Thrift store find :)

There is a little thrift store one block away from the high school campus.  I have picked up a few things there very reasonable.  There has been a little (11x11) water color picture that has been professionally framed sitting there since May.  It was still there today when our class went out on a community awareness walk, I looked at it again and thought I really want this but I don't want to pay $18.00  yes I am thrifty, so I told the man behind the counter "this has been here since May, I would like it - can you reduce the price?"  He said  he would take $ 8.00 off, I grabbed it and 4 big paperback books for a total of  $13.10.

It looks so much like a quilt block I couldn't resist it,  I call it Ladybugs and Honey Bees :)

Big find at IKEA this morning!

25 spaces for storage Yippee!

Half way through!

 Previously this month, I had tried to reclaim some wooden shelves that had been part of a child's bedroom suite from life before Janet came to live. I had put them outside and how was I to know that here in southern California that things can get all mildewy.  Anyways, I had slathered them in bleach and then washed with vinegar and water and let sit in the sun for three days.  Then I brought them in.  They stuck like musty old rotten wood.  I lived with this smell for a over a week, but it wasn't getting any better.

So this morning Carnell and I set off for IKEA in Carson.  I really do not like this store, but know for shelving units it really can't be beat! I found a style I liked and it would have taken two units and hours of putting them together :( and over $ 200.00, but they would have been fine.  So on the way out I said "let's look at the "as is" - there it was a totally different shelving unit but for half the cost and fully assembled.  We also have a truck, so there is no problem there.  Carnell was all for it.  As you can see the shelves are white and the frame is beige - who cares?  Not me!  So for $99.00 plus tax I have storage space for quilting, crafts,  and misc. stuff!

My new sewing area!

We are taking about mounting the flat screen tv and me using the media cupboard as part of the storage wall.  It is tucked on the far right side, I would paint it white though, as it is bare pine. Also think of getting a pegboard and mounting it above to hang things on.  I am so pleased with our find - tickled pink truly. I have a large space in front of my sewing center so that I can sandwich the quilts with spray basting! 

A quilt for a niece in Virginia

This is one of six quilts for our nieces and a sister-in-law in Virginia.  It is a variation of the French Reel by Moda.  I used a skinnier light color between the strips.  It is composed of  2 sets of fat quarters that I bought at Tuesday Morning and some other colors from my stash.  I really like the backing, it is called Kimono and is from a Connecting Threads collection - I bought it for $ 2.47 a yard on clearance!  I meandered with Free Motion quilting using  an Orange Spice polyester thread from Connecting Threads - I think I used over 2000 yards of thread :)
There are two coordinating pillowcases to go with the quilt.  I have completed the tops for 5 of the 6 and am awaiting some supplies to do the last one. I am looking forward to having this project all completed!

This bag and matching tissue holder is for my good friend and fellow quilter, Clara.  We are going out for Mexican tomorrow night to celebrate her 68th birthday!  I hope she likes it :)