daybook ::43::

for today :: May 26, 2012  
(Oh my!. . . I haven't done a 'daybook' entry for 6 months!)

outside my window. . .  birdies, birdies everywhere! (...including the little quail family that darts & doodles across the  yard), & the crepe myrtle bush (my favorite!) is in full bloom!

I am thinking . . .  about all my blessings.

from the kitchen. . .  coffee (of course!), . . . & oatmeal (with cinnamon - yum)

I am wearing. . . t-shirt & comfy shorts. . . the temperature tells us that summer has actually already arrived.

I am creating . . .  a new fabric design. . . (me & my Wacom tablet! - love it!)

I am remembering. . .  Mom. . . all the time.

I am reading. . .  'The Crossroad', by Beverly Lewis (only just before I go to bed. . . I don't let myself read during the day - otherwise I would ready the day away!)

I am hoping . . .  to get one of the new fabric designs completed today.

I am hearing. . .  all the birdies - outside in our very birdie-busy backyard (what happens when you have water features in a backyard here), & 'This Old House' on the TV (I still love watching that show. . . why is that?!)

around the house. . .  still pretty quiet (Dad is sleeping in, & Bailey went in to snuggle with him.)

I am going. . .  to 'd0' (sweep, dust, & 'swiffer' the floors later. . . (I'm counting it as some of my 'exercise' for the day)

one of my favorite things. . .  finding a new mug that I love. 

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . mostly this week is dedicated to working on the fabric line. . . with a little pattern writing thrown in. . . & a visit (or 2, or 3)  to 'Frost' in there somewhere!

from my picture journal . . .

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

♥ ♥ ♥

♥ 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

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

daybook ::40::

The ('my') mountains - hugged by clouds this morning. . .

for today :: August 3, 2011 (seriously?. . . it's August already?)

outside my window. . .   cloudy, some distant thunder, . . . & everything is damp & washed clean by last evenings rains. (10 hours of thunder, lightening, & rain!. . . (& a little furry bundle next to me in bed, curled up & shaking - until he finally fell asleep. Poor pup!))

I am thinking. . . of my friend, Rosalie . . .

from the kitchen. . .  coffee, . . . & my little (but helpful!) brain just reminded me of the 60% Cacao Ghirardelli chips in the freezer. . .!) yum.

I am wearing. . . t-shirt & shorts. . . (even though we got some rain - it' still a wee bit warm!)

I am creating. . .  a new project that I'm so excited about. . . mixing my love of cross-stitch, embroidery, applique & quilting. . . (!)

I am remembering. . .  that God is in control. (. . . & finding so much comfort in that.)

I am reading. . .   Just finished re-reading 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society' (. . . & loved it even more - if that's possible!), so I'm still working on 'Organized Simplicity' - by Tsh Oxenreider, & 'One Thousand Gifts' (so good - I want to re-read to catch what I might have missed the first time.)

I am hoping . . .  to get the hang of some new Photoshop skills that I'm developing (for fabric designing).

I am hearing. . .  the air conditioner trying to decide whether to stay on or turn off. . . (think I'll go turn up the thermostat - so it doesn't have to work so hard!)

around the house. . .  it's wonderfully quiet.

I am going. . .  to stay in today. . . happily flitting from one stitchery project to another. . .

one of my favorite things. . .  light filled rooms. . .

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . sew the bindings on two quilts (one I quilted myself!), work on the next fabric line, work on some stitchery, get my Dad a library card (he's devouring books lately!)

from my picture journal . . .

 What it looks like from nearby - when we get afternoon rains. . . (I love our summer rains!)

Also, don't forget about Jackie's (The Noble Wife) blog hop for her new book, 'Fruitful Hands'. Here's who's up for the rest of the week: (be sure to give 'em a visit!)

Wednesday:    Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches
Thursday:    Michele Foster of The Quilting Gallery
Friday:    Sandi Andersen of A Legacy of Stitches

 . . . & don't forget, Jackie is having some great giveaways on her blog!

Hope you have a blessed week.

♥ Bren

daybook ::39::

for today :: May 18, 2011

outside my window. . .   wind & clouds trying to take over the day . . . (bringing with them cool temps. . . & maybe rain!)

I am thinking. . . of next spring's fabric line. . .

from the kitchen. . .  coffee, my (almost) daily egg-white & 2% sharp cheddar cheese omelette.

I am wearing. . . t-shirt & shorts. . . (not too cool outside. . . yet!)

I am creating. . .  a new pattern series for quilts, & stitcheries. . . lots & lots of stitcheries!

I am remembering. . .  that the price I paid for my airfare to Fall Quilt Market (Houston) was half of what I'm being quoted for flights for this fall. . . Yikes! (. . . & bit of grumble, grumble, grumble in there too!. . .)

I am reading. . .   'Organized Simplicity' - by Tsh Oxenreider, & re-reading 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society' (it's such a sweet & fun story!), & 'One Thousand Gifts' (so good - I want to re-read to catch what I might have missed the first time.)

I am hoping . . .  to get to catch up with a bunch of my cousins next month!

I am hearing. . .  quail 'couples' . . . they seem to be very busy fervently "discussing" the best nesting spots in the backyard. . .

around the house. . .  windows are wide open. . . taking in the cooler temps. . . (love it when I can do this!)

I am going. . .  out to dinner with the girls at the quilt shop tonight. . .

one of my favorite things. . .  getting to work from home. . .

a few plans for the rest of the week. . . working on the Spring 2012 fabric line. .  . working on the appliqué for the borders for a new quilt design. . . & putzing around in the yard (my new favorite way to spend time!)

from my picture journal . . .

♥ Bren

*** Don't forget the sale going on at the website. . . 
 25% - 75% off all patterns & books!

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

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