UNFINISHED PROJECT

I decided to jump into another quilt along.  It was hosted by Rachel of P.S. I Quilt.  Unfortunately, it started on January 3 and I just found it on the 18th.  Today was the last day to post a finished quilt top.  I thought I could get it finished by today but there was just too much cutting and piecing.  Anywho, here is what I got accomplished. 

After sewing 1.5" strips together, I cut 8 strip sets like this into 28~1.5" squares

that's alot of stacks!

Here is my 1 lonely little block...only 27 more to go!

Hopefully I will keep up with it and get it finished sooner than later.   If you don't see pics of a finished quilt top in a month or so feel free to hound me about it.  It's nice to get a little push every once in awhile. 

Smiles
~Beth

PRECIOUS LITTLE THINGS

My sister had her baby on Friday!  We are so thankful that both mama and baby boy are doing wonderful.  

only 6 hours old...so handsome!

We all had the pleasure of holding him (except for hubby, he has a cough).

Isn't he adorable?!  I just love his hair!  The boys were all so proud when they held him.  I have received several requests for a new baby at our house.  I broke all their hearts when I told them that there would be NO more babies for us.  They were very happy, however, when I told them that their new baby cousin would be hangin out with us a couple days a week once their Aunt goes back to work.  Honestly, I am pretty excited about it too :)  I love babies!

In preparation of the little guys arrival I have made lots of fun little things that I haven't gotten a chance to show you, including this diaper bag.  Oh, how I love that red!  I will post more pics later in the week. 

Hope you all had a wonderful and fun weekend! 

Smiles
~Beth

BLOCK-A-PALOOZA TIME!

I have always wanted to join a quilt along and I am so excited to be participating in the first Bloggers' Block-a-palooza. 

John from Quilt Dad has organized this quilt along and I couldn't be more excited to see all of the blocks that his guest bloggers have come up with.   I frequently visit most of their blogs already so I can honestly tell you that they are very talented!   Each week we will complete 2 new blocks.  I will be posting my progress each week and would love it if you would join us in the fun. 

The first block was designed by John, he calls it the Flying Over Fields block.  You find out how to make your own here.  It was my first time making flying geese and I have to say, there are alot of cuts but John made it easy to put together.  I am being boring and using the same colors and prints as all of the bloggers.  It's not very creative but it will ensure I get all the blocks done on time since I don't have to think too hard about it.  Here is my first finished block.

Can you see the flying geese?

Don't worry, I don't either.  They look like triangles and squares to me.  Anywho, that's what they are called in the quilting world so that's what they are.  I think the block turned out very nicely and I am looking forward to seeing block #2 on Thursday.  Hope you will come back to see that one as well.  If you are making your own I would love to see your blocks or you can post them on the Block-a-palooza Flickr group.  There are lots of great fabric combos to see over there!

Smiles
~Beth

CHALLENGE COMPLETE!

Yay for completing my One Thing, One Week challenge!  My goal was to do the quilting on my nephew's baby quilt (he is due to arrive Feb.4 my sister is at the hospital right now...I am so excited!!-UPDATE-she was sent home so no baby yet!).  I did a simple straight line quilting through the blocks, alternating 1 line then 2 lines. 

quilt top

quilt back

Since I went with something so simple I was also able to get the binding cut, pieced and ironed.  Now, just to get it on the quilt!

I also made a few other things last week.  This little monster shirt was for one of my nephews.  It was a special request for his 6th birthday...such a sweetie.

I just had to give him big brown eyes like my nephew's :)

And these little onesies.  A special request from a friend.

Oh, and this mug rug that I gave away to one of my readers...congrats dooddles!

You can see what everyone else completed on Amy's blog, Amy's Creative Side.  I love her challenges...thanks, Amy!  What have you been creating? 

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see my first block for the Block-a-Palooza quilt-along (I hope I get it done!).  I am so excited!

Smiles
~Beth

FOR ME?

Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like you do everything for everyone else and no one appreciates it?  Well, today is kinda one of those days.  So, when the clerk at our local QT (that stands for Quik Trip not cutie!) didn't charge me for my fat free french vanilla cappuccino (even when I told him he forgot) it put a little smile on my face :).  Thank you Mister Stranger Clerk Guy!  Now only if I get him to make my boys get along!!!

Smiles
~Beth

AND THE WINNER IS...

It's time to announce the winner of my little giveaway.  Random.org take it away!

Comment #2 by doodles!!

   dooddles said...

I'm also a follower.

January 19, 2011 6:53 AM

Please contact me with your address at littlethingsbybeth(at)yahoo(dot)com so I can get your mug run mailed to you.

Thanks to everyone for entering.  Hope you come back to visit again soon!!

Smiles

~Beth

SNOW DAY

The boys had ANOTHER snow day today.  If you don't live around here then you should know that today makes day #5 (between last week and this one!).  And since there were already two scheduled days off that means the boys have been to school/pre-k only 2 days out of the last 10.  It's like Christmas break all over again!  As much as I love them I am crossing my fingers that school will be back in session tomorrow.  Since we didn't get a chance to play outside last week we took the boys sledding today (after they helped shovel the driveway, of course).

Even Rally helped! 

I always loved making snow angels.

Time to hike up the hill.

The boys all got a turn to jump a ramp on the hill. It was a blast!

Now that playtime is over I must go work on my challenge that is due on Monday.

Don't forget that you have a couple more hours to enter my little giveaway.  I will announce the winner tomorrow.

What did you do today?

Smiles
~Beth

ME, STYLISH?!?!

Who knew?! 

I am so honored that Staci from The Confused Quilter gave me a Stylish Blogger award!  Isn't that such a thoughtful thing for her to do?  Especially since I don't know her (maybe that's why she gave me one!).  Stylish or not, I am very grateful for the award...thanks so much Staci! 

There are 2 rules for this award (and a I am definately playing along, I don't want my award taken away!):
1.  I have to share 8 things about myself
2.  I have to pass the award to 8 other blogs

That is quite a task! 

Ok, here are 8 things about myself...hope they don't bore you!
1.  My given name is really Beth, not Elizabeth or Bethany.  Actually, it drives me crazy when people ask me what my "real" name is.
2.  I met my childhood best friend before I even knew what the word "friend" meant.  We still keep in contact after over 30 years of friendship (thanks Kristine for teaching me what true friendship is!)
3.  I always wanted to be a Mom and a Teacher (neither is appreciated enough!).  I never technically became a teacher but I'd like to think that I teach my boys a few things here and there.
4.  I didn't graduate from college (maybe my only true regret).
5.  I met my hubby when I was 18, married him when I was 23 (best thing I ever did was say "yes"), I had our first son 1 week before I turned 24, had our second son at 26, had our 3rd son at 29.  They are my angels, my sunshine, my stars, my life!
6.  I have been a SAHM for 10 1/2 years.
7.  I started sewing about 2 1/2 years ago.  I grabbed the kids and my new sewing machine and drove over 3 hours to my bestie's house in Iowa.  We played with the kids during the day and at night she taught me how to sew.  We had so much fun and I am thankful for her for so many reasons, this only being 1 of them (thank you, Terra!).
8.  I am planning on going back to school in 2012.  I don't know exactly what I want to be when I grow up but I think it's time I try to figure it out  (I can't believe I just shared that one. Now I have to do it!)

Ok, now for some blogs I think you would enjoy.  I decided to list different bloggers than the ones on my sidebar.  Ya know, to promote some newbies (like me!). 
1.  Misserincrafts
2.  Where do I go from here?
3.  Burgundy Buttons
4.  Handmade by Heidi
5.  Audrey Pawdrey
6.  Nap Time Quilter
7.  Puking Pastilles (you may know her from my cape tutorial reference!)
8.  Bitty Bits and Pieces

Have fun checking out all of these great blogs!  Thanks again to Staci for honoring me with a Stylish Bloggers award!

Smiles
~Beth

A LITTLE GIVEAWAY!

Have you seen those cute little mug rugs all over blogland?  Ya know, the ones you put on your desk for coffee or tea (or a diet mountain dew!) and a little snack.  I have wanted to make one for a while now but just hadn't been motivated.  Recently, I came across a great tutorial on how to make a double hourglass block, by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew.  Well, I decided to combine the 2 projects and here is what I have...

front

back

Can you tell I have a thing for polka dots :).  It is about 8.5" sqaure.  I really love the way it turned out (even though it's not perfect)!  And it was truly easy to put together, thanks Allison!   I will definately be making a double hourglass quilt in 2011.

Oh, the giveaway, duh!  Well, I decided to give this adorable little mug to one of you.  I am just sure it would look perfect on one of your desks.  For a chance win, just leave me a comment on this post.  For a second chance to win you can become a follower and then leave me a comment telling me so.  If you are already a follower just leave me a comment letting me know.  PLEASE leave an e-mail in your comment so I can contact you if you win!  You can leave like this, beth(dot)dodd(at)att(net), if you don't want it out in cyberspace.  Comments will be closed at 8:00 pm (cst) on Thursday, January 20 and I will announce the winner shortly after.  U.S. residents only this time (sorry!)

Good luck!
~Beth

ONE THING ONE WEEK CHALLENGE : 6

It's that time again!  Amy from Amy's Creative Side has challenged her readers to choose 1 thing (big or small, old or new) to accomplish in 1 week.  She even has something to keep us motivated (hint: it involves fabric!)  You can read about it more here.

My goal is to machine quilt my nephew's baby quilt.   I finished piecing the back last night and will hopefully get it basted by day's end.   Since Connor is due to arrive on February 4th Amy's challenge came at a perfect time for me...thanks, Amy!
 <><>

quilt top

 

quilt back

 I hope you will join in on the fun and get something crossed off your "to do" list.  If you do, be sure to let me know!

Smiles

~Beth

CUTTING TABLE

I am so excited!  I just put together a new cutting table for my sewing room.  Well, actually it is a pub table from Target.  Either way, at 3 feet tall it is the perfect height for cutting (I am 5'4").  I don't know about you but cutting fabric takes a toll on my back.  Hopefully this will help a little.  My wonderful hubby is going to cut a piece of wood for me to set on the support rails so I can put a couple decorative, yet purposeful, bins under the table.  I am off to square up some blocks for my nephews baby quilt!

Smiles
~Beth

SUNKISSED

I love to get fabric in the mail.  Today was a good day to get the mail.  My fat eighth bundle of Sunkissed by Sweetwater (for Moda) arrived!  I can't wait to get started on my first quilt-a-long!  It begins on January 24 and you can learn more about it on Quilt Dad's blog.  I will also be posting my blocks each week so be sure to come back to see what we are creating.

Have a wonderful weekend!  We are expecting snow!
~Beth

ONESIES

Before I could start on the quilts in my last post I needed to cross these onesies off my list.  A friend of mine asked me to make them.  I hope she likes them!

Smiles
~Beth

PROGRESS

I finally got a little time to work on my sewing room.  Remember this mess?  It's still not finished but at least I can walk in it without tripping over stuff.  It's so much easier to create in a semi-organized space! 



Look at all of that fabric goodness!

I have 2 quilts I will be working on this month.  A baby quilt for my nephew, due to arrive in early February (for my sister's sake, hopefully late January!).  And a lap quilt for my Grandma Carol.  I will also be participating in my first quilt-a-long (begins January 24).  I am so excited!  More on that later.  It will be for my Grandma Dee.  Here is a peak at the fabrics I will be using in the quilts.



For Baby Connor



For Grandma Carol




For Grandma Dee

 What are you working on?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to all of my blogger friends!!!  You have truly made 2010 a great year for me.  I can't wait to get to know you better in 2011!

It wouldn't be a new year without resolutions so here are some of the things that I am going to work this year.
     1. Balance.  This is my first priority.  I definately need to find a good balance between everyday life things (like laundry, etc), my kiddos, my hubby, family time and "me" time (sewing, blogging, etc.)  
     2. Health.  I will be turning 35 this year (yikes!!).  I really need to make an effort to live a healthier life.  And not just with food and excercise.  I want to have healthier relationships, both in the physical world and the spiritual world. 
     3. Quilts.  I want to make mostly quilts this year.  I enjoy making them so much but only made a few in 2010.  This year my monsters will definately get their own (and me too!).

Hopefully during the process of finding better balance and health I will set a good example for my boys. 

If you have a resolution or have set any goals for 2011 I would love to hear about them.  Whatever they are I wish you the best!

Smiles
~Beth