It's done!!! The Marine Quilt

Yay! I finally finished my first queen-size quilt! I'm so happy, but don't really know what I'll do with myself now that it's done... oh wait, I know! I'll start another project! LOL (or finish one of the 4 or 5 I've already started and stopped) I'd love to hear your opinions, and any tips and tricks you can give me for next time!!

This has truly been a labor of love. I started it not long after my future son-in-law was sworn in as a US Marine Recruit. He finishes boot camp in just 2 weeks, and I am SO proud of him! It will probably live here until he and my daughter get married and get a place of their own. She says she wants a Treasure Chest (aka Hope Chest LOL) and it'll probably go in there with their other homemaking goodies. This is his graduation gift...

Folded to show both sides...

TaDa!!!

2 weeks from today we will be at Parris Island to see him in the MOT Run and spend a few hours of Family Day with him. On November 24, he will graduate and be a MARINE! OoRAH!!!

Another month has come & gone...

I've really been slacking on the blog thing. Sorry 'bout that! I've been a little busy: working, going on a cruise, hanging out with my baby girl as much as possible (which isn't much since she's a senior in high school, volunteer firefighter, and babysits during any free moment). I've also been busy working on a project for a very special young man : Matt's Marine Quilt. I just got the top done last night and now on to all the B's: borders, batting, basting, binding. Somehow I think the hand-piecing of the blocks and putting together the quilt top were the easy parts... we shall see!

Here's the finished quilt top:

And a close-up of some of the hand-pieced blocks in the center...

I had wanted to hand-piece each block, and the entire quilt for that matter, but with a deadline of November 24 that just was NOT gonna be possible. I think he'll be happy with it, even if some is done on the machine. This has definitely been a work of love, and I've enjoyed every single minute of it!

We also celebrated a VERY big day in our family on 10/10/10 ---

my Nana's 100th Birthday!

You tell me...does this look like a hundred-year-old woman to you?? Man, I hope I got some of those great genes!! Love you bunches, Nana!!!