Back to Vegas ...

Roulette Wheel quilt block

Last week I was directing you along the Road to Vegas. This week I'm introducing you to Roulette Wheel.  Hmmm ... is there a trend here?

This four patch quilt block is made entirely of half square triangles, in two different sizes. The construction is a little different than the norm, as not all of the triangles are made into squares. With careful handling of the individual pieces (to avoid distortion of the bias edge), this block will go together in no time.

Reflections on Gambling

• There is no gambling like politics.
  ~ Benjamin Disraeli


• Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing for something.
  ~ Wilson Mizner


• Part of it went on gambling, and part of it went on women. The rest I spent foolishly.
  ~ George Raft

_{'Roulette Wheel' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
'Roulette Wheel' image courtesy of patrisyu at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

Las Vegas: Did You Know ... ?

Road to Vegas quilt block

Today's featured quilt block is called Road to Vegas and it's a simple block using only squares and half square triangles. On the surface it looks kind of plain, but with interesting colour placement and rotation of the blocks, you can come up with all sorts of creative variations when making your quilt. Some of these ideas are illustrated on the free quilt block pattern.

More "Road" blocks to check out:
~ Road to California
~ Road to Mississippi

Some Fun facts about Las Vegas

• When Paul Anka first played Vegas he was too young to be allowed in the casino.
• Bugsy Siegel named his casino the Flamingo, which was his nickname for his showgirl girlfriend who had very long legs.
• In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital had to suspend workers who were betting on when patients would die. One nurse was even accused of murdering a patient so she would win.
• Howard Hughes stayed at the Desert Inn for so long that he was asked to leave. So, rather than leave, he bought the hotel for a reported $13 million.
• The Las Vegas strip is the brightest place on Earth when looked at from outer space.
• The largest sum won on any Las Vegas slot machine was at the Excalibur. After putting in $100, a 25 year-old software engineer won $39 million, beating the 1 in 16.7 million odds at the time.
• Las Vegas casinos never use dice with rounded corners.
• Las Vegas has the highest number of unlisted phone numbers in the United States.
• Although gambling is the number one industry in Nevada, weddings come in second. The average number of daily weddings in Las Vegas is 315.

_{'Road to Vegas' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}