:: Comings & Goings

There have so many changes happening around here! There is so much to update, so I’ll try to be as brief as possible (…& hang in there because there will be a ‘reward’ if you get through all the new info!)

So, here we go…!

•••  The new website is ready to go live!!! •••

If you’ve been following me on the blog (soon to be the old blog)… & on Instagram, you might know that I’ve been working on a new website. It’s been about two weeks… & there’s just a few ‘tests’ to run… but it’s finally (almost!) ready to go live! 

The old website (acornquiltandgiftcompany.com) will still be up & running with reduced inventory (more on that later) for a little while longer - & the new website can be found at (brendariddledesigns.com). Eventually - the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com web address will point to the new website as well.

I’m so excited about the new website… The photos are much larger & you will be able to enlarge them if you need or want to. The patterns will also have the pattern backs available - so you can see the yardage requirements ahead of time. Also, there will be more shipping options as well as payment options. 

You can look for the new website to go live no later than the end of day on Tuesday. (…yippee!)

•••   Sample Quilts   •••

With the move to the new website - I will not be carrying over the sample quilts that have been available. There are a handful left (Including a Betsy’s Closet, Meadow, & Gatehouse quilts!) & I have discounted the prices by 40%!! 

These sample quilts will only be available though the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com site, & once we close the older website (no later than December 2019) - they will be gone. (Also, for those of you wondering, once the old website is closed - the acornquiltandgiftcompany.com address will eventually be attached to the new website, as well.)

You can see the quilts here.

As far as the available inventory on the old website - that will be decreasing as soon as the new website is live. Some products (because of needing to keep inventory counts correct) will move completely to the new website.

•••   New Blog/Journal   •••

The blog will also be transferring over to the new website as well… & I invite you to come visit & check it out as soon as the new site goes live. I’m so very excited with the new look, visuals & the feeling of community the new ‘blog’ (which I’m calling my ‘Journal’) has. 

There’s also more - but I think that will do it for now… (whew!)… & if you made it all the way though this post - you deserve a big ‘thank you’ from me! If you’ve followed me for awhile - you know that I have a ‘Counting my blessings’ sale every November. But, with the new website up & running - I’m wanting to share the blessings with you & I’m starting it early! Simply enter the code ‘blessing’ into the discount area in the shopping cart & you will receive 25% off everything! It’s just my small way of letting you know how much I feel blessed to get to do what I do, & what a blessing you are to me!

Once again, thanks so much!

♥ Bren

:: Finnegan Kits & bundles - time to pre-order!

Hi there...!

Well, I was on a roll with posting all about the new collection, Finnegan... but then 'life' happened.

In the past six weeks, I've had to call 911 two different times... two weeks apart for my Dad, & there have been hospital stays along with those. He had a couple of small strokes, & with the last one some additional complications, but Dad is doing better, & life does go on...! (blessedly!) I'll write more about all the things I'm learning about - through all these 'adventures', but for now - we're working on handling each day as it comes, & counting our blessings.(!)

For today though, I wanted to be sure to mention to you that I've added some new patterns & there are two kits & bundles that can be pre-ordered from my upcoming Finnegan collection... & I just wanted to make sure you got the chance to place your pre-order - if you will be wanting one.

(You can find the website link on the left side column - or to see the new items click here.)

The first kit is called 'Fairwinds' & it is being kitted by Moda. (...& if you've ever purchased a Moda kit - you know that they come packaged in a beautiful boxes that can be used over & over for projects & storage!)

The quilt size for the Fairwinds Quilt kit is 80" x 80".

I'm also kitting another quilt that honestly, I had so much fun making. It's called 'Skippity' & yes, it's made up of a whole bunch of half-square triangles.(!) But I actually found it so relaxing to make! It was repetitive, but for me - it was also so calming as well. So... if ever you've thought of perfecting your HST making... this is definitely the quilt to do it!

The Skippity quilt measures 57" x 68"

Also - there are some Finnegan bundles (fat-quarter & fat-eighth) that you can pre-order...

Why pre-order?

Well... it will guarantee that there will be one available for you to purchase... (& you get a discount for jumping on the bandwagon too!) Currently, I don't have the room to carry very much of an inventory of kits & bundles... so I actually use the pre-order quantities to base my orders from. 

Speaking of when I order... it will be soon... real soon... (Sorry for the short lead-time).

I will be placing my Finnegan order on Monday, May 13... so if you want one, please don't delay!

Oh... & Finnegan fabrics, bundles, & kits are scheduled to arrive mid/late August.

I'm in the crazy midst of Quilt Market prep, currently quilting my final quilt... (not my original plan... but it's keeping me busy & out of trouble!) Then it will be a few days of binding. But I don't mind that at all... & then it's off to Market!

Hope you're having a wonderful week... 

♥  Bren

:: Sometimes…

 ...a quilt just grabs ahold of your heart & decides to live there...

This is one of those quilts!!

I didn't go to Quilt Market this past week, (God has an amazing way of knowing way ahead of me - when I will need to be home… & this was one of them.) - but, I was watching as often as I could on Instagram to see what was new. I first saw Moda's new 'Color Cuts' pre-cuts... I liked them right away.  But then... when I saw the'Color Cuts Quilt' they have designed - using the Color Cuts... I was smitten! (literally... I gasped when I first saw it!)

… & the best part?… Moda is kitting the quilt design!

So... because I want to share this beautiful quilt kit with you... I wanted to let you know that you can pre-order the quilt kit on my website! 

Because the kit will be shipping in April 2018 - you will only need to register for the kit now... & the rest of the balance will be billed when the kits are ready to ship. This way you will reserve your kit & know that we will have one just for you! Also... when you pre-order a kit - you get it at a discounted price!

The quilt is approx. 70” x 78” - a perfect snuggle quilt size! But… I’m also thinking of carrying more of the Color Cuts (link to Modas page) - which will come in layer cake 10” x 10” squares, fat quarters (18” x 21”), and ‘dessert’ rolls (5” x 42”). I’m thinking that there may be some who might want to make the quilt bigger (for a bed size… queen?) & with extra fabrics - either layer cakes, fat quarters, or dessert rolls…. you could do that. So, if you are interested in the Color Cuts as well… shoot me an email of what you would want & I’l be happy to special order it for you.

Also, I’m thinking of playing around with making the quilt bigger with a couple of borders mostly made of a background fabric with a little set in pieced border… Again - if you think you might be interested in that option - email me & let me know.

For more info about the pre-order  registration for the quilt kit - click here to go to the pre-order page.

Any other questions - just let me know! (brendariddledesigns@comcast.net)

Here’s to lots of pretty quilts in the coming year!

♥  Bren

:: ...introducing 'Bespoke Blooms'

It's coming in May!

Just in time for spring to be in full 'bloom'... & summer knocking on the door...

Bespoke Blooms will arrive in May! (I'm so excited!)

There's a little story behind this special line - starting with the fact that its making it's debut a wee bit later than I originally planned - but because of my broken wrist at the end of 2014 - I wasn't able to use my hand to draw & couldn't get all the artwork completed in time for the mill to have enough time to prepare it for Fall Market 2015.

So - even though it will be a bit late for the all the spring lines debut (that's Fall Market) - I'm still very excited about the timing of it's arrival. Right around May - we are all itching for fresh air & all that is crisp, clean & airy to fill our days, & I think that the prints in Bespoke Blooms will 'fit the bill' perfectly!

The term 'bespoke' refers to things that are specially made & the Bespoke Blooms collection is specially made & perfect for lovely quilts. The small scale makes them perfect for the quilts I like to call 'littles'. The sweet floral prints & coordinating tone-on-tone prints, stripes & classic ginghams create a wonderful palette for quilts ranging from  lovely 'littles' to everything bigger, charming home decor, & even sweet garments.

 

I've had a lot of fun creating the new patterns for this line - each with a larger version of the quilt design & a 'littles' or mini version as well.

The first one is 'Bailey'... it's an updated version of my earlier 'Bailey' quilt (...named after my favorite fluffy little man). It comes in sizes ranging from 80"x 80"  down to a 'little' 15" x 15"!

Next is Mills Cabin - another updated pattern for several years back. We've gotten so many requests for it (& ran out of stock!) that I thought is best to update it & also add a 'little' version(!) You will notice that for the larger quilt (68" x 68") I used the latest 3 Sisters line 'Larkspur'... (I love this line!) - & for the 'little' version (17" x 17") - I used my Bespoke Blooms fabrics.

Inspired by a vintage quilt (as so many of my designs are!) - Stepping Stones is special because I have a soft spot for nine-patches. (sigh). There's just something about their simplicity that I just love. (... this would also make a wonderful almost-beginner quilt!) It features two colors & a background fabric - adding to the clean fresh look. The large quilt is 78" x 78" & the littles is 26" x 26".

The final pattern is Ella. Sweet Ella. This is one of those designs where you can feature a few colors - or go real scrappy... Ella is definitely sweet that way. The large quilt is 72" x 72" & the littles is 22" x 22".

All of the patterns (paper & PDF version) will be up on the website early next week.

And there's more!...

Coming mid-March, a sweet little booklet - filled with 'littles'... classic quilt designs - all in miniature versions (littles!)... (I'm so excited about this!) More about these 'little' lovelies soon!

Moda reps are out on the road(s) - showing my Bespoke Blooms collection to quilt shops all over - so be sure to let your local quilt shop know that you would like to have Bespoke Blooms nearby for you!

♥ Bren

:: small beginnings

While many quilt designers have been putting the finishing touches on quilts for Spring Quilt Market, which is happening this weekend in Pittsburgh, PA, I've been working on finishing some quilts too… but for a little different reason.

. . . & I've been having such fun!

I've been making two of my 'Meadow' quilts for a very special reason. . . a little project I'm calling 'Quilted Comfort'. It has been something on my heart for quite a little while now, & if you would like to read more about it. . . & maybe how you can become involved (!). . . you can read how this has all come to be by clicking on the 'Quilted Comfort' project tab - at the top of the page (right under the header). I've made a separate page for it - as I want to keep it always available & easy for folks to find

(…Also, it would make for a very long blog post!)

But - to get things started, I've made a couple of the 'Meadow' quilts & they are for sale on the website. The quilt will go to the purchaser & the proceeds of the sale of these quilts will go for funding the purchasing of materials & shipping costs, etc. - so that we can make as many quilts as possible & touch as many hearts as possible. (A win - win!)

While working on these quilts. . . from the cutting out of the appliqué pieces, to piecing the patchwork center, to quilting, & then to the hand sewing down the binding. . . I couldn't help but think of the person that will end up with the quilt & how it will eventually lead to making quilts for some folks we don't even know yet. . . but whom I know that God is already planning to receive a quilt of their own. I found myself praying for all involved & - through this amazing opportunity we have & the joy that quilting brings. . . in so many ways - that God would bless the process (there's that word!) & the people involved.

I hope you can take a little time to check in on the 'Quilted Comfort' project. I would appreciate your prayers as we take these first little steps. . . & begin our small beginnings. . .

♥ Bren

:: marching on. . .

One month. . . oops. 

Sorry, I must say that my goal for posting more often this year has already pretty much gone down the drain. Sorry. Especially to those of you who ‘follow’ me. . . who actually have signed up to get notice when I post something - either on a blog reader or with the Google Friend Connect (on the side column). That still humbles me. . . that folks would actually sign up to see what I post. So, thank you. You’re all sweetie-pies in my book! So, this morning, I’ve sat myself down at Starbucks - with the main purpose to get this post written! 

The one format I’m not comfortable with is Facebook. Sorry. . . the inconsistencies of how it operates is too frustrating for me. I have been encouraged told that I “need” to have a “presence” on Facebook for my business - but then I read about all the hoops that a business page needs to jump through . . . & I just don’t get it. . . it’s seems to be a lot of time spent - for no guarantee that the folks who ‘Like’ you on Facebook will ever see what you post. . . Sigh. So, I’m sticking with my little blog, Twitter (for now), & Instagram. (... & I must admit. I really like Instagram, & honestly - it’s the ‘social media’ I use the most.   I guess it’s the visual aspect of it, & I love how you can post to it so fast with a little caption (or not!) So, if you want more visual peeks at what I’m up to - you can click on the Instagram button on the right to ‘follow’ me there! (You can set up a private account if you wish & you don’t have to post photos if you don’t wish to.)  But, I will warn you. . . it can get a little addictive! I must admit - that I was checking Instagram several times a day - just because it was so fun & easy to catch up with the folks I follow (from all over the world!) - but now I limit myself to a morning & evening check-in to my Instagram account. Speaking of addicting. . . no, I don’t ‘do’  Pinterest. I admit - it looks lovely. . . but again, I’m a visual person & I know I would get lost in it & I just don’t have the time to spare these days. (... ergo the not posting for a month!) 

I've also been thinking about how I want to manage posting things about my business. Although much of my time is spent on things involved in my needlework, quilting & designing. . . as well as the website, I don't want my blog seen to be all about promoting it. When you think about it - a blog does have the role as a kind-of a diary, and is a nice way to document what's happening in you life.  At the same, I know that some folks visit my blog so that they can see what's new with the designs - so I am going to try to keep the posts that are exclusively about website features to a minimum, (so that folks don't feel like all they get is a sales pitch), &/or if there is something about a website offering that I want to mention to you - I will place it at the end of a post. This way, if they wish, folks can skip to the part they care about most!

So now. . . to catch up. . .

Mr. Bailey has been such a good boy & has not had to wear the cone for a little while now. He actually did get a little tired of wearing it, bless him.

We have have an incredibly mild winter. So much so - that I have felt a little guilty reading about all the storms most of the rest of the country has had to endure this winter. I spoke with my brother the other day - who lives in the Minneapolis, MN area, & he actually sounded pained as we were talking about the winter they’ve had. (... & they got more snow today! Ouch!) I do realize how I do like living here in Arizona!. Things are beginning to bloom all over all around us! (. . . & a little funny background on the photo of the blooming little cactus. . . Dad is not fan of having cactus in the yard. . . & so for this Arizona yard.garden - It is the only  cacti!. . . & in a pot - to be sure it doesn't spread! lol!)

I'm reading 'The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society'. . . again. It's such a perfect read! I just finished a pretty challenging book (very good - but a tough subject matter.), & so reading the letters between Juliet, Dawsey, Sidney, & all the folks on the isle of Guernsey - is such a happy & sweet way to end the day. This is actually the fourth time I've read it. I've read books again - but never have I been able to read a book this many times & actually enjoy it more - each time I read it. The interesting news is that there is a great interest in making the book into a movie. It will be interesting to see if that ever happens.

I’ve been working on some new quilt patterns & have a couple new ones made & will hopefully have them out by early April. One of them is a re-making of one of my most popular patterns, ‘For My Grandmas’. I received so many requests for it in a queen size, that I’ve (finally) taken it on to make it larger. (... & I must admit, I’m loving the process & the results!. . . This one will be for my bed!)

A big thank you to all of you letting me know how much you love the PDF versions of the patterns. I will continue to be sure that they keep coming!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and my little blog. I'm so glad you came for a visit!

♥ Bren

:: welcome 2014 ::

Well. .  . here we are in 2014.  I am one of those that felt like 2013 went faster than I sometimes felt I could keep track of. . . but I must admit, I have been looking forward to the arrival 2014. Even though, in reality it is a new day - as in any other, somehow the freshness of the knowledge of a new year makes it a special day somehow. 

I spent the arrival of this new year - with this little face (top photo) looking up at me. 

Bailey was all set in his ThunderShirt & I had been putting some drops of the Bach's Flower Essence drops called 'Rescue Remedy' in his water for the last few days. . . (Rescue Remedy is a natural essence that helps with anxiety & they now make it in a pet formula that is wonderful. . . (a big thank you Holly  for introducing me to it!)). . . but even the smallest loud pop of a firework scares my little guy. So, he stayed on the floor (where I lay a bunch of quilts out for him. . . trying to make a snuggle-y spot for him) & this year he spent his time either peeking out from my closet - or he 'glued' himself to the side of my bed. . . where I was staying up stitching & telling him that everything was going to be alright. Thankfully, there were only a few fireworks set off in our neighborhood, & so Bailey's shaking calmed down & we were in bed by 1 a.m..  I am still getting this look every evening - as he seems to equate the 'pop' noises with it getting dark outside & it's as if he is anticipating the noise. Poor little guy. He's getting better every evening - so I'm hoping that by mid-week he will be able to settle with no fear of the fireworks.

I wanted to share with you some little pin-keeps that I made for some special quilting-stitching friends. I had a tea just before the end of the year for the four of us & had these ready for them. I had so much fun making them. I used one of Kathy Schmitz monogram wreath designs for the front, & then I made some little double nine-patch block for the back. I love how they reflect two of my loves - stitchery & quilting. . . (& rick-rack too!)  Believe it or not - I completely forgot to take any photos of the tea party. I was having so much fun making the tea sandwiches, salads, & a chocolate macadamia nut tart, that I completely forgot to take photos! I plan to do more tea parties - so I will try to do better in the photo department next time. 

I hope that you have had a wonderful start to this new year. . . & that if you are in a part of the US that is having such incredibly cold weather - that are able to stay warm. . .! (please take extra care!).

I have a few special things that I am hoping to get to share with you in the next few posts. . . & I hope that until then you know how much it means to me that you stop by my blog.

♥ Bren

... progess. . .

It's been a wonderfully quiet & peaceful Christmas around here...

I've been piecing a lot of these . . .

. . . trimming & squaring-up. . 

. . . which makes a lot of these. . .

But, when the end result are these. . . I don't mind.

(These are the star block centers... there are 36 of them.)

I finished all the star blocks for my large 'for my grandmas' quilt, & I'm going to start the cutting for the 'setting' blocks this afternoon. I'm loving the process of it all. I also finished a block for my 'Beyond the Cherry Tree' quilt (... That one has been sitting in my stitchery basket for months!), so I prepped the next two blocks.

I'm wanting to make sure that I have all the projects that I've been working on, or thinking of working on ready to go... & I have a little of everything (piecing, appliqué, English paper piecing, embroidery, & cross-stitch) prepped & ready, so that whatever I'm feeling like doing. . . It's ready to go.

On the website front... WOW!... Guess you liked the buy-one-get-one-free for the patterns special!! A lot of you took advantage of the PDF versions. . . But you also kept Dad & I running to the post office in the days before Christmas (& jeepers... was that parking lot ever crowded!)!

SO... Since you liked it so much (& since some of you asked because you got some $ in your stocking...) I'm going to keep the B-O-G-O free offer on patterns (including the PDF versions) going on for the rest of 2013. (So, that's until the end of next Tuesday, 12.31.2013) Happy end-of-2013!!!

 For every two patterns you purchase, we will refund the price of one of the patterns back to you. I just can't thank you enough for being such wonderful customers... & if you're like me & planning lots of projects for 2014... hopefully this can help in getting some of them started!

Hoping you are enjoying these last days of 2013!

xo,  Bren