Well, I finished sewing the pretty lady today...I just need to prep the back and get it quilted.  Up close, this quilt doesn't look like anything in particular, but when you stand back you can see the Mona Lisa...

Three weeks ago, Michaela's dog had 7 puppies.  She bought this dog from the Humane Society for $300 against my wishes and brought it home.  The dog was malnourished and abused and guess what...pregnant.  After having the dog for 1 month, she delivered the little ones.  We have found homes for all but 2... 

The little one is Lady.  My daughter in law wants her.  She is adorable and has the cutest markings.  She also has a black spot right where her tail is....cute cute cute!!!

Checking in with Mona...

 Here's how I have set out making Mona...I've attached the pattern with magnets and  have a paper handy to show my place...

 This is the current section I am working on...It has 7 sections of 10 rows and I am currently working on the 5th section...

 the pattern suggests pressing open seams and I have found out that is the only way I can get a good press...very time intensive, but worth it...

 I diligently mark each row with a label telling me what row it is so they stay in order...

This panel shows the chin on the Mona Lisa...I really have had fun doing this quilt.  It is not one for me that I can just whip out.  It is meticulous and accurate so you can get the image right...my fine art piece is on it's way...

Another UFO...

 This UFO eluded me for a few years.  I could not figure out how to piece the missing section.  I was having a hard time figuring out what block size to put in, etc.  Then, I couldn't figure out what block I wanted to have there.  This project started out as a challenge from our LQS and we were to take the panel and design a quilt around it.  Well--I got this far and it sat for years...needless to say, I did not win the challenge...My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe here in my area has a club for UFO's.  We meet on the 3rd Friday of the month at the store from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm.  The company is FABULOUS, the motivation it has created for me to finish up things is FANTASTIC and I get so inspired by all who go there!!!

Yesterday, after coming home from work, I decided I would finish this UFO and get it ready for quilting.  I decided to stay with the churn dash block theme and made a couple...put spacers in between, and did some tweaking and voila...now I can get it quilted and have a little patriotic quilt for our July 4th...

Reunion, Finish and Store Sample

 Family Reunion...Here is a picture of my mom and siblings....I'm second from the left...

 This quilt was a store sample I made a few years ago.  Finally was able to get it quilted and bound.  My son and wife got to take it home today and they seemed to like it!!!

This last quilt top is a store sample I made recently.  It turned out much better than I thought it would and I quite liked it in the end...enjoy!!!