I decided to go with more leaves, it just felt right given there are so many leaves in the applique.  Quilting is now done, though in person you really don't see it as much as in the photo  - black on black.  I am definitely going to try the beaded piping in the binding, I just ordered the book as I'm hoping there are some tips/tricks that will be helpful.  I'm concerned I don't have enough red fabric - enough if I did basic narrow piping but I think the beads will take more.  So I'm considering gold or silver instead.  I especially like the idea of the beads since I put beads in the red frames.  The end is in sight!

by the way, I entered the applique quilt you quilted for me in our local quilt show in the applique category.  I'm taking the approach to the show that it's like a big show & tell, not going to worry about the judging (tho it would be gratifying).  Trying not to let my competative side spoil it.  Assuming this one is done in time (it should be, I have another 6 weeks), I'll enter it as well.

The leaves in the border look great. Your beads sound awesome. How fun to enter some of your quilts in a show. It is always fun to go to the show and see them hanging and appreciated by the people attending the show. Any awards are just frosting on the cake.

I am in New Mexico again and we are trying to empty the house and get it rented. The Penski truck is outside and we are packing like crazy. This is the second load and I just hope we can get most of it this time. We took a large load to the dump today and also to the thrift store. DH has so much stuff in the garage but we are trying to get as much as we can packed and outta here this trip. I know there will be one more trip after this to finish up loose ends. The upstairs has a matress on the floor and just a few things. The living room has all the stuff left in the house and it is all going into boxes. And then there is the garage but we have really been working hard to organize and now to put things in boxes and get them on the truck.

I am really looking forward to doing some serious stash busting in the near future once this house is done and out of our hair. Last load to Colorado I was shocked that fabric boxes kept appearing outta closets, the shed, the garage, not to mention what I had in my sewing room...........all that stuff is up in Colorado and I found a bunch of stuff that I have been missing since the move to Texas and back...............sigh!!!!

Everything about this is so pretty Dee.  You did an amazing job!!!

What a lot of work Ami.  It seems the longer we all live someplace, the more that accumulates.  It can be so tough to downsize though.  I'm really impressed with how much you've gotten accomplished - especially since you're not there full time.  I bet it was fun to find some missing stuff while you were at it.  The "serious stash busting" sounds like a great goal.  You are one who focuses and gets things done so I know you can do it.

Absolutely stunning!  I'm looking forward to seeing it completed. I forgot--how big is it?

I'm tired just reading about how much work you are doing.  I know it is being taken to CO, but where are you storing it?  Did you get a house that I may have missed reading about? 

I've been doing kind of the same thing.  Not moving any where, just making it easier for my kids.  I have a basement full of boxes that will be taken to an auction house when I'm done "cleaning".  These are things that are too good to just send to the thrift shop--antique glassware and other vintage things.  As for my fabric stash--that's another time.

Right now we are moving everything but some furniture that is being stored in two sheds on our property. All the rest is going to Colorado. We have space there in a storage hanger at the airport, and in DBIL basement. Longmont is a thriving area and I am going to put a bunch of stuff on Facebook marketplace to sell up there. At least it is all boxed up and organized on shelves and we can go thru and get rid of much stuff. DH has already sold two motorcycles in Colorado and a third is listed for sale so we are slowly downsizing.

My daughter has great success selling things on Facebook Marketplace so I am going to give it a try. It is free and you can sell local. I furnished her college house entirely from thrifted furniture 4 bedrooms and a living room for $250 and after she graduated and moved out she made a profit on all the stuff by putting it on Facebook Marketplace in her small town, and people came and picked it up from her.

Well finding stuff can be good and bad. Now I have to figure out what to do with it. It is really strange to see most of the house completely empty. Still a lot to do today and tomorrow but just need to keep at it. I figure it will take one more trip to tie up loose ends. We are hoping to come back here in a few years and that is why we decided to rent. With the crazy market these days we will never come close to finding a place like this that is not priced way beyond what we could afford. Right now the average house in the Denver area is $600,000.00 let that sink in!!!!! Who can afford a decent house there any more, it is just insane! We are talking a smallish house in not the best areas and they go up from there!!!

Dee in TX (DBRADFOR3) said:

The end is in sight!

That is going to be a masterpiece quilt for sure.  Hope you can get it into your local show and dazzle the quilters.

I am exhausted just reading about all of the work you are doing.

Bet you won't let stuff pile up like that again because you are getting older and wiser.