Making Great Progress!!

Yesterday I posted about using leftovers from my "Blessing from the Hollow" quilt. Many of you who read and commented on yesterday's post liked the frame idea. Those 1/2 square triangles were "throw away" pieces not needed for the quilt. Those pieces cost money and to me would be like tossing coins into the trash. I wanted to show another little mini quilt that I made using the same batch of 1/2 square triangles and that basket on the left has more! Hmmmm....wonder what I will work up next?

For those following my blog you know that the above quilt has been a secret project for my son that can only be worked on while he is away to school or work. I've got the top pieced and now on the frame! Woo Hoo! He is to be gone all day today; fingers crossed that I can get it off the frame before he gets home. I just love the backing and will show more later. I had been scouring the websites for something I felt would work without spending a fortune and found this print at Fat Quarter Shop last week for just $5 a yard! It's perfect too!

This is another small quilt that I made a few weeks ago using the hexagon ruler by Fons & Porter. I used Jo Morton scraps for this one. I'm just not sure how I want to quilt it just yet.

Puzzled Leftovers

It has been a challenge to find time when my son isn't home to work on his surprise quilt. This is how far I am now. This top is fun and different for me. It has been like putting together a puzzle. Boy would it be easier to be able to just leave it out to work on now and then but NO...I'm constantly picking it up and stashing it away from him! This quilt is called, "Touch of Vegas" designed by Debbie Allan. Debbie is mailing me a copy of the pattern to giveaway on my blog soon.

Since my son was home yesterday I couldn't work on his quilt but was itching to do something productive. I had been keeping a bunch of leftover sewn triangles from the quilts I made for Kim Brackett's book, "Scrap Basket Sensations." I pulled them out and squared them up to 1.5" half-square triangles. Then I started piecing some fun little things.

Here is a fun little gift item that you can whip up quickly for Christmas using leftovers and a 6" frame from Hobby Lobby.

A Win From Nel Whatmore

Imagine my surprise when the above photo appeared in my inbox!

I'd completely forgotten about it. Today's mail delivery brought these all the way from England! Nel Whatmore is an amazing artist! Her paintings are just beautiful and I hope you will go to HERE to see her work and if painting isn't enough she designs fabric for Freespirit too! Thanks Nel!!

Our home is under a new contract and is a new listing as of this past Monday. I got a call yesterday that an agent wishes to show the house today, 6:00 p.m. the eve of Thanksgiving. Seriously?! While I'm thankful we do have somebody coming to look at our home the timing is horrible and besides that it is dark at 6:00 so what could they possibly see outside? At least our home will smell like pumpkin pie! UPDATE!! They cancelled and decided to wait until after the holiday.
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Christmas Decor Galore & Tuesday Morning Quilt Stuff

My husband and I took a drive to a very upscale neighborhood yesterday. I think the least expensive homes in the neighborhood were in the upper $500,000. I should have snapped photos of the more extravagant homes but that is not what I wanted to share.

The pictures don't look too bad in comparison to just how truly tacky this home looked in this gorgeous neighborhood. There's easily 100+ plastic Christmas decorations that extended to both sides of their property and towards their backyard. I imagine if had been dark outside they would have all been lit and possible decorations would be "blown up" to create even more?

Please don't get me wrong as I love all things Christmas but this is too much. I'm also thinking it is a shame because this is the type of neighborhood that some hire a professional decorator.

While out we were also scouring some new territory and spotted a new huge Tuesday Morning store! I had to stop after last week's find of that FQ bundle that I posted about. Here are bins of charm packs, jelly rolls, and FQ bundles. Some of the quality wasn't all that but those bundles were Westminster Fabric.

Here is a photo of one of the notion walls.

The calendar area was a mess but look a quilt calendar could be found. I didn't make any purchases but thought to share some pictures with you.

Making Progress Slowly

Here are a few more photos of the quilt I've been secretly working on for my youngest son.

Putting the top together is like putting a puzzle together. I have to lay out each section to be sure I don't have two similiar backgrounds together etc. What is hard is hearing my son come through the door and scrambling to pick it up! LOL

Thank you to all who expressed interest in purchasing the blocks from yesterday's post. I tried to send you all an individual email and hope I didn't overlook anyone. They are now sold.

Hexagon Blocks For Sale

Years ago I made a purchase from E-Bay for these hand pieced beauties thinking that I would finish putting them together into a quilt. (insert a chuckle here)

So many pretties. I believe 68 blocks in all.

Hexagons pieces are 1" finished.

A few of the blocks do have some stains or yellowing.

I've come to the realization that I will NEVER finish this quilt especially since I have a simliar top I need to finish and still show you. Anyway...getting side tracked here so I'll get to the point. Do you have any idea of what I should sell these for or what would you be willing to pay to have them? Also, if you want them feel free to email me away from the blog comments with a bid for them. You may be pleasantly surprised at what I would be willing to let them go for!!

UPDATE!!! The blocks have SOLD and heading to a wonderful new home! Thank you for those who expressed interest!

Tuesday Mornings....The Store!

Bari's quilt was quilted with an edge-to-edge maple leaves pattern. Her piecing is perfection!

Yesterday I popped into a store called Tuesday Mornings after my ENT appt. We don't have a Tuesday Mornings where I live so this was a real treat for me. Imagine my surprise when I found a FQ bundle of Westminster fabrics, quilting books and notions!

This 31 piece bundle of FQ's came home with me for just $39.99. (that is half price!) though I'd have loved the bundle to be a darker civil war, antique sort of look I'm pleased with only spending $1.29 a FQ that I can use for gift projects. The bundle still has the "old" look that I love. This is an older book that has been out for several years. It was $5.99. There were other quilting books that I already had and also several sewing project and knitting books. There was also Fons & Porter notions marked down 50% from retail. The gal working said that quilting and sewing items is some newer things they've starting carrying.

My 18 year old doesn't read my blog so I feel confident I can share a peek of his quilt in the making.

Yesterday my ENT looked at my CT Scan and sure enough found I had a small problem on the left sinus. My surgery has been scheduled for December 16th. The timing of the surgery isn't the best but the doctor tells me that recovery is within a couple days and told me I can work the next day...then hesitated and said...two days.

Are you still reading? Gosh....thought you would have gone to Tuesday Mornings by now! Hee! If you go...please tell me if you scored!!

Just Plain Busy Here With Everything!

Okay, here it is a blog post for those who have called me, emailed me and my own husband saying there is neglect here. I always say I love a photo with my post and thought you would enjoy seeing Bari's quilt top since the colors are perfect for Autumn.

I've been scarce in blogland and do try to pop in on several of your blogs. I'm guilty of not always taking the time to leave a comment because blogging takes so much time and I haven't alot with everything else going on here.

I'll recap. My sinus issue is better though not fixed. I had another CT Scan and will see my ENT again Monday am.

My youngest turned 18 yesterday and we celebrated with a dinner at The Cheesecake Factory this past Saturday evening. It ended up being a very difficult day for my son because he learned that his bestfriend's brother passed away in a car accident. My husband and I did our best to try and keep his mind occupied and give him a good birthday considering circumstances.

We also "fired" our current real estate agent. The listing contract ends in two weeks. We've interviewed and like another agent within same company and feel she is a real go-getter. By the end of the month we will be under a new contract to sell.

College stuff....can't wait to get all the college applications sent in and behind us. We've been on three campus tours and my son is more confused than ever!

Holiday gift giving won't be same this year. Honestly, I had big dreams of making several gifties for friends and family. Today is November 4th and it isn't going to happen. I've got a surprise quilt I'm making for my son. He saw a customer quilt earlier in the year (Hi Rebecca!!) and asked for one like it. It is a work in progress as I've had lots to cut and finally at the point I can begin piecing it.

I've received many request for custom quilting these past weeks. I'm absolutely tickled that you email and tell me how much you love my work. At this time, I am holding off on all custom work however I AM STILL TAKING EDGE-TO-EDGE WORK until the end of November. I plan to enjoy December holidays with my family and possibly catching up on some of my own quilting.