October Prep List for the Holiday’s

Start Now for Time Later

Here is my October to do list for holiday prep and…
Well…I tried…But I missed a lot of the cleaning from my September list, the rest I did pretty good with and to tell the truth…I just didn’t want to do the cleaning !

We live in a small area and have a community pool…and the season people (November to April)  are not here and every time I thought about cleaning, I put on my suit and went swimming ! Not that I don’t like the others in our area?!? But…I love my pool time…daily, without others.

I am going to TRY and start my slow-and-steady holiday approach, here is my October updated list for you !
I did this post yesterday and I did clean the lanai BEFORE writing and I feel VERY proud of myself. But, now I think I need a new plant stand on the wall in there?!?  Do a plan, draw it up, build it…well…

vintage quilt for sale

October Holiday To-Do List

My goal is simple: do a little, enjoy a lot, and don’t make myself crazy!

Choose a Gift Storage Spot – Pick ONE place for gifts so you aren’t hunting for them in December. This is always a huge on for me, Husbands birthday is Dec 25… and he does look…search !

Check Your Gift List – Ask family members for their Christmas lists. Start buying when you see something that is truly right—not just because it’s on sale.

Make Your Own Wish List – Have a few ideas ready when someone asks what you want. Why is this always so hard?

 old quilt for sale bethanndoing.com

Start a Wrapping Basket – I pick these things up all year and I have a drawer in my dresser. Pick up tape, gift tags, tissue paper, boxes, ribbon and wrapping paper as you see them. Check what you already have FIRST.

Look Through Holiday Decorations – Before buying anything new, see what you already have. Toss broken items and make a short list of anything you really need.  I pick up new tree lights last December, can’t wait to use them !

Clean Out the Freezer – Do a quick inventory and make room for holiday foods. Throw out those mystery containers we all pretend we’re eventually going to eat.

Start Stocking the Pantry – Watch for sales on baking supplies, canned goods, coffee, soda, bottled water and other things you know you’ll use. We do a Dec 24, open house, need to think that through. I do better with a list and plan.

vintage quilt for sale

Check Holiday Clothing – Think about Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, church, family pictures or special dinners. Does everyone have what they need?

Christmas Cards – Update addresses, decide whether you’re sending cards this year and order them if needed. Buy stamps now, too. We are letting this one go this year…cost.

Make Travel Plans – Confirm Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s plans. Book flights, hotels, rental cars or pet care if needed.

Deep Clean ONE Room – Mine WILL the living room. Vacuum, clean the floors or carpet, clean sliding doors, wipe down bookcases and table and make sure everything is sturdy. ONE room—not the entire house!

 Plan Something FUN – PURCHASE TICKETS NOW ! !  Look for a holiday home tour, Christmas market, concert, light display or something you’ll actually enjoy. The holidays shouldn’t be one giant to-do list. We will be alone this Holiday, kids won’t be here until after, and I know we will need something for just us.

And most importantly… 
Laugh, Love, have Grace and always be Kind, Beth Ann

See them ALL HERE

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From Drop Leaf Table to My Library

How I made a Table

For the 6th week in a row, my drop leaf table has taken over my Pinterest, thank you liking, linking and using…

BUT ! for me that was 2018 and we have redone
my room and it’s here if you’d like to see. 

RE-post from 2018 YOU asked for !
I’m on the second go of doing my office/art room over and I think this time, I got it ! ! From the painted walls, my wonderful studio table and NOW my drop leaf table ! !   Of course lots of drawings and lots of research….I love project research !  Finished table is here and I love it. 

building a drop leaf table

With all the research done and three different options, I talk with Husband, it’s become an almost presentation. You know…..he’s the builder and THANK goodness he doesn’t roll his eyes at me anymore ! !

That being said, doesn’t mean he’s not going to change things a bit. First idea was just to purchase a 1950″s drop leaf, cut, fix to wall, he wanted nothing of that. I had though 2″ x 2″ legs and he wanted it to match my studio table, easy give. I wanted shelves, to get EVERYTHING off the floor in this room. Well…just about everything. My plans

drop leaf table plans

The leaf legs out of 1 x 4

build a drop leaf table

All put together and ready for paint

how to build a drop leaf table with 2 x 4's

With drying time being an issue here in Florida, I moved the table into the house for painting. 

build a drop leaf table with pictures

Top, leaf and two shelves 

how to build a drop leaf table with 2 x 4's

Assembly was in it’s place, it’s very heavy

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drop leaf one sided table

building a drop leaf table with 2 x 4"sbuild a drop leaf table with 2 x 4's

 

 

 

 

 

 

Added legs on first, hinges on top and bottom of each. A piano hinge was used for the drop leaf and fitted over the legs and was fasten down from underneath.

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build a drop leaf table with 2 x 4's

 

 

 

 

 

 

building a drop leaf table

Letting it cure for a bit and I will show it all soon.  First question…..YES, you can do both sides. I didn’t want that, I just want to put I sewing machine on the top and pull it out when I need it.   NEXT, I would like a fireplace in the living room….the planning has already began. 

Here is my library and office, I LOVE it and spend many hours sewing and writing here. The complete story is HERE for you to see, and yes, it’s already change, art on the desk, on the wall and it’s all about ME !

Daisy Dark by Beth Ann Strub

Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my Quilt Ladies Book  nothing is possible without your purchases, Beth

SEE Beth Ann’s BOOKS on Amazon and
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Table Topper Pieced Quilt Pattern

Make a Table Topper

In need of something pretty?
My Table Topper Pattern for you !
It’s finished size is 22″ x 22″

I used a charm pack, they give me the ability to not overthink anything…just sew !

I am trying to stop fussing color.
It’s a fabric, it’s a color, not a life decision. 

quilt pattern free, how to make a table topperI’m using a charm package, but any fabric will work.

Cut 25 – 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″

Cut 20 – 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″

free quilt tutorial for table runnerSew into rows with 5 squares across
Cut 16 – 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″
The Quilt Ladies books on Amazon

table topper quilt pattern to make from The Quilt LadiesSew together to form the cross border

how to make a table topper tutorialSew all the rows together, forming the center.

Cut 2 – 14 1/2″ x 4 1/2′
Sew to the top and bottom

Cut 2 – 22 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
Sew to the sides

table runner tutorial Layer quilt together, machine quilt or hand quilt. 
Cut Binding 77 ” x 2 1/2″ to finish quilt off
Beth Ann for The Quilt Ladies

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Beth Ann and as always, Thank you for making my dream a reality ! !

Make a Quilt Block

An English Rose Quilt Block

I know I’m tired when I start a Monday with corn chips and a VERY large cup of coffee. And yes, I’ve been dipping the chips in the coffee, too. I think it’s all that cream that just happened to make its way into my cup…don’t tell.

But enough about my questionable Monday breakfast choices,
let’s talk quilts!

You have to LOVE a quilt pattern named English Rose. The name alone makes me think of an old-fashioned garden, pretty china cups, flowers everywhere, and maybe a quilt tossed over the back of a chair. It just sounds like quilting, doesn’t it?

The finished English Rose quilt block measures 10″ x 10″, and this is one of those blocks that can completely change depending on the fabrics you choose.
Make it soft and romantic with pinks and creams, give it an old-fashioned look with reproduction fabrics, or forget the “rose” altogether and make it in blues, yellows, or scraps from your basket.

That’s the fun part. The quilt pattern gives you the starting point, the fabric makes it yours.

And apparently, corn chips and coffee give me the energy to tell you about it. Monday is officially underway!  Off to my small group, also know as my support group, therapy quru’s and just great people. AND they Quilt ! 

 If you’d like the complete set of 68 of this series and how to make the quilt, it’s HERE for you ! 

English Rose quilt pattern block

English Rose Quilt Pattern BlockCut 6 Burgundy       2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

 

Cut 6 White    2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Make Triangles

Cut 5 White    2 ½” x 2 ½”

Cut 4 Burgundy       2 ½” x 2 ½”

Cut 4 Gray       2 ½” x 2 ½”

Sew as Shown

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt pattern is Here from my Etsy Shop 

and in Print and eBook on Amazon

Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my Quilt Ladies Books, I can’t do anything I do without you ! 
The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop
My Books and Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns in Print and eBooks

Picking Quilt Fabrics

From One Fabric to Many

COLOR is always on Quilter’s mind, And here is the way that I was taught Years ago !  Remember the fabric may come after the quilt pattern?!?! HERE
Choose that first fabric because you LOVE it ! Not because you think it’s the “right” color. Then pull a second fabric that picks up one of its colors, add a third for a little contrast, and just keep going. Lay them all out together, move them around, take one away, add another, and see what happens.
Don’t overthink it. Some of my favorite quilts started with one fabric I simply couldn’t leave at the fabric store! And YOU purchased everything in your stash of fabrics…start there first!
I do it this was too, when the colors are perfect for me, see HERE

Pick your Quilt Colors by The Quilt Ladies1) Start with one fabric. Take this one fabric and work from it. Is that one fabric, a dark, medium or light color?

This is a Dark

Pick your Quilt Colors by The Quilt Ladies

 

 

Add the light and medium. Move and change it until you like it.
Lay them out in front of you.

 

 

How to Pick your Quilt Colors by The Quilt Ladies
Then add, a dark medium, a light medium, until you have the mix of what you like.

 

 

2) Choose colors and patterns you love. An average a twin size quilt will take me about a week to piece together, and if hand quilted another, 3-4 months. If tied or machine quilted 3-4 weeks, you have so much time and cost involved you have to love it.

3) Natural or background colors. These are the corner stone. More often than notPick your Quilt Colors by The Quilt Ladies the background color is your light color. Your background color helps bring the blocks together. It does not always need to be a light either, dark or medium work well to, any color can be used.
4) Color Wheel. I’m not a big fan of the color wheel, I do like when colors pops and on most of my quilts the start fabric is not the most prominent color used it in, it is just a starting point.
5) Make one block. This should always be done, a Quilters practice, cut only fabric for one block and live with it for a few days. Especially, if it’s something you’ve never tried before. Most times you will know right away if you like it or not.
6) Have fun. This is the best way I’ve found to pick colors, enjoy the process, your quilt will be fantastic.

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A Perfect Quilt Block

Blue and White Quilt Block to Make

This quilt block from The Ladies Quilt Pattern Book has taken on a life of it’s on Pinterest ! Who would have thought this little star quilt ?!?!  So here is it again !

I love seeing which quilt blocks catch your eye. Sometimes it’s a block I never expected to be a favorite—and then Pinterest takes over! That’s one of the things I love about quilting. A simple little block can become something completely different depending on the fabrics, colors, and quilter making it.

With 68 different blocks to choose from, you can make The Ladies Quilt as shown in the book, pick a few favorites for a smaller quilt, make pillows or table runners, or simply work your way through the blocks one at a time.
And if Pinterest has taught me anything, it’s this: Never underestimate a good little quilt block! 
 It’s HERE – in Print and eBook
And on my Etsy Shop

the ladies quilt pattern book

Meeting EVERY Tuesday to quilt is My Ladies. Doing large projects to small ones, they come together with baskets of fabric, ideas and laughter. “The Ladies”  
They talked about it from time to time, doing a quilt pattern book and finally it was time to draw out their favorite quilt blocks and share them with all of you.
All the quilt blocks stitched together, a quilt design (finished quilt measures 76″ x 84″ ) and that’s what became
“The Ladies” Quilt Pattern Book. 
The Ladies: IN Print and eBook too: 
Here is one of the Quilt Patterns from the book. The book has  68 quilt blocks, with a finished size of eight inches by eight inches.  Here is my tutorial on How “I” make my triangles

star quilt pattern

how to make a star quilt blockCut 8 Blue – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Cut 8 White – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
Make Triangles

Sew as shown

How I make my Triangles

 

 

 

Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my Quilt Ladies Book The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop

My Books and Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns in Print and eBooks

 See my Books in Print and eBooks

It’s Only a Square

Make a Quilt Block

Making a simple quilt pattern into a fantastic quilt pattern it’s easy and remember it’s ONLY a square.
Making nine patch quilt block
This is just the next step in a nine patch quilt block. By adding more squares in different colors you can transform a nine-patch into a completely new quilt block.

how to make a fun nine patch quilt block

how to make a fun nine patch quilt blockFinished Quilt block size – Ten inches by Ten inches

Cut 5 Purple 2 1/2” x  2 1/2”

Cut 4 Gray 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Cut 8 Blue 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Cut 8 White 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

 

 

 

One of my FUN Quilt Patterns, and it’s ALL Squares !

Put on Some Red Lipstick and Let’s Quilt A Quilt

Quilt for the book, Put on some Red Lip Stick and Let's quilt

Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my Quilt Ladies Books,  nothing is possible without your purchases, Beth

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How to Make a Quarter Square Triangle Point

How to Quilt Tutorial

The other day I did Grandma’s Pin Wheel Quilt Block and didn’t show you this…if you need it.  Cutting for her pin wheel is given at link:
Here is how I make my Quarter Triangles

Cut Larger triangle finished size plus 7/8”
example: 6” finished cut 6 7/8”

Cut each square from corner to corner You will have 2 triangles

Cut Points finished size plus 1 ¼”
example 6” finished cut 7 ¼”

Cut each square from corner to corner and then again corner to corner. You will have 4 triangles

Cut each color and piece as shown

Add right corner onto base, good fabric to good fabric.

SEW from corner to corner.

Trim off the back with a ¼” seam allowance, open up and press

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Grandma’s Pin Wheel Quilt Block

Great – Great Grandma’s

How to make the Pin Wheel Quilt Block from my Great-great Grandmother – quilt pattern below for you.

Free Pinwheel quilt pattern

Finished block will be 6″ x 6″
Cutting for ONE Block
Cut 2 Green – 3 7/8″ x 3 7/8″
cut each block from corner to corner
(shown as gray)
 
Cut 1 Pink 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″
cut corner to corner and then again, corner to corner
(shown as red )
Cut 1 White 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″
cut corner to corner and then again, corner to corner
(shown as white)
Piece 4 blocks together as shown 
Sew into rows
Sew rows together
My Great, Great Grandmother's Pin Wheel Quilt Block PatternPlease remember, 
there are other methods of piecing 
the quarter triangle, this is how I do it. My quilt tutorial how I do Triangles

My Great-Great Grandmother’s Quilt
This quilt was a gift to my mother from her Great Grandmother. And then a Gift to me from My Mother. Making it my, GREAT-GREAT Grandmother’s Gift to ME ! Well…That’s how I like to look at it.

 I never met her and my mom only remembered helping with the peddle sewing machine.  I use this quilt and love sleeping under it. It goes in the washer and now living here in Florida and not having a clothes line it does go it the dryer….Yes… it bothers me too, but…. the colors are still very bright, but the Florida sun won on these photo’s.

Free Pinwheel quilt pattern Great Great Grandma's Quilt

The hand quilting on this quilt is WONDERFUL 

 

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Make the Quilt Block – Rolling Bow Tie

Fun Quilt Block to Make

It’s fun for me to draw quilt blocks out on graph paper.  They make me happy and I love the other ideas it sparks as I do them. This is one of my quilt blocks.

Today I’m sharing my Rolling Bow Tie Quilt Pattern Block.
See all my quilt patterns

Free Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

Finished Quilt Block is Sixteen Inches by Sixteen Inches (16″ x 16″)

Make a Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

Cut 1 White – 6 ½” x 6 ½”

Cut 1 Lt. Blue – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8” 

Cut 1 Blue – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
Mark squares corner to corner SEWING LINE.
Place on corner, good side to good, sew on line, trim and press

Rolling Bow Tie Quilt Block Pattern

Cut 4 Lt. Blue – 3 ½” x 3 ½”

Cut 4 Blue – 3 ½” x 3 ½” Sew as shown and add on sides.

Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

Cut 1 Lt. Blue – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
Cut 1 Blue – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
Cut 2 White – 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”  Make triangles

Cut 12 White – 2 ½” x 1 ½”

Cut 4 Lt. Blue – 1 ½” x 1 ½”

Cut 4 Blue – 1 ½” x 1 ½” Sew rows as shown, sew to the top and bottom

Free Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

Cut 4 Lt. Blue – 2 ½” x 2 ½”

Cut 4 Blue – 2 ½” x 2 ½”

Cut 4 White – 2 ½” x 8 ½” Sew into rows and sew on top and bottom

Free Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

Cut 4 White – 1 ½” x 1 ½”

Cut 2 Lt. Blue and 2 Blue – 1 ½” x 1 ½”

Cut 4 White – 1 ½” x 2 ½” Sew row as shown, sew on sides

IF you make four quilt blocks and add two inch sashing you will have a 34 inch by 34 inch quilt.

free Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

This is a quilt block of PLAY with COLOR ! Have FUN !

Free Rolling Bow Quilt Block Pattern

Beth Ann of The Quilt Ladies

Thank you for supporting my Etsy shop and my quilt books, journal and books, nothing is possible without all of you

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop

My Books and Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns in Print and eBooks