X marks the spot!

X and Square quilt block

Thanks to my great friend Monika for giving me the (obvious) title to this blog post. (For some reason, I did not think of it!)

X and Square is the block. From this image shown, you can see where it gets its name. However, while playing around with the block, I made a version with four colours as well, and it looks quite different. You will have to check out the free pattern to see that variation.

I was having fun playing with this block (which at first glance looks rather boring). It always surprises me when those boring blocks make interesting quilts.

So, fun often leads to funny.

Mark Twain

Quotes to make you laugh today

• "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
  ~ Oscar Wilde


• "Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died."
  ~ Erma Bombeck


• "Be good and you will be lonely."
  ~ Mark Twain


• "Ah Mozart! He was happily married - but his wife wasn't."
  ~ Victor Borge

<sub>'X and Square' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
'Mark Twain' image courtesy of public domain

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Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

A Spanish castle

Being a quilter for many decades (how embarrassing now be speaking in terms of "decades" ... ), I have always been curious about the names selected for quilt blocks. Who decides these things? And how do they choose a particular name? Many make no sense to me (and I am hoping to others as well). Oh well, as my daughter would say (decades ago) ... "It's just another one of life's mysteries."

Castles in Spain quilt block

A case in point is the very pretty quilt block called Castles in Spain. Did someone actually see a castle that resembled this quilt block? Who can say? Anyway, this quilt block is a little different in its construction, and being different always intrigues me. It does contain some of the most common patches though ... the quarter square triangle and flying geese units.

So going with the theme of this blog post, here are a few quotes that struck my funnybone or made me think "hmmmm..."

"I couldn't hold a tune if it had handles."
~ Author Unknown

"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart."
~ Erma Bombeck

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
~ Mark Twain

_{Castles in Spain image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Castle image courtesy Image courtesy of xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

It's All About Diamonds

Who doesn't love diamonds whether we are talking about a quilt block or the gems themselves?
Some wise words:

Diamond Star

"Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old secondhand diamonds than none at all."
~ Mark Twain

and what else could one expect from this lady?

"I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."
~ Zsa Zsa Gabor

Today's quilt block is called Diamond Star, and the nicest part is that you use no diamond shapes to create the quilt block. (For newcomers to quilting, this is huge, because it is so easy for diamond pieces to become distorted while you are in the sewing process.) So, sew this block with ease.


_{Image © W. Russell}

Sharon's Delight Quilt Block

I would like to say that I created this quilt block especially for my friend Sharon, but alas, I cannot take the credit. However, the layout of the quilt design is mine. :-)

This version of the quilt block is a scrappy one -- always my favourites and is comprised only of half square triangles and squares.

Download the free pattern for the Sharon's Delight quilt block.

Quote for today

And today's message is a humourous note:
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to."
~ Mark Twain