Progress on My Jubilee Quilts

I'm afraid I stay behind and can not seem to keep up with the Barrister's Sow-a-long over at Randy's blog. But.....I am trying!! I most likely, would have not had such a hard time of it had I not decided to make an extra quilt in all Christmas fabrics.

Both of these quilts are my Jubilee quilts, made in the year I turned fifty. I can honestly say, I would never have believed I would have completed all of these blocks and continue to stay sewing to complete these quilts. I guess my motivation is "turning 50" and needing something(s) to commemorate that event!

To get a better look at fabrics...click photos to enlarge

I decided to lay all of the blocks out and take a look at how they were coming together.  So far, I have completed 39 blocks for each quilt.

Here are the Christmas fabric blocks. At this point I am not sure which set of blocks I love the best!!

And speaking of behind.....I am six blocks behind before the new blocks are released on Randy's blog.

But if you do that math....that translates to TWELVE blocks behind.....six blocks for each quilt!!

I have all the blocks cut out....and if this looks like a gillion pieces...well believe me it feels like a gillion times ten to me!!! I need to get these sewn together today if possible, or at least make a good dent in these blocks....there are tiny pieces in here.....so wish me luck!! I think the new blocks come out this week....so I need to get busy!!!

Have a great day!!! Sew something fantastic!!

Finished For Friday - Quilt Blocks for Jubilee Quilt

This week, I was able to finish the new blocks for the Barrister's Sow Along and in doing so, that keeps me all caught up and up to speed for the next blocks to be released.

Here are the four blocks all done.

And here are the same blocks in the Christmas colorways. I am loving how this is coming along. Lots of fun here...

I received my package for the In The Bag Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge. These came from BJ in Arizona. Click here to see the post on the Challenge blog. I am so excited about what I am going to do with these fabrics.

Lastly, I thought I'd leave you with this thought for the weekend....maybe something to remember next time you happen to be in a fabric store with your husband........

......these are SO going to by my words when he asks about how much fabric I am buying!!

Have a great weekend!!!! Sew something fantastic!!

Piecing Blocks - Jubilee Quilt

This is a milestone year for me, as you may recall in March I turned the big 5-0. While it passed without  parades marching and bands playing there are some really stand out moments for me. I think mentally it has been a time for stopping and reevaluating many aspects of my life and shedding things that really don't have a front and center place anymore in my life. I guess it is in passing milestones that spark an interest in trying to figure out how we got to this point and where we'd like to go in the future....especially when you have felt for months that the future is really rather short compared to where you have already been in the past....just sayin'

At the beginning of this year, I read online where several quilters were marking this same milestone in making a Jubilee quilt to commemorate turning 50 in 2012. My friend Lane is taking part in that very quilt along. I knew that these blocks were way over my abilities and have watched it progress and wished I had at least tried the beautiful pieced blocks. But I know my abilities and I really felt this was way out of my skill level.

A couple of weeks ago, I read on Bonnie Hunter's blog where she is making a Jubilee quilt as well, however this one is different from the others I have seen. This quilt along started in February and she was talking about the April addition to the blocks. I decided this was surely doable for me and knew this was what I'd do for my Jubilee 2012 Turning 50 commemorative quilt. The "sow-along" is hosted by Randy at Barrister's Block blog, stop by and have a look. She post new blocks twice a month, the first and third Wednesday of the month, so I knew I was not too terribly far behind.

I went back and printed up all the instructions for the blocks to date and started cutting and sewing. The finished quilt will be a Farmer's wife quilt and I have always admired them but felt like the blocks might be too difficult. Somehow in doing a sew-along, I feel less intimidating, as I am only looking at a small part at one time, and not the whole thing.....it works for me!

Now like this was not enough to take on in between other sewing I am doing, I got a wild idea yesterday as I was out thrifting around town. There is a really nice local resale shop not too far from my home and I love to go look for vintage sheets there once in a while. Yesterday, I was looking in the area where they have all the sheets and there was a huge basket of fat quarters in Christmas fabrics. These were what I would consider vintage as they were from Cloth World and I don't know about where you live, but around here, Cloth World has been gone for a long time!! The fat quarters were 50 cents, and I bought about 10 of them, took them home and washed them, and decided as I was folding them to put away that I just might as well use them. So....guess what I decided to do???

Yep, I am making two of these quilts this year to mark my turning the big 5-0. One out of Christmas fabrics and the other for every day. Crazy I know...but I have made the first six blocks for each and am ready to push forward and get caught up before the first of May. Ambitious? Well certainly it is, but then again....turning the big 5-0 was a rather "ta-da" moment for me and this will be a good project to work on this year!

I am finishing up another special quilt project and hopefully will have it off to the quilter on Monday.....that is a story of itself....one that will be following after the recipient gets the quilt. Stay tuned......

Also, the final weeks of signing up for the "In the bag - Ugly fabric quilt challenge" is winding down. If you have not checked that out, click HERE to sign up and participate! It should be a lot of fun and hope every one enjoys it! I have a new post up on that blog so hop on over and look around!! That will start on May 1st.

Have a great weekend everyone!!! I am thinking next week I will have big news to share here with all of you....it may have something to do with a dachshund.....stay tuned!

Linking up with finished for Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Vintage Thingie Thursday: 1962

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I have been busy working on a project that needs immediate attention and in a timely fashion.  If you missed my post last night about donating quilt blocks for a little girl battling cancer, click here to see if it is something you can do! Thanks in advance. 


This week, it is a flash back from 50 years ago.....because of my very vintage self and turning 50 today....thought this would be a little out of the normal for me, and fun memories of hard to believe 50 years ago. 

Typical kitchen in 1962. Love the appliances and how the different textures are in the one room.

1962 Frigidaire add for Flair Ranges. Oh. How I love this range. My aunt had one of these in her kitchens for years. It was not pink, and I am sure it was a newer model than this one, but I always was amazed by this kitchen appliance, and honestly today, if I could fine one that worked, I'd have it! I loved the double ovens, and the stove part would close up like a drawer when not in use. Lots of memories from being in the kitchen and meals cooked on this stove. It is a fond memory for me.

John H. Glenn, Jr., became the first American to orbit the earth during Friendship 7 orbit.

  Take a look at this 1962 ad from Inland Homes. It is so hard to believe that was only 50 short years ago.

Average Cost of new house $12,500.00

Average Income per year $5,556.00

Average monthly rent $110.00 per month

Tuition to Harvard University $1,520.00

Average Cost of a new car $3,125.00

Eggs per dozen 32 cents

Gas per Gallon 28 cents

In 1962 the birth of surfing music by the beach boys grew in popularity and in England....

The Beatles record the single, "Love Me Do" was all the rage. The new hit for television was the Beverly Hillbillies.

Here is a look at the spring fashions for 1962.....very Jackie O and so stylish

Here is another ad from a magazine in 1962.

One of the new toys for 1962:

Made by: Fisher Price
Price: 79 cents - $1.69

Description Rings on a cone to help babies develop hand-eye coordination and learn their colors. Choose from a set with six rings or a set with ten rings.


And yes...I am sure I had one of these!!


Here is a video of a television commercial for Imperial Sugar....seems Sam Houston's favorite cake was white cake.......




(Click the arrow to view the commercial)

It happens to by my favorite as well.....Thanks for letting me stroll down a half a century ago during the year I was born!

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!! Have a wonderful week!

Not Old Enough or Too Old?

Seriously, we are not out of February YET and guess what came today in the mail? How very thoughtful of AARP to make sure I was aware that this next Birthday is THE BIG ONE!! Yep, they sure don't want a senior left behind. Seriously??? I am OLD enough for AARP ?!?!?

And wouldn't you know it.....someone else wanted to make sure they got their birthday greetings in early too.


Seriously, what are the chances that AARP application and a gift card from Victoria's Secret came on the same day??

I wonder if VS knew of this, if they would have saved the postage and not mailed the card thinking I was too old..... How appropriately timely of VS to sooth the rather red whelp left on my wrinkled cheek by AARP today.

I am not going to tell Victoria's Secret that at my age....no amount of gift cards could help me look like that model on the brochure.....that will just be my little secret!! I do however, appreciate the fact they still want my money!

I think Maxine has the right idea......just sayin'

Take that AARP......see ya next month!!! Wonder what could be next??? Coupons for Depends???? Good Grief!! 

In celebration of ONE EXTRA day in February, come by tomorrow....one day only, a giveaway and links to lots of giveaways going on for Leap Day!!

Documenting A Year Of Your Life

Today is January 4th, 2012. Let me ask you something.......do you remember what you did January 4th 2006? What about how you felt on that day?? Honestly, I can not even tell you what I did on the 4th day of last month, much less any length of time after that.

This year is a milestone year for me. I turn fifty this year. It has been a mounting feeling of panic and dread as 2011 came to a close. I always thought fifty was so old and now....well, here it is right in my face front and center. 

In December, I decided this would be a good year to actually celebrate a milestone instead of letting the doom and gloom of feeling like time is running out take over my very being. And trust me when I say that would be oh so easy to do. That is just really how I deal with uncomfortable things. The gloomy will take control if I allow it. But not this year.

I purchased a journal while out Christmas shopping and started January 1st writing something each and every day. This is a new concept for me, so I really am having to force myself to write in there and yea....you are right it is only day four!!

I also decided to log a perpetual calendar. This was super simple to put together with just some note cards, a date stamp (purchased online) and a box to hold the cards. The idea here is that the calendar sits on your desk and each day has a card. Each day you can write a note, a little memory, or a quote and then move the card to the back of the stack revealing the next days card. Year after year you can add new notes to each days card, while also reflecting on the notes and messages you left for yourself from years past. ( I wish I had started this a few years ago...but then again, I am turning 50 this year, so it is as good of time to start than any)

And lastly, I decided to document a year in photos and called it The Coloradolady Project 365. Taking a single photo each day for one year. I added a new blog just for this. Made a new button which is on my sidebar. Clicking it will take you there.  At the end of the year, I plan on turning these daily photos into a book to serve as a reminder of this milestone year.


Ambitious? Maybe since I don't normally do these types of things. But I think it is totally worth a little time out of my day to do this at least this one year. I have found so far it only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish to do this and well....we all can find 10 minutes out of our day.....or at least I can.

 What about you?? Do you do something like this already? Have you ever thought about doing a project like this...maybe not all three at once, but one or the other? What's holding you back?? It is only day four into the new year...and well.....we all know bloggers take photos daily....so it is not too late to get started. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I have lots of friends turning 50 this year as well.....its not too late to get started!!