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.