Jelly Roll Jam II Quilt...

Yesterday I chose the fabric I'll be using for our retreat group project. All I had to do was go shopping in the studio! (I have a boat-load few jelly rolls from which to choose.) I thought it might be fun to use this colorway from Minick & Simpson's Midwinter Reds. It's a Moda fabric, of course.   If you're interested in seeing what the whole collection looks like (before I make my Jelly Roll Jam II quilt, click this link to see every, luscious fabric!

I'm considering this polka dot fabric for the backing, but I won't make my final decision until the quilt top is done. I may end up not using the tans at all.

The pattern (free from The Fat Quarter Shop - with a link below) only calls for one jelly roll to create a 36 1/2" x 38 1/2" quilt. I'm planning to make a large  one, using two jelly rolls. I'll see how many blocks I can make without the tans.

If you'd like to make your own Jelly Roll Jam II quilt, let me know. I think it would be fun to share all the images in a future blog post. I'll make my quilt top at the retreat, but if you want to make one, too, I'll set up a Flickr page.    Click HERE to download your own (free) Jelly Roll Jam II Pattern. I'm also embedding the Fat Quarter shop video tutorial for this quilt into this post for you. Grab a cuppa and relax while you watch it! Direct link: http://youtu.be/sf98KddO1Uk   Enjoy! More to come on this project after the retreat...

Pillowcase Tutorial...

Thank you for all the generous comments you left about the Flying Cloud quilts and pillowcases. I headed to the studio today, and have created and uploaded a pdf tutorial for anyone interested in knowing how to make pillowcases like mine.

The tutorial is free and you are welcome to photocopy it to share with your sewing friends. I only ask that you do not kit or sell my pattern...and if you're a shopkeeper or guild member who would like to give away multiple quantities of my pattern, please contact me first for permission. I'll be glad to give permission if you ask me first. (After all, it's just the nice thing to do.)

To download the pattern, go to the top of my blog and click on the "Free Patterns and Tutorials" button under my header. (Here's a link to get you to my main page.) Once on my patterns page, scroll down to the "Free Pattern Downloads" (right under the acorn ornament photo). There is a white scroll bar on the right side of the Boxnet widget. The patterns are in alphabetical order, and the name of the tutorial is "BW Pillowcase Tutorial". (Well, of course it is!) When you click on the BW Pillowcase Tutorial, it will automatically download to your desktop.

I've made every effort to be accurate (and spell correctly), but if you find an error or have a question, please don't hesitate to contact me. If you make a pillowcase using my tutorial, I'd love to see what it looks like. I'll be opening a Flickr group called the Brynwood Pillowcase Club so we can all upload our pillowcases for others to see. Have fun! I can't wait to see what you create.

REMINDER: Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for my Second Blog Birthday giveaway. The drawings will close at 11 pm. Good Luck!

Just Like A White Wing Dove...

I've been invited to be a guest on Sweet Jeanette blog. I hope you'll visit Jeanette today and check out my tutorial to make your own "White Wing Dove" Mug Mat.

I've been seeing all kinds of beautiful mug mats on other blogs lately, so when Jeanette invited me to create something for her blog, I decided to create my own take on these quick and easy gifts. They only take about an hour to make, and are a great use for your scrap fabric and batting. I know I'll be making more to give!

I'm also sharing one of our easy family recipes with her (she does have a cooking blog, after all). My Instant Hot Cocoa Mix would be a perfect accompaniment to a mug mat for a friend or family member. Just the ticket for a last minute gift!

Only 5 days til Christmas! As you hurry about to complete your projects and shopping, please take a moment to remember the Reason for the Season.

Thank you to my beautiful friend, Ellen, for making the lovely Christmas centerpiece in the photo.

I Love Surprises...

Sharing some Blogland love today. I recently received this scissors fob as a thank you from Sherry at Createology blog. A sweet gift in appreciation for the 400th Follower Ltd. Ed. artist trading card I sent her. Shades of green and brown, with those sweet acorns hanging from the last bead. I love it! Thanks, Sherry! I really appreciate your thoughtful gift.
Lucky me! I recently won Kate's giveaway at Chronicles of a Country Girl. The winner was able to choose two (TWO!) of her prints. You had to know that I'd choose the acorn, right? The white blooms are beautiful, too. I'm looking forward to framing these and displaying Kate's beautiful work in our home. Thank you, Kate! I love 'em!
I received one other wonderful package this past week. I placed an order from the talented and generous Michelle Palmer and she enclosed these gifts for me. An apron embroidered with oak trees, acorns, leaves and an owl on it, and one large acorn button.

The apron is long, like the ones I remember the nuns wearing when I was a girl. (We lived just down the block from a huge convent when I was growing up.) It's all done in a single-color thread and it's old. Michelle cleaned it after she found it on one of her vintage linen hunts, and there are a few age/wear holes in it. I'm going to think about how I can conceal the damage and highlight the embroideries. It's really beautiful and I love it!

But look at this big, honkin' button! It's about 3" in diameter with a metal plate, featuring my favorite little gift from nature. Michelle, I'm just enthralled with this button and can't wait to figure out what I'm going to do with it. Thank you so much for both of your generous gifts!
Finally, I'd like to share the fabrics that I'm using in my newest project. A gift from my hands to a friend. I'll share more when it's finished and on its way to a new home.

I love surprises! When they're received, I am filled with gratitude, and humbled by the gesture. When they're given, I give with an attitude of love and appreciation for the recipient. I'm so grateful for the friends who share their talents with me...and glad that I'm able to share with them, too.

If you haven't read my Vanilla Extract Tutorial yet, please be sure to click on the giveaway button under my August Celebrations at the top of my left sidebar. I'm offering a bottle of my homemade extract in a drawing for one of my friends.

I hope you have something relaxing, fun and/or creative planned for this weekend. You know, I always wish the best for you. See you tomorrow.

Vanilla Extract Tutorial...

Today, I'm sharing my promised tutorial for homemade vanilla extract. When you find out how easy it is to make your own, you're going to wish you'd done this a long time ago! There really is nothing quite like homemade vanilla. You'll need to gather your ingredients and supplies first.

You'll need to purchase quality vanilla beans, which you can find online through eBay. I buy Madascar/Bourbon vanilla beans. (Here's a link for one of the US suppliers.) This one has a "Buy it Now" option, so you don't have to bid to make a purchase. You also want to be sure that the seller has a 100% feedback rating to ensure that they're reputable. I store my unused beans in a ziploc bag inside an airtight container to keep them fresh.

You'll also need a bottle of vodka. I use Fleishmanns, but any inexpensive vodka will do. (Edited 8/20/10 9:30 pm: Two of my blog friends suggested that you can also use brandy, and one of them also suggested cognac! I'll be trying those, too! Thanks, Maggie B. and Patricia!!) And you'll need empty bottles. I like to use the empty bottles from Starbucks Frappuccinos. I wash them thoroughly when they're empty and the labels remove easily. Then, I put them into the dishwasher to be sure they're sanitized.
Take about 8 vanilla beans for one batch of extract. You'll be using them as is. No need to rinse them. I always slit 2 or 3 beans to open them up and expose the seeds inside. They'll mix in with the extract as it ages.
See what the seeds look like? When you eat French vanilla ice cream, these are the little dark spots you see in the ice cream. I'll warn you that your hands and the kitchen are starting to smell really good already!
Place all of the vanilla beans into the empty bottle. Make sure that there is at least an inch head room from the top of the beans to the neck of the bottle. You're going to need to cover them completely with the liquid. (FYI, the good vanilla beans are usually between 6" and 7" long.)
Now, pour the straight vodka into the bottle and be sure to completely cover the vanilla beans. Resist the temptation to dab a little behind your ears, and I don't recommend taking a sip either. If you do, you might forget to make dinner tonight!
At this point, I take the knife I used to slice open the beans and stir it into the liquid. I want to make sure that all the seeds on the knife end up in the mix!
Put the lid on the bottle and then place a label on the bottle. I'll also add today's date on the label so I know when it's "ready". You'll want to shake up the bottle a couple of times a day for at least two weeks before you use the extract. It will darken, day by day, until it becomes the pure vanilla extract that will add that special touch to your recipes.

I finish packaging my bottles by adding a circle of fabric, tied with kitchen twine, raffia or a ribbon. You can add a little recipe, or instructions on the "care and feeding" for your extract. As you use it, if you just top it off with the equivalent amount of vodka, it will last for years! My bottle in the background was made at least two years ago. I always top mine off and it's just as delicious as when I first made it. In fact, it really gets better and better with age.

From time to time, we make our own ice cream around here. When we do, I take one of the vanilla beans out of the extract, slice it open and scrape the seeds into the ice cream mix. Then you can put the rest of the bean right back into the extract! It's a gift that keeps on giving.
So there you have it. Didn't I tell you it was simple? I made my labels in a program called Print Shop 2 on my mac, but if you don't have such a program, I can steer you to Karen's website, The Graphics Fairy, where she has some really great label frames that you can use to make your own. Click here for a link to her labels. Pick one you like and personalize it to suit your own style.
Now, just for reading all the way through my tutorial, I'm going to have a little giveaway. One lucky reader will receive the bottle of extract I made for this lesson! All you have to do is leave a message on this post. I'm going to leave the drawing open for two weeks, because the vanilla won't be ready to try before then.

So, leave a comment and you'll automatically be entered. That's all you have to do. Giveaway will end on September 3rd, and I'll announce the winner on September 4th. Thanks for stopping by again, and Good Luck!
UPDATE: 09/04/10 - DRAWING IS CLOSED. The winner is Natalie of Hungry Hippie blog. Thank you to everyone who left a comment and entered the drawing.

"Butterfly Baby" Quilt...

It's finished! Butterfly Baby quilt has been added to The Boutique and is ready to go to someone's home. The finished quilt measures 31" x 36" and is made of high-quality, Moda cotton with Warm and Natural batting. It's just the right size to be baby's first quilt.

I really love the colors. They're bright and stimulating, and work for either a little boy or little girl.
I also made a small storage bag to match, which will be perfect as ready-made gift packaging. Later, it can be a place to keep baby's toys or supplies, because the quilt is bound to become a favorite "blankie".

You can read more about the quilt by visiting my Brynwood Boutique. Just click here for the listing. It can be found under the "Brynwood Baby" link at the top of the Boutique.
Yesterday was overcast and rainy, but we need the water, so I don't complain. I just spend more time in the studio making things to share with you. I'll be back tomorrow to show you what else I've been working on.

A few of you have asked me to do a tutorial on basic ribbon embroidery, so I'll be working on that in the next week or so to share with everyone. Please don't ever feel like you're imposing to ask me for a special post. I'm happy to write about special topics that interest you whenever I'm able. Although I don't always respond to every comment you leave for me, please know that I read every single one and appreciate hearing from you. Thanks a million!

My Devout Acorns...

When we first moved to Florida, I dabbled a bit in jewelry making. I also made a few rosaries as gifts. Although I'm Methodist, I've always been fascinated by the significance of rosaries, and I've always found them to be beautiful devotional items. I've been collecting rosaries for some time. And I've been collecting acorns for much, much longer. Can you even imagine how excited I was to find this unique and elegant rosary? It features acorns instead of beads.
The acorns signifying the ave beads are all in silver, and the acorns signifying the pater beads are in gold. The links, crucifix and center medallion are all in silver. I think this rosary is simply stunning, and I so happy to add it to my collection(s).

PS. The "Charmed" quilt tutorial is finished and can be viewed here. I've also added a link to it from my "Free Patterns and Tutorials" link at the top of my blog so you can find it any time.

Silk Rose Tutorial...

So, I admit it. As Madelyn Kahn said in Blazing Saddles,
"I'mmmm tireddd".
It's been an exciting week, and tomorrow is the big day,
but a promise is a promise...

I promised a silk rose tutorial for you. Yesterday, I photographed my process for you, but soon I'll do a video tutorial which will help anyone who has trouble with my photo version.

All you have to do is click on the photo to go to my Flickr album tutorial.
Please comment if you have any questions or need any clarification.

Today is the big day!
It's my brother's 51st birthday...
our daughter-in-law, Jessica's birthday,
(of course, I won't give away her age!)
and also
We're celebrating a beach wedding today!!!

If you come back tomorrow, I'll share photos
of the bride and groom, some of the festivities,
as well as family and friends who
are here to honor and bless their union.

Happy Birthday, Lydell and Jessica!!!

Acorn Ornaments...

This is what I've been doing lately. I've been making Acorn Ornaments! Believe me, they're like peanuts...no one can have just one!

I spent the day making a tutorial for you, so now you can make your own acorns. You're really gonna love me, because I also spent some time figuring out how to make it possible for you to download pdf files directly from my blog. No more emailing to request pattern pieces or instructions! I know...I'm the bomb, right?

I'm also going to augment my Flickr album tutorials with pdf instruction sheets, but adding lots of photos (as I did to the Acorn Ornament) makes for large pdf files. I'll keep the Flickr albums up and available because they'll show more detail. (I'm talking about the Rabbit Pincushion and Scissors Bunnies.)

Those instructions sheets will show up in my sidebar, right along with my newest ones, when they're completed. (Expect to see them after the holidays, unless I get all my other projects completed early. A girl can dream, right?)

To find the patterns, just scroll down my left sidebar until you find the BoxNet widget with my patterns listed. Then, just select the one you want - or go ahead and download all of them! - right to your computer. Easy peasy and just for you!

You don't have to sign in or anything to download my patterns, but I'd love it if you'd leave a comment here to let me know that you liked my idea enough to want the instructions...and you'll get your name in the giveaway drawing at the same time!

I'm a little behind in my responses to the newest visitors to my blog. I'm so grateful that you're all so happy with the items I've chosen for the giveaway(s). I promise to get over to visit you just as soon as I can. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better.

Thanks again for all your kind words, thoughts and insights. Your visits mean the world to me!

Oh, I don't want to forget to remind you to scroll down my left sidebar for another reason...I have posted linky buttons to a number of other giveaways now in progress. You're going to want to check out all the wonderful things other bloggers are listing in their drawings, too!

Free Brynwood Scissors Bunny Tutorial...

I had fun in the studio yesterday afternoon working on a gift as part of an art swap. I decided to make my new gift into a free tutorial in case any of you would like to make your own. My pattern is for a sweet little Scissors Bunny.

I recently purchased the pretty wool fabric from Anne at Bunny Hill Designs. (Here's the link to her available wool selections.) Its perfect for this project. I chose a Flickr album format again for the tutorial.

This bunny measures about 4 1/2" tall, and would be perfect to identify your scissors at classes, or just to keep track of them at home. It also works as a little pincushion. Just click here to go to the tutorial. Please email photos to me if you make one. I'd love to see what yours looks like!

EDITED THURSDAY MORNING: I read your comments this morning and see that I've omitted some explanation in my tutorial, as well as perhaps needing another element for my scissors bunny. (You can see what I mean in my reply in the comments.) I've already changed the name of this post title and my tutorial to Scissors Bunny. I promise you a "redux" with corrections by the weekend. Your comments really do make a difference! xoxo

***You can link to this tutorial, as well as other tutorials, patterns and video tutorials by looking down my left sidebar. Thanks!