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. :)

Last set of Birthday Blocks for 2013

It's hard to believe and a bit sad to know that I've completed all the birthday blocks for my 2013 online birthday block swap.

These last two blocks go to Jean in Wisconsin.  Her fabric request was for Christmas themed, red, green and white.  Since Christmas and the month of December has always been my favorite time of year, you would think that I would be prepared for this request.  Nope....not one little bit! LOL  I finally located a few small pieces in my stash...just enough to make two blocks...not enough for mistakes or do-overs. :) :) :)

In the end, I think I am the most pleased with this set of blocks.  After purchasing The Learning Curve Ruler earlier this year and using it so often to make blocks once I owned it...the other participants jokingly say I'm "curve crazy".  Their jokes actually pushed me to get more creative in my blocks.

I'm am beyond THRILLED with this first block I designed...

My quilting buddy Marianne spoke out loud what I was already thinking in my head....wouldn't this block make an awesome quilt in and of itself?  Now you know what one of my projects will be for 2014...to design a quilt using this block. :)  I'm so excited!!!  Can't wait to start!!!!

I'm happy with the second block also....

Are you able to see the curved diamond square in the center?  I love it!!!!  That one small part was my own idea while playing around with the ruler.

Here are the two together.....

Before I ended up with the finished blocks above...there was quite a bit of playing around with the placement of squares.  I wish I had thought to take photos of all the different placements I considered...but I didn't. :(

Here are a couple of the last alternate layouts I considered....after I thought to grab the camera! LOL

You may recall that I am the last birthday girl on the list.  I've already received 5 packages but I'm saving them to open on my birthday.  You will have to wait another month to see them. :)

Happy Sewing!

Sewing Room Make-over!

Okay...so a make-over may be overdoing it.  To be honest...we're talking more of a "cleaning and reorganizing" of my sewing room. Whatever you want to call it...I'M HAPPY!!!!

When my daughter Amanda moved into her own home last year, I took over her old bedroom.  No more sewing on the kitchen table for me!!!!!!!!

Well....the bright mustard yellow walls took a little getting used to...but they have grown on me and I actually like them now.  Go figure! :) :) :)

My sewing furniture consists of whatever has been handed down to me by my children and other family members over the years....but that's okay....free is good!

As you enter my SUNNY sewing room.....

As you can see, I have one of my Featherweights setting on a vintage school desk (matching vintage school desk to the left of the first one...I did home school twin daughters and a younger daughter after all! :) :)

I have this machine already set up to do curved piecing or anything that doesn't require a 1/4" seam allowance.  I plan to set another Featherweight on the desk next to it to have set up for paper-piecing.  I just push my chair to whatever sewing machine I need for each particular project.

As your eyes turn to the right of the room....

More storage/shelving.  I decided to use a shower curtain rod and hang lace curtains over the closet to hide the stacks of batting, pillow forms, additional sewing machines, etc.  I'm really glad I moved the old rocking chair into the room (I rocked my babies in that chair....hope to rock more grand babies in years to come).  It gives me a comfortable place to sit and hand sew while watching TV.

Turning to face the opposite wall....my main sewing and cutting space.....

Prior to moving to NY, I had always had a formal dining room....but NO MORE.  So....I set up one of the dining room tables with all of it's extensions to create this space.  I keep this Featherweight set up to do all my quilt piecing that requires a 1/4" seam allowance.  I can easily push my machine toward one end (or remove it completely)  if I need more cutting space.  I can also set up my Pfaff embroidery machine on the right end of the table whenever I need to use it.

Since the room already had cable run to it...I set up my daughter Kirsten's old tiny television set in one corner.  I can sew to my heart's content and keep up with my shows. :)

Turning to face the last wall....

Now you see my design wall with a "quilt in progress" on it.  I really need to enlarge the size of my design wall.  Do you see my little step stool?  I'm short....only 5 foot even...do I hear you laughing because I must use a step stool to play with my design wall???  heeheeheehee

The next day, I thought of another item to organize....my embroidery software/cds....

Yes...another discarded item from one of my daughters....Emily, to be exact.  When she moved out to live with her sister Amanda...she no longer wanted the two over-the-door music cd holders.  Huuummmmm....perfect for storing my embroidery cds where I can easily see them and use them whenever needed.

Another day goes by and I decide that I MUST have more design space.  I don't want to spend any money purchasing one....soooo.......I rummaged through my stash of fabric and came up with a 2 yard piece of flannel that I don't have any immediate plans for.....taa daa!  Hang it on the wall backwards and we have an instant expanded design wall....

Can you believe I filled that space the very same day!!!!!  :) :) :) :) :) :)

Note to self....must look for additional flannel yardage from my stash....need more design space!!!!

How do you like my humble sewing space completely furnished with odds and ends?

Time to go play in my room. :)

Tula Pink Blocks 11 - 15

It's been awhile since I worked on any new blocks from the Tula Pink's City Sampler 100 Modern Quilt Blocks book.

You should know me well enough by now to know that I am constantly jumping from one UFO to another UFO.  But I must be honest and say that I have impressed myself with how many projects I've actually FINISHED this year!  I'm actually proud of myself!!! :) :) :)

As a reminder...these blocks measure 6 1/2"  at this point.  There are a total of 100 blocks in the book and I'm just making them in the exact same order that they are printed in the book.

So....for your entertainment....here are my completed blocks 11 - 15.......

Block #11.....

Block #12....

Block #13...

Block #14...

Block #15...

Happy Sewing!

Birthday Blocks Going to Wisconsin

Time for another set of birthday blocks.  This time they are headed to a quilter in Wisconsin.

This time, the requested colors were burgundy, hunter green, navy and cream.  Strangely, I had a difficult time locating colors in my stash to fulfill this request.  The lighting in the photo makes the burgundy look more red....but in person, it is a dark wine/burgundy fabric.  I stumbled upon a lovely piece of hunter green with a burgundy paisley design and then found a piece of cream with a hunter green vine and small burgundy flowers print.

Even if the photos don't do the blocks justice...in person the blocks are quite lovely and I am pleased with the results.  Although I did not include a navy piece within the construction of the blocks, I'm not too concerned because I know that other quilters participating will fill that need.

I only have one more set to make and then I'm finished for this year.  My birthday is the last one on the list (late December)...but I've already received two packages of birthday blocks...one from Australia and one from Wisconsin.  I have a feeling that several others will be mailing my blocks early for fear that they will get too busy and forget to mail them around Christmas.  That's okay....I set a gift bag on top of my china hutch and am simply putting the envelopes inside as they arrive.  I've never had any problem saving things and opening them at the proper time so that is my plan.  I will save them until my birthday and open them in the same order that they arrived. :)  Opening my birthday quilt blocks will help take the sting out of the fact that this birthday will be my BIG 50!!!  :) :) :)

Until next time....

Log Cabin Wallhanging or Table Topper

Isn't this log cabin adorable?

It finishes at 40" x 40" and is suitable to hang or use as a table topper.  Last year my friend Marianne, my mom and myself all made the same project.  In order to have so many different fabric choices within the design, we shared our cut strips of fabrics with each other!  Good idea...huh????  All the fabrics are Civil War Reproductions.....LOVE them!

This particular one was pieced by my mom.  I've had it for quite some time just waiting to find time to quilt it.

Now that my daughter's basketball season has started (practices at least), I needed to stock up on hand-sewing items to keep me occupied during the many hours of sitting in the car or inside a gym waiting on her.  That means I need to get a nice stack of pieced quilt tops quilted and ready to sew the binding on the back by hand.....in other words....I need to get busy!!!!!

I decided to use a traditional quilting design called Baptist Fans on this tradition Log Cabin.  Actually, the pantograph I used is called "Continuous Baptist Fans" and was purchased online from Urban Elementz.

I couldn't be happier with the finished look!  The photo above shows the back of the quilt.  I decided to back it with a natural muslin.

Thankfully, I was able to get it trimmed and squared up, binding machine attached to the top, and ready to take with me to my daughter's practice last night.

The gym didn't have seating set-up so I ended up sitting in my Jeep...in the dark!  Every fanatical quilter goes prepared for any situation....so....I brought out a battery operated, goose-neck sewing light....attached it overhead to the sun visor....directed the light on my quilt and then I sewed, baby sewed! :) :) :)

Until next time, KEEP SEWING (even in the dark!)

Texas Bound Birthday Blocks

Whew!  The last set of birthday blocks needed for the month of October are in the mail heading for Texas.  Hollie requested her blocks be constructed using fabrics in two shades of golds and two shades of greens.

The first block is another Blazing Star by Eleanor Burns.  Since I really like this block, I decided to make it again even though I made it for another October birthday quilter a couple of weeks ago. :)

And as to be expected...this second block was another "playing around with my Learning Curve Ruler".

The two blocks side-by-side.....

Oh how I wish that I had made duplicates of ALL the birthday blocks I've made this year.  (I'm kicking myself at this very moment!) LOL  Had I only thought to do that...I would have ended up with the most beautiful, multi-colored, sampler quilt of my very own. :(  Oh well....at least I get to look forward to receiving my OWN birthday blocks from all the other quilters in a couple of months.  I'm the last quilter on the list, with a birthday in late December. :)

Until next time....happy sewing!

Virginia Bound Birthday Blocks

Now to show the birthday blocks made for the third birthday quilter with a birthday in October.

This new set of blocks is heading to the state of Virginia for Lynne.  The colors Lynne requested were black, red and white.  There have been several quilters participating in the Birthday Block Swap who have chosen this same color combination.

I actually made the same blocks that I made two sets ago....in the same color combination...BUT, the fabric/color placement is totally different which gives a completely different look to the blocks themselves.

First block is called Party of Four.....

Now....just to remind you what it looks like with the same fabrics (almost), but colors placed differently within the construction of the block.  Here is the same block design I made for Terri in New York City just a few weeks ago....

Don't they look like totally different block designs?  

Here is the second block I made for Lynne in Virginia...using The Learning Curve Ruler....

Again....just to remind you....here is the same block, using the same fabrics....just placed differently....

This is a prime example why I never grow tired of quilting!!!!

Before ending today's post....here is a photo of both of Lynne's blocks side by side....

Keep that sewing machine humming!