Waiting for Christmas

Wayy back in March, or possibly even in February, I started a quilt project with a target of Christmas. It was a scrappy quilt, and the call went out to friends and family near and far for bits and pieces. I even hit up the quilt's recipient for some pieces, although she still has no idea what I am making, or even that I am making something for her. (And if she is reading this it is due to a miracle of dial up - so I think I am safe)

I was hoping for a Thanksgiving gifting, so she could use and display the quilt over the holiday season (it will probably be hung on the wall), but I came up a bit short on time (translation - I bit off more projects than I should have and ended up getting behind schedule) so this one will probably wait until Christmas for final gifting.

The top is done -I just need to measure and piece the back, sandwich the whole thing, and figure out how I want to quilt it. Since it will be hung I want to do something a bit closer together than the ties the pattern calls for, but I am not all that confident yet with my machine quilting, and know there is no way I could hand quilt this AND finish up a pile of other projects in the month we have left (Yup - it's in print - ONE MORE MONTH!!!) - I had better decide pretty quickly, though.

Anyway - here it is...
(the flash washed things out a bit I think - it is a bit darker overall than this)

Each one of the appliqued hearts will have a family member's name written in it.
And yes, those border squares are 1" each!!!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the scrap stash on this one - especially Hubby, who donated three of his favorite shirts to the cause - bottom row far right, 2nd row from bottom far right, and third row from the top 2nd from left.

I couldn't have done it without ya!!!

Oh - and there are more blocks waiting in the wings for 4 other gifts and one quilt for ME ME ME!!! (but that one will wait until AFTER Christmas!)