New Year's Resolutions

I thought I would add an image from my "Trees for All Seasons" calendar as my New Year's resolution image. Why not do a count-down of the 10 things you would like to work on this year? In highlighting Regina Brett and her 45 life lessons. I think her lessons can help formulate and consider what are the most important things we should be thinking about in our own lives....



Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old. This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!!

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. Release your children when they become adults, its their life now.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn't mean you are. Keep an open mind.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. Your job is to love your children, not choose who they should love.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield..
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Were there thoughts she had that triggered something in you? I particularly liked the ones about children. As a protective mom, I think I will have a hard time letting them go out into the world on their own. I know I have time to adjust to this one.

Another quote I liked was, "If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." While I try to look on the positive side of life, that doesn't mean I don't have my fair share of complaints, but My little things I worry about are mine and I can work on fixing them by actions I take or changing my attitude. 

Home for the Holidays

With our first dusting of snow yesterday, the kids were chomping at the bit to put on their snow gear and make some snow angels. I thought it would be fun to post a painting of the little Bentley Snow-people family. 


2012 Resolutions post to come....

Wendy's Lil Holiday Gift Bags








Hi Friends,
I am obsessed with making my little bags! An old stocking I made inspired me to rummage through my holiday stash of fabric. There I found many textures and sheens in deep greens, organza with gold filigrees, red satin with embroidered butterflies and more. I added fabric flowers to this little elegant line of bags to give the group dimension. How did I make these flowers you ask? I followed the pdf instructions in a July 8th blog entry at Timeless Treasures blog. I thought I might enjoy having a bouquet of flowers to use in my little bag photoshoot, but they ended up being their own beautiful images on their own.

Spoonflower Baby Book Top Ten Winner

Hi Folks,
I am happy to say I am one of the top ten winners in the cloth baby book contest at Spoonflower! Bora's "to the circus" was the #1 winner and I just absolutely love her book. In fact many of the top ten were my favorites. These contests are a great way to keep your mind working, so stay-tuned for more entries. Here is the cover and back cover of my Zooby Book. I chose some obvious animal choices to represent each letter, and some "not so common" choices, like a X-ray Tetra fish, and a Yellow-jacket. This babybook fabric is available at Spoonflower, so check it out.

Nouveaux Noel by Wendy Bentley













Hi Friends, 
Here is the launch of my holiday fabric through Spoonflower called Nouveaux Noel. This collection can make great gifts for the holidays. Yes, this cheerful fabric is up FOR SALE and can be ordered through the link above. I made these cute little mix-n-match bags that are the perfect size for a gift like socks, lotion, or other small items. Giving your gift in this little home-made bag makes the gift just a little more thoughtful, right? These bags can also be hung on doorknobs with potpourri adding a nice fresh wintergreen fragrance to the air. I like the tag print for its versatility; cut out the icons for ornaments, tags or grab three Nouveaux Noel prints for a set of tea-towels. Enjoy! 

Winter Wonderland Star Centerpiece

Hi Folks,
The winter wonderland giveaway through Timeless Treasure's Blog has been extended to Wednesday. I thought I would show a digital concept for a table centerpiece. If you like cool sparkling colors of white and blue snowflakes and swirls for winter enter this contest and you just might win!

Zooby Book Spoonflower Competition

Hello Friends,
Have you heard of Spoonflower? Well, if you haven't, it is a great place to get your own fabric designs printed. Along with designers selling their fabric, Spoonflower also has fun weekly competitions too. I have entered the Cloth Baby Book competition and would love your votes for Zooby Book by Wendy Bentley. Of course, there are many wonderful options to choose from, so pick your favorite and vote away. After the competition, I will put the Zooby design up for sale. If you sew, or know a sewer, it is a simple book to put together. It would be a cute stocking stuffer wouldn't it? 

Winter Wonderland GIve Away through Timeless Treasures

Hi Everyone, I am excited to tell you about a fun Winter Wonderland Give-Away. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 11th, so enter today! Go to Timeless Treasure's Blog Sew Timeless to get all the details. Three yards of fabric would great to win, right? 
Enter to Win:
½ yard of wendy-c9078-blue
½ yard of wendy-c9078-navy
½ yard of wendy-c9080-navy
½ yard of wendy-c9081-blue
½ yard of wendy-c9081-navy
½ yard of wendy-c9082-blue
I would love to blog anyone's creations with Winter Wonderland. This fabric will be great throughout the many winter months to come. Happy Holidays!

Lift Your Spirit Calendar

Hi Everyone,
The New Year is almost here, so you are probably getting close to needing a new calendar. You can find my Lift Your Spirit calendar which comes in two sizes at Dollar Tree for $1. Can you believe it?! This calendar is filled with cheerful doodles and inspirational quotes by famous people and some by my mom and me too. I have received wonderful comments from customers about this calendar. This collection was also a fabric line through Timeless Treasures, so look for it on-line or your local quilt stores. I am so glad it has made people as happy as it made me when designing it.

Acuquilt Winter Wonderland Concept


With Winter Wonderland coming out Dec 1st, it is the perfect time to come up with a beautiful winter quilt. This is an elegant collection that is full of quiet, delicate snowflakes perfect for the cold, wintry months. Cuddle up in a quilt with matching pillows or decorate the table with sophisticated table cloth, napkins and place mats. The wonderful thing about this collection is that its hues of blues and whites complement many home decor settings. Since time if of the essence, I thought I would create some digital quilt concepts with Acuquilt's Go Fabric Cutter using the Go! Double Wedding Ring pattern. I am hoping I will find this as a gift under the Christmas tree, hint...hint...




GO! and GO! Baby Fabric Cutters impress quilters and fabric crafters with their accuracy, speed, ease and portability. Whatever your experience level, GO! will make quilting and fabric crafting even more enjoyable for you.
  • Cut accurate shapes
  • Up to 90% faster than rotary
  • Safe and easy to use








Here are the prints for Winter Wonderland, check on-line or your local quilt shops for this sophisticated, timeless group. I looking forward to blogging about anyone's beautiful creations!

Boxes and Bows—Lift Your Spirit






Hi All,
I hope your Thanksgiving was great...now don't blink, time to celebrate Christmas! Happily there is much to do and create around the holidays like make this Christmas quilt called Boxes and Bows by Denise Russart. Upon receiving the November/December issue of Quiltmaker, I happily recognized some of my Lift Your Spirit fabric used in this celebratory tradition of gift-giving quilt. The throw (60" x 72") includes fabrics from Timeless Treasures and can be purchased at shopquiltmaker.com or call 877-269-8024. Wrap up the holidays with colorful pieced and appliqued packages. QM111202

Thanksgiving Day Race 2012



















Here it is—the logo for the 102nd Thanksgiving Day Race! I am proud to be a part of the Thanksgiving Day Race tradition which has been in Cincinnati, Ohio for 102 years. Since 1998, I have designed the T-shirts, banners, letterhead and ads. Annually, over 10,000 runners/walkers have participated. Here is a look at all the designs through the years. My family and I look forward to walking it every year; it makes the Thanksgiving dinner that much better.