WRITE IT WEDNESDAY, Let me Introduce Myself

I had planned on taking a writing class this past semester, but just didn’t make it with everything going on?? A couple of afternoon’s ago I put writing list in the search box of Pinterest and hundreds of lists came up, I noticed I kept clicking through to the ones from Lifeoflovely.blogspot.com Most are on the daily bases and that’s just a bit much for me to do right now. But, I’m going to try and do this once a week….I’m going to try. I need to get a bit more structured in my day to day life.

from beth's desk writing wednesday
WRITE IT WEDNESDAY

My Introduction: (I am doing new, not cut and pasted)

My name is Beth Ann, I am fifty-nine years old and living in central Florida, about 20 minutes for the white sandy beaches we all love and right on a golf course, that I have never played on, but it’s pretty. I was born and raised in Iowa and have lived in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and now in Florida, which I still can’t believe.

I have Husband, two boys, two daughter-n-laws and four Grands, whom all live an airplane ride away. We travel to them, a couple of times a year and I’ve made myself learn and USE text. I was home with the boys for years, working part-time at a library, the home office of a jewelry chain and then at a bank, Husband’s career took up to 10 different retail stores and banks are every place.

We live in a condo with all the things you think you will have when you move to Florida. I always explain to people moving to Florida is like going to college, no one is from here, and everyone has a story and just because people are retired doesn’t change their personalities to the good or bad. Once not nice, retiring will not make you nice.

Over seventeen years ago, I self-published by books, The Quilt Ladies Collection, each book on its own and sold at quilt shows. I added titles and quilts as I went. From all printed at home, to getting them printed in color by a printer to now all twelve titles available on Kindle and Nook, in one book. What a circle of events and how technology has changed everything. My printers cost was 5.95 for one book, sold for 8.95 and I now I sell all twelve for 9.99. It’s so crazy now it’s all changed. You see my tag line always and thank you for purchasing and supporting me through my book, The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

After I had the books done I was teaching and needed quilt patterns of my own to teach with. Little Quilt Ladies Quilt Patterns were launched. I have since changed the name to The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop, just easier for me. The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Shop HERE for YOU

So, here I am, living in Florida, (I say again!) which I still can’t believe. Taking care of my Mom, Husband’s parents are here too and doing what I like and need to do daily. From this site here, www.bethanndoing.com and Facebook posts, to quilting, drawing, taking pictures, decorating and everything in between.

In a nut shell that’s me, Beth Ann, One Happy Lady !

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

Well….Sometimes you just have to try AGAIN

I know I’m getting old, BUT a few weeks ago I posted some of my before and afters of flowers. WELL…. I forgot to post the before’s. And the really SAD thing about it is “I” didn’t even notice it…..I had to be told….OH MY… So, I’m going to TRY again, here is the before and after. Thank you noticing and thank you photo software.

Pink Rose Photo Before

Yellow rose photo
Yellow Rose by Beth Ann Strub

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The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing Quilt Pattern Shop

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

About the Photo

Everyone is still sleep here and I’m not thinking real clear…yet? Coffee in hand and I’ve  been playing with photo’s. Isn’t if unbelievable how a simple photo can be changed into something pretty good.  The top one is just a white rose with pink edges. A little Photoshop and here is the AFTER,
Yellow rose photo
Yellow Rose by Beth Ann Strub

 

AFTER
White Rose After Photo
White Rose Around by Beth Ann Strub
This is one that was from a Holiday shoot and I loved the idea, but not the picture, but now I LIKE.

Black and White Candles and Red Flowers

Candles and Red Flowers

I need to get moving, laundry (towels) are not going to do themselves?  Have a GREAT day.

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The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing Quilt Pattern Shop

I met a Boy and We Married 39 years ago !

It’s been a ride, adventure and laughs !  It’s been hard, fun, presser driven and at time crazy. But, with time….a lot of time… 39 years, we have at figured out????
39 years of marriageSo YOUNG, so happy.  He gave me two sons and those boys gave two daughter-in-laws, and four grand boys. I am blessed.

at the Dallas Cowboys game

We are NOW ready for 39 more years !

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The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing Quilt Pattern Shop

 

How to Mend a Quilt

I’m always on the look out for old quilts and IF I think I can save them I purchase them. They have to be washable and usable, nothing better to me no matter the temperature is a quilt to cuddle in. This is the Quilt AFTER, I am sharing this from my Quilt Ladies site, this post is NUTS on Pinterest ! follow me if you LIKE 
how to mend an old quilt
The Quilt Ladies NOW on Kindle and NOOK
 

3 blocks that needed attention, 
I ALWAYS wash quilts before I mend, this one turned out 
VERY nice, they usually do !

mending an old quilt how toI like making a paper temple for the applique piece I’m adding
free how to mend an old quiltTry to make it exact and add seam allowance at the time of cutting (it’s easier to do this way)
how to mend an old quilt tutorialThis is the same fabric, one is the right side 
and one it the back side
how to mend an old quilt Add the seam allowance and cut out piece how to mend an old quilt
how to mend an old quiltFold down the point and press
how to mend an old quiltFold the sides over, I like to press everything and I use the tip of the small scissors to hold as the fabric will get HOT !tutorial how to mend an old quilt
how to mend an old quiltApplique the pink down and I then hand quilted, forgot to picture !
how to mend an old quilt

how to mend an old quilt3 baskets I fixed on this quilt

Can you find them ?
how to mend an old quilt

beth of beth ann doing

Read my book “The Quilt Ladies” 12 Quilt Stories
and 15 Complete Quilt Patterns

SEE ALL MY BOOKS IN PRINT HERE


Make Retirement fun with my “How to Survive Retirement” a Check List
The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOUThe Quilt Ladies and Beth Ann This post may contain affiliate links. I will receive a few cents if you click to their site and purchase.
#quilt #quilting #thequiltladies #patchwork #bethanndoing #quilts #needlework

Getting Old Part Two and with ONLY a bit of Grace

Getting old my gardens reflectionThings here have been a little bit crazy and I’m hoping for a bit of calm to settle over us.  At times it still seems crazy, but I’ve adjusted or accepting a bit better lately.  Read Last Month Part One

 

I have heard a lot this past month or so about empathy, and you are under the opinion I have none. And, as I’ve politely tried to say and will say here in my own way, bullshit. 

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within the other being’s frame of reference, i.e., the capacity to place oneself in another’s position.

And really I do get it….but, I’m moving through survival mode. My way is, look and solve the problem, see what is needed and what HAS to be done. I can’t seem to find empathy at those moments, but isn’t that empathy too, getting it done?

Long ago, a Hospice worker said to us, “Nothing but the truth is to be spoken from this time forward.” I hear her saying that in the back of my mind so often. It’s also a pretty good way to live one’s life.

As we settle in, the work has not stopped. The daily needs of life still have to be taken care of. I have learned to ask for help, to understand it’s alright to take time for me and that life becomes all about potty and poop. And, or the cleaning up of it.Getting old my gardens reflection

Lessons learned.

  1. Ask the VERY hard questions, of yourself, of others, of services. EVERY thing you can think of, ask the questions.
  2. I had to fire the first service we had started. It was about Mom and what was best for her, not them, HER. This is where I have no empathy, it’s the momma bear in me.
  3. Everyone has an opinion and I do just what I think is best. I listen, I thank them, but we (Mom and I) talk it over and do what is needed.
  4. Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feelings with the heart of another and I like to add, ONLY after all the work is done.

I’ve learned to cry often (a hot shower is designed for that), WE laugh often and I NEVER fight or argue with her. Why…life always comes down to potty and poop.

Please be kind…or don’t leave a comment

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The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

The Quilt Ladies Quilts and Books

Nothing would be possible without all of you and The Quilt Ladies Books. This is how the books looked for years, after the past printing I decide to only put them on  Kindle and NOOK  It was a time and printing cost decision. I have been asked to have them printed on the Amazon site, but the book would be over 50.oo and at 9.99 it’s a bargain  on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Book in Print

Twelve quilt stories and fifteen complete quilt patterns. In The Quilt Ladies Book Collection five very different women come together. The books take you through learning to quilt, starting a business, moving, daily life and death. Each book continues the story and has Complete Quilt Instructions for the quilt the ladies are making in that book.

Garden under the stars quilt by the quilt ladies as shown on Beth Ann Doing

Red, white and Blue quilt from Book one of The Quilt Ladies Books

Churn Dash quilt from The Quilt Ladies

Three Color quilt by the quilt ladies as shown on Beth Ann Doing

Just a few of the fifteen quilt patterns you receive in

The Quilt Ladies Books ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

Beth Ann Doing

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

Quilts Around my House

Just a few more of the Quilts Around my House

Little applique, machine pieced, hand appliqued and quilted. Quilt measures seven inches by seven inches.

hand applique little quilt by beth ann doing

This is packing tubs set up as a bedroom to sale our home.  This is the quilt that I use every night watching TV. Machine pieced and hand quilted.

blue and white quilt

The Quilt for the Grand’s to use here at our house, Grand #3 loved to play on it, eat lunch on it and have popcorn on it ! Machine pieced and hand quilted.

Cuddle quilt at Grandma's

Husband’s office quilt from his working days. Machine pieced and hand quilted.

husband's office bow tie quilt by beth ann doing

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page

From my Quilt Picture Files

I LOVE quilts and I’ve been making quilts for YEARS.  A friend was over doing a project and wanted to see my quilts. It’s easier to show them in photos. I was taken a back with her response, “Why are you NOT showing them daily?” Well, I will be for the next few days. I’m running away for a few days, please don’t tell anyone…… I hope to get a video of them all soon too, but here is a few for you to see.   Please take a moment to sign up on the right side for my newsletter.

This is from my red, white and blue period, I had a thing for it for about six months. Machine pieced and hand quilted

Mini Red and white Star Quilt by Beth Ann Doing

This is one of the quilts that I loved to piece and it’s STILL sitting waiting to be quilted. My pattern…my idea??? Machine pieced.

Christmas squares quilt pattern block

This is my Mom’s snuggle quilt, I made it about eight years ago for Christmas for her. Machine pieced and I hand quilted.

mom's quilt by Beth Ann Doing

 Beth Ann Doing

The Quilt Ladies ONLY on Kindle and NOOK

The Quilt Ladies Quilt Pattern Etsy Shop HERE for YOU

The Quilt Ladies at Beth Ann Doing

Beth Ann Doing Home Page