My Big 50 Birthday

It happened....didn't matter how hard I tried to hang onto 49...December 20th came, along with a bunch of fun and left me a new member of the 50 club!

To begin with...remember all of those birthday blocks I've been making throughout the entire year and mailing to others all over this world?  Well....it was MY turn yesterday.  Unlike the others (who tended to open their envelopes as soon as they arrived in the mail), I actually saved mine to open on my birthday.  I had 14 packages to open yesterday.  There are still a handful left to come, but the bulk of them arrived in time to open on the BIG day!

I had been numbering the packages as they arrived over the past month or so and planned to open them in the exact same order.....

Also, if you remember, the other quilters had requested specific colors for their quilts.  I did something entirely different and requested SCRAPPY!  I told them to make something THEY would like and if they liked it then I knew I would be thrilled with it!  Anyway...I've never met a color I didn't like! :) :)

The first package I opened was from Chris in Australia.....

The second package was from Annette in Wisconsin....

The third package was from Chrissy in Massachusetts...

The fourth package was from Debra in Missouri....

The fifth package was from Jean in Wisconsin...

The sixth package was from Lynne in Virginia...

The seventh package was from Karyl in North Carolina....

The eighth package was from Mabel in New Jersey...

The ninth package was from Virginia in Texas...

The tenth package was from Gael in Australia...

The eleventh package was from Wanda in Texas...

The twelfth package was from Hollie in Texas...

The thirteenth package was from Diane is Florida....

The fourteenth package was from Terri in New York City....

Aren't you just green with envy!!!!!  Oh my goodness....this is going to be one gorgeous quilt!  Once the other packages arrive, I will start playing around with placement and come up with a setting for my quilt top.

BUT....just for the fun of it...I DID go ahead and start laying them out on top of my bed.  The lighting is terrible in the room but it gives you an idea....

Then a little moving around...

Ooooooooooooooooo....this is going to be SO pretty!  I can't wait! :)

Along with all the birthday block packages, I received flowers from friends in Virginia that included lovely black "Over The Hill" balloons. :)  My daughters also gave me flowers.

Dear hubby Ray washed the dishes for me (which happens to be an awesome gift by the way!) and he even thought to stop by the grocery store and pick up a cake! :)

I was able to have three of my four daughters with me to celebrate (it's hard when my oldest daughter and her family live a 12 hours drive away).  Amanda and Emily thought their gift was hilarious!!

Yes...my daughters are all rotten to the core! :) :) :)

So, at the end of the day I can honestly say that turning 50 wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated.  It's certainly better than the alternative!!!!! :) :)  My youngest daughter said...."Well Mom, at least your just Over The Hill and not under it!"  Gotta love my girls!!!!!

Starting Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Mystery

It's that time of year again!!  Bonnie Hunter has designed a new mystery quilt called Celtic Solstice and she is giving the instructions and lessons away FREE to whoever wants to participate!!

Clue #1 was just released this past Friday.  I've been taking my time and enjoying the ride.  I'm not planning to race anyone but I am REALLY hoping that I'm able to keep up with each week's clue along with all the other projects I'm working on and needing to finish (some before Christmas). :)

As of last night...all the pieces for the first clue have been cut out and almost half have been sewn into the needed blocks.

Remaining parts ready to sew....

I do not intend to purchase any new fabric whatsoever to make this King size quilt.  I'm excited to be using a special stash of fabric scraps.  My dear hubby went to an estate auction this past spring and came home with a big surprise for me....boxes (shoe boxes, plastic storage containers, big cardboard boxes, etc., etc.,) of quality quilting fabrics.  The previous owner was obviously a quilter and had lovingly separated the scraps by color families, all sizes from 1" strips, squares, odd shaped scraps, fat quarters, some yardage pieces, some old, some new. I'm sure she had a small fortune invested in this treasure trove of fabrics. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that my hubby didn't spend much at all that day but I feel like I won the fabric lottery! :) :)

Since I'm planning to use the same colors as those suggested by Bonnie Hunter....based on Clue #1's colors and instructions, I pulled out the boxes of blues and the container of oranges.  Unlike many other quilters who are participating, I didn't gather up the fabrics before the first clue was released.  In fact, I plan to pull fabric from the stash AS it's needed. Personally, I think it's more fun to do this way. :) :)

I'm having so much fun pulling out the "new to me" fabric scraps and cutting them up to use in this quilt.  I told my hubby yesterday that I was having a blast playing with his auction finds.  He had a big smile on his face....I think he is proud of himself for this find. :)

Do you want to participate in the mystery?  Just click on this link below:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/celtic-solstice-mystery.html

Once you click on the link...you will find information and additional links to take you to the introduction and fabric requirements post....and to Clue 1.  By the way, Bonnie Hunter provides detailed, easy to understand instructions, plus video helps which show us how to use certain rulers.  She has provided instructions to make your choice of two different sizes of this mystery quilt.  She even provides multiple ways to do it....your choice of using rulers, or paper-piecing, or templates, and more!  She covers EVERYTHING!!!!!

You will be able to download and save/print all the clues as they are released until the mystery ends.  At that time, the free instructions will disappear from the website and will be included in her next book.

Would you like to see the progress of other quilters who are participating?  Just go to the following link:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up-1.html 

Ta Ta for now....I'm headed back to my sewing room. :)