Finished for Friday - Some Christmas Stuff

Why is it no matter how early I start preparing for Christmas, the closer it gets the more I have to do?

Boogie made a visit last weekend. He and Papa went to get the Christmas tree and he helped decorate it.

We made and ate Rice Krispie Treats.


Then came Monday and a flare up of my lower back. The back is much better today thanks to nsaids, ice and heat.

Despite the back, I did complete the tree decorating Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday was spent decorating and cleaning the rest of the house.

I also got three packages put together and mailed this week. One was a new iPhone for the youngest daughter. Her Christmas present early. A package filled with ornaments went to daughter #3. She wanted all the ornaments she had made and collected over the years. The third package went to my girlfriends back home. They will be having our Christmas gathering on Sunday.

I have been a busy Bea in my studio these last months. These are not things I have finished this week, but I wanted to share them. I will not be letting any secrets out as none of these gifts will be going to friends and family that read my blog.

This is a quilted thread catcher. A pin cushion filled with sand rests on the table and holds the little basket. I made two of these; one for my mom and one for Hub's mom.

I made a handbag for one of my girlfriend's who celebrates a December birthday. I was so pleased with the way this turned out. Hope she likes it.

Below is one of the reusable shopping bags I made from fabric in my stash. The blue print was four yards I found at a flea market and paid $2. The red polka dot used for the pocket and lining was a damaged piece I found in a remnant basket.
Next is one of the crayon keepers I made for the grandsons. These were fun and fast to put together. Here it is all rolled up.

This is the back.

And the inside.

*You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

What's next? This weekend I need to wrap, wrap, wrap! Monday morning I want to be at the post office with huge boxes going to the grandson and kids in Milwaukee, the parents and kids in Kansas and the MIL in St. Louis. Last year everything had to be sent priority mail. Ouch! I am hoping to save some money this year by getting things shipped earlier.

My little Singer will be humming again this weekend as I have two more handbags to construct. Then next week I can get the last of my gifts for Hubs and start the cookie baking.

Are you beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Join threeundertwo and tell us what you have accomplished this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You're going to eat what???

Hello to all my blog buddies! So sorry I have been AWOL. I have been working my fingers to the bone in my studio making Christmas and birthday gifts but I think I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. All the wonderful gifts should be complete and ready to post in time for me to start baking all those holiday cookies.

Are you busy with the preparation for Thanksgiving? Are you hosting or guesting? Staying home or traveling? We will be going to Raleigh for the day. It has been two weeks since I have seen grandson and I am missing him terribly. His momma and I decided that since it was just the five of us for the day, we would not clean, cook, clean and then deal with leftovers. We have reservations at a fancy schmancy restaurant for our Thanksgiving meal.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and food. Travel safely!

I'm back! See you soon!

Finished for Friday - Baby Shower Gifts

It has been a while since I have posted on Finished for Friday hosted by Lit and Laundry. Seems I have been in a blog fog lately; not really knowing what to post, not wanting to take the time it takes to down load the pictures, just a general indifference more or less. Hopefully, that has changed.

I have been a busy busy busy Bea in my studio the last couple of weeks. Christmas is rapidly approaching and I do not want to be racing from the cookie baking in the kitchen to sewing in the studio a couple of weeks before the holiday.

One of my dear friends is expecting her first grandchild, a girl, in December. They are having a shower for the expectant mother this weekend. I was caught off guard by the early date and have not quilted the blanket I have made for the new baby. Quickly, I put together this doll quilt that looks like the baby's blanket with a note to the new momma explaining what it represents. The little matching Teddy Bear came together quickly too.

I also wanted to send something to the grandma to be. This "Grandma Tote" went together quickly. I am very pleased with how it turned out. The fabric is beautiful, feminine but not girly.

This bag is from the Lazy Girl line and is called the "Whimsy Bag". If you have been toying with the idea of creating a purse or bag, this is a great one to help you build skills and confidence.


Besides these two projects, I have all the little, tiny pieces cut for a quilting class I will attend on Monday. I am hoping to show you the progress on that quilt next week. Tomorrow I am on my way to Clarksville, VA to attend a class on machine quilting. Maybe I will have that baby quilt finished by next week too.

I hope you have a productive week so you can show us what you have Finished for Friday.

In Rememberance

The last two days have been hard for Hubs and me. We lost our boxer girl, Ashley, Friday morning. It was evident in the last few months that her time to go was drawing near. We thought we were prepared. There is a large void in our house without her.

Ashley touched many lives. Because she was such a great dog, we decided to add another boxer to our home. That decision led us to contact Mo/Kan Boxer Rescue and we became volunteers for this wonderful organization. Over the next few years, we had many boxers in our home as foster dogs, we did home visits to people wanting to adopt a boxer, we spent hours at meet and greets showing off our dogs and talking to people about boxers and rescue. Eventually, we adopted Quade, then Emilio, both coming into our homes as foster dogs.

Ashley was THE Alpha dog. We know without a doubt once she reached The Rainbow Bridge, she started kicking butt and taking names, letting all know she was there and she was the boss.



Run free, Ashley.

Home Again, Home Again

The beach vacation is over. Everyone is back in their own homes except for the youngest daughter who will be with us until Friday. Our dogs are back from the kennel and Quade is barking at the front window letting everyone know he is back on guard duty. Everything has been unpacked and put away. Hubs is back at work in his office upstairs.

The memories will last a long time.

Yesterday at the Beach

Having a great time.

Wish you were here.

Finished for Friday - Vacation Countdown

The vacation count down clock on the left is down to the last few hours. There are a few more things to pack in the morning, then we are off to Emerald Isle, NC, for a week. We have been looking forward to this for a long time.

This will be the view from my bedroom for the next week.

I am hoping to post a couple times while we are on vacation, but our two grandsons will be there as will most of our adult children. They will keep me busy and happy.

Let others know what you have accomplished this week. Finished for Friday is hosted by Lit and Laundry.

Tuesday Tidbits

I am not going to start quilting.

I'm just saying.

Finished for Friday - Hooded Towel for Baby Tutorial

My mom made several of these towels when both of my daughters were born. They are so much nicer than the typical thin hooded towels you can purchase. Not only are they wonderful for bathing baby but they are great to take to the pool, lake or beach for toddlers and small children. Because these towels are so easy to make, I always give one or two to any new mom.

To make these hooded towels, you will need a bath towel and matching wash cloth. The one shown in this picture is one I bought at Wal-Mart. It is one of the thicker towels they sell.

Prewash and dry the towel and wash cloth as per manufacturer's directions. Fold the wash cloth in half, right sides together. Since this wash cloth had two sides with a wider finished edge, I choose to make those edges the front of the hood as it will be easier to stitch the seam along the narrower finished edge. I also placed the tag so it would be in the top part of the hood.

Stitch along the pinned edge. I usually let the finished edges of the cloth guide me as to how wide to stitch the seam. This one was about a quarter inch.

Here is the wash cloth after it is seamed.

Next, fold the towel in half, short edges together, and place a pin to mark the middle of the edge. Find the middle of the wash cloth opposite the seamed edge and mark with a pin. With the pins matching, pin the wash cloth to the towel, right sides together.

Sew the washcloth to the towel.

All done. How simple is that?
Here is Mrs. Beasley all wrapped up in the finished towel.

I have been spending a lot of time in the studio this week, but this is the only project I have completed. Maybe next week, I will have the quilt finished that will be sent along with the towel to my friend's new baby girl.

What have you accomplished this week? Share it with us at Lit and Laundry.