New Year, New Looks...

New Etsy Banner For 2019

 

I'm working on a few new headers and elements for 2019. This one is for my online (Etsy) shop (which is currently on vacation mode). I've chosen the cork bag and some of my pincushions (in progress) to showcase what one might expect to find in my online shop, too.

 

You can see the new header I've installed here on my blog. I figured the hotshot Corgi should actually have his own photo up top this year, along with our compass barn. I think my new blog header better speaks to our life in Wisconsin, with all the wonderful activities I enjoy here at the farmhouse.

I'm also researching other online sites, now that my Craftsy shop is closed. I'm looking for a new self-host option for selling my PDF pattern files, including the ones available right through my blog. I'm going to move those, too.

2019 is a good time to change things up a bit. I'm hoping you like what you see, and that you'll tell me if there's something special you'd like me to share with you this year. Just let me know, okay?

Sometimes Things Aren't Black Or White...

 Sometimes, things are gray.

Such is the case with our November guild challenge.

Every year, Disconnected Piecers Quilt Guild holds a challenge for our members. This year, the challenge is to create something quilted using background fabric(s) that only contain shades of gray. 

We are allowed to use other colors in our project, but any fabric used in the background can only have gray or shades of gray in them. No colors, and nothing that doesn't read "gray".

This is only a sampling of the gray fabrics I have in my...ahem...inventory. I've had my project in mind since the challenge theme was decided. Now that November is inching ever closer, I need to turn my thinking in this direction. 

All the projects that members submit for this competition will also be displayed at our 2016 quilt show in February.

I can't wait to start sharing peeks as I work on it. When I'm finished, I may even share a pattern for what I'm making. I'm very excited about this idea I've conceived and am looking forward to the entire process. I hope you'll follow along as it becomes a reality.

This Is More Like It...

This is how I've spent the past two days. I've been back in the studio, playing!

First, I made the mug mat that Kris won in Tag's Third Birthday Giveaway.

I had these great, little pins made and will include one in Kris' gift package.

It's an accurate caricature of Tag! He wanted her to have one.

I'm also including these sweet Corgi bells! I wonder what she'll do with them?

I'm including a few other goodies, but if I showed them here, Kris wouldn't

have any surprises at all, would she? I'll be popping her gifts in the mail today.

I also finished the binding(s) on my organizer, along with a few other special 

touches. (Yes, Sherry. I added the green dot fabric as an accent, as suggested.)

I added a pretty stork scissors charm to the zipper pull..

and a touch of embroidery to the pin/needle holders. You like?

All finished and ready to be used! What shall I do with this one?

If you like an organizer but you don't sew, you can contact me to request

that I make one for you. I'm happy to do special commissions. (Please allow

a week turnaround time.) Just send an email to me for details. I'll provide 

you with prices and work closely with you to create your custom organizer. 

If you sew, you can purchase a pattern in my "Brynwood Needleworks" 

Craftsy shop. Just click on the Craftsy button link  in my left sidebar.

(<--------------- Over there.)

I really feel so much better for tying up a few loose ends. Back in the studio

today to see what else I can get into. I'll be back tomorrow to show you!

First Finish Of The New Year...

 I was so happy to spend some time in the studio yesterday. I made a

new Sewing Organizer to use as a model for classes I'll be teaching.

 I chose Moda's Basic Grey "Figgy Pudding" fabrics from my stash. 

The outside fabric reminded me of colorful swim rings, so I decided

 to add some of my beach cabin tape from LillaLotta to the outside.

 The lining and binding is done in another Moda fabric in red and white polka

dots. (Thinking, "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny" polka dot bikini...but not yellow.)

 By dinnertime, I was finished sewing on the binding! I'll take it over 

to the shop so they can start signing up students for me to teach.

 If you're interested in making an organizer of your own, you can visit

my Craftsy shop (Brynwood Needleworks) to get your own pattern.

If you look for my listings by my name, search for Brynwood Donna.

(There's a quick link to my Craftsy shop in my left sidebar.)

Well, I'm happy to have spent a little time in the studio and finish my first

 project of the new year. Today, I'll be checking in with the Coffee Club.

Nothing like a few hours with the girls to kick off the weekend!

Arbor Day At Brynwood...

Backyard looking in

This is a project I've been wanting to do for quite a while. The first

time our son and daughter-in-law visited, they brought a tiny star jasmine

 bush as a gift for us. (It's the one on the right side.) I immediately got a

second one to place across the walkway from it when our pool was built. 

Since then, they've grown like gangbusters. I've kept them pruned, but I got

this idea to put an arbor between them to create a "secret courtyard" from

the "Holidome" (pool area) into the backyard. After months of growing, the

 bushes were starting to close off the courtyard, so I needed to get this done.

Holidome toward courtyard

 The arch I ordered arrived on Friday, and I was anxious to get it installed.

After last Coffee Club, I hurried home and opened the box. Handsome

helped me get it put together and we carried it around to the courtyard.

It was a bit of a chore lifting up the overgrown section I'd been grooming

to cover the arch once it would be installed, but between the two of us we

managed to place it without damaging either of the bushes. After we got it

 into its proper place, we arranged the stray tendrils, trimmed the overgrown 

branches and stood back to admire the vast improvement we'd wrought.

Courtyard looking toward backyard

 I'm not finished yet either. I have empty pots to fill with flowers, and perhaps 

a new working birdbath. (The raccoons broke the one on the left side of this 

picture, and because it has oak leaves and acorns on it, I just can't bring myself

 to toss it!) I think the next birdbath will sit closer to the ground to protect it. 

Oh! Wouldn't one of those rocks with the cupped-out centers be cool?

I may add a few Adirondack-style chairs or a bench to this area, too. It's a

 nice quiet place to just sit and enjoy the view! We also have a chiminea

in the courtyard, and we could sit out there on cool, Florida-style winter 

evenings and enjoy the fire. I'll have to give that a little more thought. 

There's no rush, after all. I'll take my time so it's "just right".

My little snoopervisor

 Handsome, Tag and I hope you had a great weekend, too.

P.S. My Sewing Organizer pattern is now available!
Just click on the link to my shop in the left sidebar, or go to
"Brynwood Needleworks" shop on Craftsy. Thanks for looking!

My Gift For The Exchange...

 Tomorrow night is our guild Christmas party. I finished my gift for

our exchange on Saturday afternoon, and I snapped a few pictures

before I wrapped it up. I'm delighted with the way it turned out.

If you've visited for any time at all, you'll recognize my favorite home dec

 fabric on the outside. I used it when I created my sewing machine covers, my

studio wall organizer and a number of other totes and gifts. I embellished it

 with vintage crocheted lace and printed twill tape stating "stitched with love".

 

I chose the lavender floral fabric, then picked coordinating tan and soft 

gold fabrics. I added a zippered pocket, with another pocket behind it, wool 

tabs will hold needles and pins, and a divided pocket for stowing pens,

scissors, rotary cutters, or anything else one might choose to tuck into them.

 I'm going to gift it empty, but I wanted you to see how there are actually 

two compartments on the left side. The soft periwinkle bow is actually 

functional, too. It opens above the pocket compartment to secure a pair of 

scissors. Otherwise, it's perfectly content to be beautiful eye candy.

 I even added a gold-tone thimble charm to the zipper pull.

I'm going to be writing a pattern for this organizer. I've adapted

multiple patterns into this one, useful piece. I'll be adding it to my

Craftsy shop this week. I'll let you know when it's posted and available.

The organizer went together quickly, so if you need a last-minute gift,

you might consider making one - or three - of your own. They're a little

like potato chips. No one can have just one. I know I'll be making more.

A Slight Change of Plans...

 My original plan was to show you another finished table runner today. I

 forgot that I had a class to teach yesterday when I wrote my last blog post.

So, rather than play in the studio, I headed over to Crazy Quilters and shared

my pattern and techniques for creating Shabby Totes (pattern available here). 

Don't get me wrong. A good time was had by all, and beautiful totes left the shop. 

I just can't show you another completed table runner and matching napkins today.

 Guess you'll just have to wait until Monday! 

I'll be heading over to Coffee Club this morning. 

It's always nice to see the girls. 

Later, I'll be found stitching these pretty plates onto the ground fabric. 

When I finish doing that, I'll be able to put together this table runner set. 

I'm thinking I might have to make something else with these fabric choices 

after the holidays. They're so soft and sweet, and they feel like "happy" 

colors to me. The world needs more soft and sweet, don't you think?

I hope you enjoy your weekend, my friends. 

A Very Good Weekend...

Jessie Wilcox Smith image

A very good weekend, indeed!

I finished writing and proofing my pattern for the Shabby Tote.

I'll be uploading it to Craftsy today.

Jessie Wilcox Smith image

The weather was perfect. Low 80s, breezy with no humidity, so I 

worked in the yard for a while after riding four miles on my bicycle.

web image

I spent two hours on the telephone talking to a loved one who I've

been missing. I think we caught up on years of events, and I'm sure

we even solved a few of the world's great dilemmas. It was so nice 

to share those few short hours and I hope to do it again very, very 

soon! I think we'll need to make a regular occasion of it.

web image

After dinner with Handsome (and Tag), I even managed to spend a few

 hours stitching while we watched the Green Bay Packers whomp on 

the Minnesota Vikings. What a fun game! Woot Woot Of course, 

we're Packers fans. Once a Packers fan...always a Packers fan.

Did you have a very good weekend, too?

Tag is very excited to visit with you tomorrow. You're gonna love

what he has planned. I'll finish my stitchery and then start on some

 of my Christmas gifts. I have a fun project list planned this year.

I hope you have a great week. I'll be back on Wednesday! 

Summertime...

 My finger is now protected by only a small Bandaid, and it is healing well.

It doesn't hurt and I should be able to remove the bandage in a day or so.

The best thing about being injured was that I was able to focus on 

finishing the instructions for my Summertime Quilt pattern. It is now 

completed, uploaded into my Craftsy shop and available for purchase.

 You can click here to go to the listing.

Today will be an exciting day at Brynwood, but I can't tell you about it

today. I promised Tag that he could share the whole story on Tuesday. 

We're such teases, aren't we?

We hope you have a wonderful Friday.

Making Yummy Noises...

 Yesterday began with a nice, heartwarming brunch for two...Handsome & me.

I wanted to make something I hadn't tried before, along with an old favorite.

We both love Hopple Popple (I shared the recipe with you here), so that dish

was a given for our Father's Day meal. We also had a fruit salad on the side,

with a chaser of real Florida orange juice. But, the new dish was a real hit!

 I tried The Pioneer Woman's recipe for "Cinnamon Toast - The Right Way". Wow! 

We raved about this recipe, but agreed that it was never meant to be an "everyday" 

treat. It had just the right amount of everything and was so delicious, it was almost 

like candy.  Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman herself) always hits a homerun!

If you want to try this recipe yourself, this is the link.

Just so you know, the recipe calls for 16 pieces of bread. We used 3 and I cut the

recipe appropriately. Good thing I did, too, 'cuz we might have eaten it all otherwise!

 One more thing today...

 When I went to Craftsy yesterday, I had a great little surprise.

Seems that "Harris" was trending on Craftsy yesterday.

Click here to see.

Isn't that saaa-weeet?

Tag can't wait to see you tomorrow. Have a great Monday!