a wonderful trip to Minneapolis for 11 days. Got to see such pretty colors & there were even a couple of snow flurries. . . just enough to make me grateful that I was returning to temps in the high 70's! But, with the colder temps & rainy days in MN, I had plenty of opportunities to snuggle up next to the fire in the fireplace with my brothers pups & I got lots of stitching done on my next cross-stitch design. It was a great visit. I met my brother for lunch one day & got a tour of his new office (he has just been named President & CEO), & I got to put my interior designer hat on, & with my sister-in-law, we gave the freshly painted office a little makeover. It was nice, just a little bare... & we just warmed it up a bit with some lamps, artwork, & a basket or two. It was great fun shopping for it, & we had quite a few giggles on what we could have put in there! But we were good... Kept to a small budget, & it turned out wonderfully.

Since coming home, Bailey has been extra snuggle-y. . . Which is a relief, because it can also go the other way where he ignores me for s few days. Thankfully when I walked through the door, he gave out a little cry from his 'post' on the back of the living room chair & came running with lots of kisses & snuggles. (whew!)

I've been making some updates to the website (finally got the 'fabric lines' page updated), & will be continuing to add some things in the next few days. There are some fun things that we will be making & making available... just in time for the holidays... (or for anytime really!) I will really try to get all the info posted on Monday.

I've been baking cookies for Dad (molasses, his favorite & sugar cookies too) & since Dad finished off the sugar cookies last evening (!), I'm making some shortbread as I post this. It's just beginning to smell so good! The only issue I have with baking shortbread is that is has to cook at a lower temp for so long! But it's worth it. So, I'm having a cup of coffee & decided to enjoy the smells for now. (But, I must admit... I may be having shortbread for dinner!) ;o) 

I love this month... for so many reasons. The weather getting a crisp feel to it, the autumn light as the sun sits lower in the sky, & the reminder to think on the things we are thankful for. I have been working on doing that all year, & it's amazing on how my perspectives have been changing. I've been doing quite a bit of reflection & looking for the things that really matter & to focus on those things. It's not been the easiest thing, as I have had to realize that I need to let go of some things (I can be a control 'freak' if I'm not careful), but it's also opened a lot of doors that I never really would consider. Good for me to be stretched, & I'm looking forward to what's ahead.

Hoping you have a wonderful start to this special month.

♥ Bren

… lately. . .

. . . what I've been up to. . .

. . . the TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) Market,

in Nashville. . .

. . . here's  Bonnie Sullivan's (All Through the Night) lovely display. . 

. . . & here's  Bonnie Sullivan & her sister Ann, who came with her to Market.

(Ann had a display of beautiful jewelry that she creates there too!)

. . . & there's a bunch of fat-eighth bundles  just loaded onto the website.

. . . Esprit de Noel (French General)

. . . my latest - Durham Anew (2012)

. . . Durham Anew (2011)

. . . & Georgia Lou

It has been quite the busy week!

I took a little trip to Nashville this past weekend,

to visit the TNNA Needlework Market.

What fun it was!

It snowed (well flurried) most of the time I was there, 

& it was so pretty to see.

What I love is that this Needlework Market is held at the Embassy Suites, & instead of having to set up a booth in a great big convention center, here you set up your displays in the the 'living room' area of your suite, & folks come to you!

It makes for a wonderful, casual & home-y feeling, & I love the idea!

I also was able to meet up with some wonderful designers 

who exhibited & they were so helpful with information & ideas

about the needlework industry & about the show.

I also came home with a bunch of new threads & flosses & 

placed a few orders for fun new items!

I left feeling so excited about the next step. . .

My goal is to do the fall show - in St Charles, MO.

I've been working on charting several designs 

& I've found that I love the process. . . 

I can hardly wait to start stitching!

(& now that I have my new threads - that starts this week!)

When I came home, I found a wonderful box on my doorstep,

from Moda - with bundles of Esprit de Noel,  the latest line from

French General for Moda.

I must admit. . . I LOVE this line!!! 

(& I rarely say that about Christmas lines!)

I'm keeping one - to make a new quilt, 

but I've put the other two (fat-eighth bundles) on the website.

Warning though. . . there are only two. . . so don't delay!

(The line won't be available in shops until May.)

Just before I left for Nashville, I also made up some bundles

of my fabric lines - including my latest (yet to arrive to shops)  

Durham Anew (2012).

These bundles are limited & once they are gone - well. . . you know.

While I'm closing the door in fabric design for awhile,

I'm so excited about what is upcoming. . .

. . . speaking of which, I'll have a new quilt or two to show you in a day or two!

Hope you have a great start to your week!

♥ 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

… there always a little time. . .

This last weekend I have been in Minneapolis 

for my niece's wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding.

Stunning.

I will post a couple of photos this weekend.

I planned to take a bunch of photos - but I was too involved with other things 

& I only pulled out my iPhone a couple of times. 

(bad blogger...)

The trip was too fast. 

Usually when I go to visit, I stay for at least a week,

 & there is time to putter around.

Not so - when there is all the wedding dinners, rehearsals, 

& running around that a necessity when you are on the brides side.

(Also, I was traveling with Dad this time - & I was the 'driver'.)

But. . .

There is one place that I must go to when I go to the Twin Cities - 

& this time I made sure to make the time to go to one of my favorite quilt shops,

Eagle Creek Quilt Shop.

Eagle Creek Quilt Shop is in a little town southwest of Minneapolis,

& it is worth the trip!

It is in an old train station & has incredible atmosphere. 

In fact, this time my sister-in-law (the mother-of-the-bride) came with me 

(she needed an 'escape' after the wedding weekend!)

& for the first time - a train came through. . .

. . . & it whizzes right next to the station/quilt shop!

I pulled out my iPhone & tried to get a decent photo.

Can you see it?. . . right outside the window!

(Trust me - we could also 'feel' it!)

I picked up some plaid wool (I always do!),

 & some green prints for a project I'm working on.

(I never leave there without something!)

The photos at the top of the post are of a couple of the hydrangea plants that are along the path from the parking area to the front door of the shop.

I just loved the way they have 'dried' & are preserved right on the bush.

It was so fun to get to be where there is already some real winter weather happening.

(. . . which means that, yes, I did need my mittens a couple of mornings, & I even had to scrape the car windshield & windows one morning!)

But - I must admit, it was nice coming home to some milder temps.

(Sometimes, I do feel spoiled living here in Arizona.)

Hope you are enjoying the beginnings of this incredible season 

of celebrations!

♥ Bren

… little treats

Who would think that such simple little things 

could make me so giddy. . .

 But, while at church on Sunday, 

I told a friend about my upcoming trip to Minneapolis

& she told me about these little gloves that she got at Target.

They are 'smart' gloves!

. . .Well, at least the pointer fingers & thumbs are.

You can use those two fingertips while using a cellphone with a touch screen.

A regular  'mittened' or 'gloved' finger won't work - 

but for some reason these two 'special' fingertips will!

(. . . & for 3 dollars - I couldn't refuse!)

(. . . & yes, I did have to pull out my iPhone at Target - 

just to be sure & give them a 'test drive'!)

I'm very excited about my trip to Minneapolis later this week.

(The last time I went this time of year - they had just had a blizzard!)

The weather looks like it will be very nice,

(not too cold - but cold enough - it is winter after all!)

I know they have gotten a little snow 

& I just hope that some of it is still around. (sigh)

I realized that I will be out of the studio/office for a few days after 

the website sale (Counting My Blessings) was scheduled to end - so I will

be extending the sale until December 4th. . . 

(25% or more off all patterns & books!)

. . . & speaking of little treats. . .

. . . my dear friend, Jacquelynne Steves, 

the incredibly talented designer behind The Noble Wife,

is looking for some feedback & your opinion & is doing a giveaway 

as a thank you to those who respond.

If you would like to participate - you find the blog post here!

Before I get out my suitcase - I've got to give Bailey a bath. . .

He is having a very special friend (Nubin!) . . .

. . . well okay. . . his *girlfriend* (see here!)

come & stay with him while I'm gone. . .

. . . & he want's to look (& smell!) his best!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

♥ Bren

… staying mostly indoors

It's been a very (very!) busy last few weeks! (& very warm - to boot!)

Firstly, for all of you who have shown so much Betsy's Closet - In Stitches love. . .

Thank you.

Wow, folks.

You have kept me so incredibly busy, filling orders, making kits, & shipping. I've hardly had time to work on anything else.

Not complaining.

 Not. at. all.

I haven't even had the chance to send it to my distributors yet (!) . . . Hopefully that will happen next week.

In fact, after many emails asking. . . I've finally decided that,

 yes, there will be a Benji's Pockets - In Stitches as well.

I wasn't planning on doing one, but I've been convinced 

that you would like a little stitchery for a little boy as well.

So, the blocks have been drawn, & I'm deciding on extra little stitching details.

But. . . I have two or three other patterns that I'm in the middle of, 

so I probably won't get to stitching it until next month.

Here in Oro Valley. . . we have had a really nice summer.

Sure, we've had hot days. . . but we've also had a really good 'monsoon season' & wonderful summer rains. . . cooling things off & making the plants bud & bloom & re-bud again & again.

I've actually wanted to post about it - but I've felt so bad for the parts of the country that weren't getting the much needed rains. Please know that if you are in one of those areas - my prayers are with you!

I live in what is known as 'high Sonoran desert', & then I also live at the foothills of a little mountain range - so it's not the typical 'desert' scene. We have dirt - not sand. . . & while there are cacti that grow, there are actually more brush & trees. I live north of Tucson, AZ. . . which is truly a very small city. 

(. . . & I like it that way!)

Sometimes though, it's nice to get to a bigger city - where there are lots more to choose from - shopping wise. . . & I end up going up to Phoenix about once a month. Often it's with some dear friends & we make it a 'retreat weekend' - sewing & stitching. I love those. . .  (& need them!)

Last month, & also this month. . . on the weekends that we went up to Phoenix (which is much hotter & is not surrounded by mountains - like the Tucson area is. . .) we experienced one of these. . . (!)

In fact, I got this photo of the dust storm that hit Phoenix last month while we were there.

(. . . No, I didn't take it, I got from weather.com. . . we were (thankfully) sealed up in the house we were staying at!)

What an experience (that I have now experienced twice!). You can see it coming. . . & then the wind blows like crazy & then the dust. . . It blocks out the sun, it get's a bit dark. . . & there's really nothing you can do. Since Phoenix is not surrounded by mountains. . . when the summer storms build up, the winds that bring them can stir up the dust from the desert & it all comes like a wall. Once it hits - it takes about 15 minutes or so for it to pass by. . . leaving a coating of fine dust/powder.

Amazing.

I have to admit. . . it was actually kinda fun.

Um. . . except the last time. . . when I remembered, just as it had hit. . . that because of the 100+ degree temps - I had cracked open the windows in my car. . .

Oops.

Yep, now I do know what it's like to be outside in the middle of one of these.

Let's just say there was some major holding-my-breath, & I'm not sure - but it might have been the fastest I have moved in a very long time. (!)

There was a bit of clean-up needed, but thankfully it wasn't too bad. It's just amazing how the dust/powder travels!

Well, I've spent the day getting orders out. . . & so now it's time for me to sit down & get some stitching done. . . (& pattern writing. . . there's also pattern writing. . . there's always pattern writing!) :o)

So, I hope that you have sunny days & clear skies. . . or rain if you are needing it!

♥ 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 little sigh … a lot of snow!

Well, I finally made it.


After  cancellations, & reservations on three different flights trying to get from point 'A' to point 'B' (Tucson, AZ to Minneapolis, MN). . . I'm finally here. Whew(!)


I got the dreaded call on Saturday afternoon - telling me they had cancelled the flight I had reservations for (since it had to connect through Chicago - & the big storm was headed towards the area). . . & then I was told that everything was sold out & the soonest they could get me here to Minneapolis was late Monday evening. Problem was that I needed to be there no later than Sunday evening so I could be there on Monday to be there for my brother - now that he is at home. (. . . a 2 story home. . .)  I took the reservation . . . but I knew that I needed to get there earlier. So after scouring the Southwest website - I found that there was one more flight on Sunday - leaving from Phoenix - that wasn't sold out - but only had 2 seats left. So, I called Southwest (again) & after being on hold for what felt like forever - I got the very last seat. . . on the very last flight leaving Phoenix. The Phoenix airport is quite a bit farther than flying out of Tucson - but it sure is nice to have the option once in awhile!


I got to the airport in Phoenix several hours before my flight. . . (just in case!), & while I was waiting, I sat & stitched & ended up getting interviewed by a local news station! A lady started up a conversation with me about the delays & when she heard that I had come up from Tucson because my flights had been cancelled - & that I needed to get out that day (Sunday) - suddenly there was a cameraman, a microphone & lights! Then after she asked all her questions & got all my info, the cameraman asked if he could take a couple more takes of me sitting there doing stitchery. Let's just say, I could never e-v-e-r be an actress. I never was so nervous doing stitchery in my life!   (. . . & usually stitchery is so relaxing!)


I woke up to the view above from my window. . . the rising sun on a lot of snow!. . . That's a lot of effort you see there in the 2 - 4 ft. piles of snow that was shoveled, blown with a snow blower, & then repeated about every 2 hours as the snow was falling that fast. (Then. . . after most folks had their driveways all cleared - it seems that's when the snow clearing trucks come to plow the streets. . . & then there's a huge pile of snow at the end of everyone's driveway. . .! Again!)


We had a good day though - Scott my brother, made it down stairs. . . (a huge thing when you've just had your hip replaced 5 days ago!) & when the nurse came - he got a good report. (. . . even after he almost fainted from having to stand so long when he had his surgery dressing changed.) So, we are taking it a little bit each day. Tomorrow I get to venture out a bit & drive over to Starbucks to get him his new favorite - the Caramel Apple Spice drink. He said it's like drinking a caramel covered granny smith apple. Umm. . . yum. I may just have to break my little (ha!) Mocha habit & try one myself! . . . & with all the cold & snow . . . I'm sure it will even taste better than ever!


I will try to get some more photos up in a day or two. I didn't get any outside because I could only be out for about a minute or two. . . & then it felt like my nose was about to fall off! Sigh!. . . at time I really do miss Minnesota. . . but I don't miss the brutal cold!  Thankfully around mid-week it might even get all the way up to the low 20's!. . . Woo-hoo! Then we can spend all sorts of time outside!  ;o) 


Take care everyone!


♥ Bren