:: happy May Day!

From my childhood, (just a fews years ago… *cough-cough*!!)… I remember at school learning to do the dance around the Maypole. . . I think my very favorite part was all the pretty ribbons & how they would weave themselves into a beautiful design as the dance progressed. I remember looking up (because I wanted to watch the ribbons) & bumping into my friend over & over, & we got a case of the giggles that refused to leave!

 . . . Sweet memories.

. . . I wonder if kids are still taught that dance. . . I haven't seen a Maypole in years. . .

I love May. It's that sweet spot between summer & spring (here in the northern hemisphere) where it isn't too hot yet & for us - it means windows open in the mornings & evenings - & the fresh air allows the house to 'breathe' again. The back yard is exploding with color. . . & although we only have two small bougainvillea plants now (we had to cut back the 'wall' of them that we used to have as they can be very aggressive & its a challenge to be sure they don't take over everything.) - I took a photo of the blooms on one. . . & it was so bright I had to tone down the color before posting it!

I've had my nose into my laptop for days (& nights!) to finish-up a project that I'll tell you about in a couple of days. . . & as I went to bed last evening, all I could think of is that I wanted needed to sew! So today, I'm spending some quality time with a bundle of 30's repro fabrics, & plant myself into my stitching chair. I can hardly wait! but, before I shut down the laptop for the day, I wanted to let you know that loaded a bunch of those wonderful little Moda mini-charm packs onto the website. . . I just love them & I've put them on a fun little promo - with 'buy-three-get-the-fourth-free'! You can mix & match the mini charm packs & just let us know which collection you would like as your free one!

I also added this sweet quilt - that I made for display of the first Durham Anew line that I designed - to the 'sample quilts for sale' page. There is no pattern for it - but it would be ideal in a little girls room or as an accent in any 'shabby-chic' space!

Happy May Day!

♥ Bren

:: spring (cleaning)

(This is an optional embroidery version that I did using my 'Spring Tulips' PDF pattern)

Spring has definitely sprung around here. . . & the scents in the air are wonderful around the house.

I've replaced some of the quilts & needlework that I've had out for winter with some spring quilts & needlework & it has brought the feeling of the spring outdoors to the inside. I just love it when I get to do this. . . as well as opening up the windows to let fresh air in all day long!

For those of you who have followed my blog for any amount of time,

you know that I'm a big spring cleaner.  I do it every year. And, to be honest - I've done a pretty good job of it for the past couple of years. But this year I've decided to tackle a biggie. . .

. . . the garage.

It's been on my list for quite awhile . . . & while it's not 'out-of-control' or anything. . . it does need a good cleaning out. I've actually started (a little bit) - & after I finish with two big projects that are on the 'front burner' - finishing cleaning out the garage jumps up to #1 on the  list.

As I've been putzing around in the garage - I've discovered some more inventory of patterns & books that I'm ready to 'retire' & so I've decided to start the annual 'Spring Cleaning' sale (on the website) a little early as well. This means that all patterns & books (& even some sample quilts!) are 20% - 50% off!. . . (& yes this includes PDF patterns!)

Wish me luck. . . & if you don't hear from me in a long while. . . send someone out the the garage okay?  ;-)

♥ Bren

:: daffodils. . . & adventures with Dad. . .

Around the beginning of February, I get a little antsy for the time when I can find daffodils at the market. There’s just something about them I love, that seems to ‘trumpet’ that spring is arriving! (... or in our case - has been here for awhile!) I love that they are very affordable - & so I can get bunches & bunches & have them all around the house. I buy them when the buds are still completely closed - because they open up so quickly (within 24 hours) once they are put in water! 

This year I’m especially loving them in the new green Ball jars that I found. The green jars seen to be perfect for holding flowers - they compliment all kinds & colors. I got mine on Amazon, because I also wanted the quart size - as well as the pint size & it was the only place I could find both. They were a little treat I gave myself for spring.

This week has already proven to be a busy one - filled with expected & some unexpected happenings. Yesterday, Dad fell in the front yard while working on a ground light fixture (up-lights one of the trees). It gave me a fright, as our front yard is covered in the typical Arizona front yard cover - small rocks (We're very water conscious here. . .)  Also, the front yard has a little slope down to the sidewalk, & so when Dad took his tumble - at the top of the yard - he ended up rolling all the way down as well. Thankfully he didn’t hit his head (& trust me - I checked & checked!) - but his left hand, right arm, & knees took the brunt of the fall & he lost quite a bit of skin. So, I doctored his “boo-boos” (as he called them) & I confess I did boss him around for the rest of the day - not letting him do much of anything. I needed to run the the market to pick up some more bandages - as we used up all the large ones we had - & Dad promised he would stay inside while I was gone. I also told Bailey that he was ‘in-charge’ & to be sure that ‘Grandpa’ behaved. When I got back home - Bailey came running up to me with a look in his eyes like, “I tried. . . I really tried!”. Sure enough - Dad had gone back outside to survey where he had been working - to be sure I covered it up well. (Stinker!)  I was concerned that he would wake up really sore this morning - but he seemed to be doing okay. (Or he’s putting on a good show - just to prove to me that he’s tough!) I”m trying really hard to not nag him & give him his space - but I fear my blood pressure will be tested this week!

Tomorrow, I’m going with him to a doctor’s appointment for a surgical consult on some upcoming surgery he must have. Dad has often had issues with skin cancer & has had several face peels & surgeries - to either help keep things in check or to remove areas that tested positive. The last surgery - two years ago - removed a basel cell cancer that was positioned about 1-inch from his left eye. They ended up needing to take more area than they first thought - & they also had to take about a quarter-inch of his upper eyelid as well. This was a bit traumatic for him & required having to have a plastic surgeon do the closing & a little more work several months later after all had healed. Well, this latest find is located on his right side the same area - about 1-inch from his right eye. Thankfully, it is also a basel cell type - but they already know that it is covering more area than the first one did. He’s a little worried about it - I can tell. But, we are so thankful that is is not melanoma - which is what he thought when the doctor first called with the test results. He came into the studio to tell me that he had heard back about the tests & when I asked him what kind it was - he couldn’t remember. I asked him if it was the basal cell kind & he said, “no. . . the doctor said something else.’ When I asked him if they said melanoma - he said yes. . . & I have to admit - my heart dropped a little. It was an anxious 24 hours waiting to hear from the surgeon’s office. When we didn’t - we called the dermatologist’s office & discovered that it was indeed a basal cell type of cancer. Whew! I can only figure that the doctor was tying to assure Dad that the cancer was not melanoma - but all he heard was cancer. . . next to his eye (again). . . & he remembered the word melanoma. So, even though we are praying (hard!) about how far this basel cell cancer might extend - hopefully not into his eye) - we are so extremely thankful that it is not melanoma!

Okay. . . back to spring-y things!. . .  Several years back, I was blessed to be featured in Australian Homespun magazine (a magazine I love!) - & for it I designed a special project - a penny rug - just for spring. Because the magazine was a little bit difficult to find for a lot of folks here in the upper hemisphere, every time I posted a photo of it - I would get requests for the pattern. Then when I taught a wool club last year - all the ladies wanted the pattern. So, . . . finally. . . I have re-made the pattern! I decided that it will be an exclusive - only available on the website, & so that it’s as easily available for everyone, & as cost effective as possible - it will be available as a PDF download only. So, because of that - I’ve priced it at only $4.50 (USD)! I know that put mine out every spring (& even into summer!) & I hope that for all of you who have asked - this will make your day a little brighter! (. . . & that you will forgive me for taking soooo long!)

Well, I think I’ve made this post long enough. . . so I will end wishing you sunshine ⛅ & warmth filling your day!

♥  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

… treasuring new life

 I must be honest. . . 

it's been really hard to stay indoors for the past few days. . .

(in fact, I'm sitting out on the back porch posting this!)

Spring has definitely arrived here. . . & it's lovely.

I think having what felt like a colder winter than we usually do, 

(& a couple days with these pretty white fluffies!). . . is making me

appreciate the warmth & the flowers budding (all over the place!).

The birdies are back in the yard - filling the air with their chirping,

 & taking drinks & baths in the water fountains.

I feel like I could sit here & watch them all day.

I got the finch feeder out - but I'm almost out of the seeds for it, 

so I'll be running out later to get some for them. I don't always have it filled - but I like to especially as winter has just past 

& they seem really hungry.

My brother & sister-in-law have been here visiting from Minnesota, 

& Jodi (my s-i-l) kept commenting on all the color & the budding plants!

It's been so wonderful to have them here. They left for the airport this morning, & I will miss them so!

I'll get to have another 'missing-my-family-hole-in-my-heart' fix in a few days though, as I will get to meet the little cutie-pie in the middle photos. He is Samuel, my newest little grand-nephew. Isn't he a cutie? Dad & I will be taking a day trip - flying out to San Diego to meet him next week. It's a quick trip - but it's so worth it! I can hardly wait!

So. . . as you can imagine, I've been working on another of my owl quilts for little Sam.

(If you don't know the history of this design, you can read it here.)

This is the fifth 'Remember Whoo Loves You' quilt that I have made. . .

. . . & I never tire of it. ♡

I also plan to watch the finale of  'The Bible' on Sunday evening. Have you been watching them? I have. . . & I'm so impressed with how they were created & I must admit that in my heart, I'm encouraged at how they've been accepted & how many people have been drawn to them & to looking deeper into the Bible. For me. . . I don't know how I would deal with life without it(!) . . . & so, as we enter & think upon the events of this incredible weekend, I feel so thankful for the love & for the sacrifice & the demonstration of what unconditional love is. It humbles me so to know that I am loved that much, by my Lord & Savior.

 I wish you a wonderful weekend, filled with the wonder & hope of such Love.

♥ Bren

… spring cleaning... (& that means a sale!)

If you've been following my blog for any amount of time,

you know that I get the spring cleaning bug every year.

. . . & after this past week, with our temps in the 80's 

(& even the 90's a few times!)

. . . I have really been bit by the spring cleaning bug!

So, as you saw in my last post

not even my inventory of Cosmo floss was safe!

I've made up some sweet little sets of Cosmo flosses & you can find them in their own page in the 'tag sale' section.

Also, there are some wonderful fabric selections (mostly fat-eighth bundles) that I'm finally parting with.

(.  . well parting with 'part' of them. . . these are some of my treasures & don't tell anybody, but these are the second sets I have had of these collections . . . yep I like 'em that much!)

I've decided that I won't be doing any more retail shows, but I will be posting things on the website, & for now - most are the things I've been keeping for a quilt show - so they will be in the 'tag sale' area.

As I will be making some additions & changes to my company,

the plan is to be expanding the web-shop as well!

(I'm excited & looking forward to that part!)

But for now. . . I'm focusing on my current spring cleaning (& finding fun things for you!) 

. . . & around here - spring also means a sale!

. . . so, in addition to the fun fabrics & flosses added to the web-shop,

the sale means that patterns (printed & pdf versions) are 25% - 75% off!

So lets celebrate the arrival of spring!

(. . . even for those of you in the northern states - who are still getting snow!, & or for those of our southern hemisphere friends who are welcoming autumn!)

I also want to thank all of you who have made designing & growing this business of mine

such a wonderful experience. You are precious & mean so much to me!

(((xoxoxo)))

♥ Bren

p.s. - If you would like to get a little 'heads-up' notice about the web-shop &/or about Acorn Quilt & Gift Company - be sure to sign up for the e-newsletter! (. . . it goes out about 6 - 24 hours before announcements are made on the blog or on twitter.)

… springing

. . . no 'springing forward' on the time zone front

(we don't do that here in Arizona... no 'springing forward' & 'falling back'...while the rest of the country changes time two times each year... we stay the same... all year 'round.  (Although when I woke up at about 2:30 a.m. this morning & couldn't get back to sleep. . . I wouldn't have minded getting up the hour earlier!)

. . . but with the snow & rain showers we've had this past month (with days up in the 70's in the midst of those!) - you can tell that spring is itching to get started around here!

While at our local 'Trader Joe's' a couple of days ago, I couldn't resist the little bunches of daffodils they had. None of the buds were open, but after trimming the stems, & putting them in water, by the next morning they were blooming away! 

Then my Dad surprised me with a little birthday lunch last week with some of my sweet quilting friends (thank you sweet my ladies!), & in the middle of the table in the cafe was a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses (with stunning orange edges on the petals)!

They are now gracing the breakfast table where they seem to open up a little more every day, & where we can both see them the most.

Today, after working so very hard at it, the sun is actually shining away, 

& it is forecasted for us to possibly reach 90 this week! I think our flowers & plants & grass & birdies will be giddy! I know I will!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

♥ Bren

… spring cleaning (sale)

Today the biggest 'spring cleaning' task I've ever done is starting. . .

. . . the house is getting painted!

. . . Actually, I'm not doing it. . . but it's coming out of my pocketbook

. . . so I'm definitely feeling a part of it.

The house was washed down late yesterday afternoon. . . 

(& after seeing all the dirt that came off. . . 

I'm thinking I should be doing that every 2 years or so!)

. . . & today, we are in a cocoon of sorts with all the windows & doors sealed in plastic,

. . . & Bailey is keeping track of all the painters & all the new noises!

(. . . He's going to be one sleepy little fluffybump tonight!)

The website is also having it's own 'Spring Cleaning'. . .

. . . in the form of a sale!

All books & patterns are 25 - 75% off! 

(You can find the website here)

Don't-cha just love spring?!?

♥ Bren

… a wonderful way to spend a day!

What a pretty afternoon. . . yes?

. . . Yes!

This is how I spent an afternoon this past week

when I subbed for a middle school teacher.

This is a P.E. class of 6th graders. . . & they were such fun!

It was such a lovely afternoon, we ditched the gym to be outside. . .

. . . & those great kids played their heart out playing basketball. . .

. . . who won?

. . . who knows!

. . . honestly, they didn't really care

. . . they were such happy campers getting to run & play.

I had such fun just watching them! They made me laugh a lot!

In the past 5 school days. . . I've subbed 4 times. . .

. . . & I have to say. . .

I'm loving it. (really loving it.)

I've really missed being in the classroom . . . & I've really missed the kids.

Today I get to sub the art classes. . . in the room that used to be mine. . .

. . . sigh. . . great memories!

Hope you have a wonderful day too!

♥ Bren

'spring'-ing back

Hi folks.

Firstly, thank you for all the sweet emails asking about how we were.

We (Dad, Bailey & I)  are fine. . .

. . . I'm just flunking at blogging lately!

Lots going on. . .

So. . . let's see if I can do a bit of a run-down. (It may be a bit random!)

. . . I've been trying to figure out what season we are in. We had freezing temps last week while the rest of the country was warm. . . but this week, it's looking more like late March here in Arizona. (Although, I have seen it snow in April here. . . so who knows!)

. . . I have though, pulled out spring looking quilts & some spring-y accessories for around the house. . . so regardless of what the temps are. . . I'm having spring inside!

. . . I've finally finished my blocks for my 'Aunt Millie's Garden' quilt (by Piece-O-Cake).

. . . I've only been working on them for the past 2 years with my Monday night quilting buddies. . . thought it would take about a year! lol!

(We'll have to see how long it takes to actually finish the quilt top!)

(those are the blocks in the right side of the photo below.)

. . . I've been subbing (a lot!) at the school that I used to teach at. . . (& I'm finding that I'm loving it!) . . . Wow. I have really missed the kids. 

. . . That makes for some interesting days, as sometimes I don't know that I'm subbing until early that morning! (. . . but it's helping me be more spontaneous!)

New designs coming really soon!. . .

. . . got the covers back from the printer for the first quilt for a new quilt pattern collection, . . . got the second quilt design in the new pattern collection back from Nubin (my quilter) & I'm sewing on the binding (love that part!), & have another surprise stitchery pattern at the printers. . .

. . . so my hope is that there will bunches of peeks next week!

. . . my sweet brother, Scott,  & his wonderful wife, Jodi, are arriving tomorrow for a visit. . . & I can't wait to see them (!). I've scheduled a pedicure for Jodi & I on Thursday morning so that we can have some 'girl' time. . . & so that I can get all caught up on the wedding plans for their two daughters later this year. . . (!)

. . . & did I mention that I'm making two wedding quilts? I've got one started & the other is in my sketchbook & I'm in the collecting fabrics stage. . . but I'm loving it all!

So. . . that's some of  the latest for what's up around here.

. . . now, I've got to make sure the guest room as all ready!  :o)

Hope it's spring-y where you are! (. . . or will be soon!)

♥ Bren