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}

All Around the Campfire

Campfire Star quilt block

Ever trying to be the optimist ... I am telling myself that spring is here and soon we will smell the wonderful scent of a wood fire, perhaps from a group surrounding a makeshift campfire. So, on that note, how about taking a look at the Campfire Star quilt block? This quilt block is comprised to two nine patch blocks, each containing flying geese units -- a frequently used patch in quilt making.
 
And ... speaking of things in nature ...

Nature quotes for today

Mother Nature at work

• Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.
  ~ Isaac Newton


• Beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
  ~ Author Unknown


• If you can't be in awe of Mother Nature, there's something wrong with you.
  ~ Alex Trebek

_{Campfire Star image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Mother Nature image - public domain}

Happiness is a Pinwheel

Pinwheel Star

When I was a child and off on a family outing to the fair, it always made me happy when I got a pinwheel. Just seeing it spin in the wind, and flipping through its colours was enchanting for me, since I have always been a lover of colour.

Pinwheels are also a favourite of quilters. Even though the word "pinwheel" does not always appear in the quilt block name, you will see their shapes frequently.  One of my favourites is the Pinwheel Star quilt block.

Happiness quotes  for today

...(And doesn't Albert Einstein's picture just make you smile?)

Albert Einstein

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things."
~ Albert Einstein

"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon."
~ Winnie the Pooh

"Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."
~ Dale Carnegie

More Happiness Quotes...


_{Pinwheel Star quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Albert Einstein photo - public domain}

Ancient Chinese Secret ... ( I just felt the need to say that ...)

Chinese Puzzle quilt

 I just like the quilt block called Chinese Puzzle. By rotating the quilt blocks, you can produce some really interesting results. The quilt block is made entirely of half square triangles, so there is no difficulty. What makes it interesting is the resultant shape created by the different colour values.

And now ... since we are on the subject of Chinese ... I read somewhere that there are more proverbs created by the Chinese than any other nationality. Let's have a look at a few inspirational thoughts for today.

 Ancient (and not so ancient) Chinese Proverbs:

• "A book tightly shut is but a block of paper." 
• "Do not forget small kindnesses and do not remember small faults."
• "A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song." '



Confucius

• "Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." 

And for those couch potatoes out there ... this is for you.

• "Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are."

_{Chinese Puzzle quilt image © W. Russell patchworksquare.com
Confucius image - public domain}

Luck of the Irish

Lucky Clover

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, and so on that note, I thought it was appropriate to showcase the Lucky Clover quilt block, since the Irish are known to be a very lucky lot.

Although this quilt block is simple to make, it can create some very striking quilts. Check out the sample quilts illustrated in the free pattern.

I'll be wearing green tomorrow. How about getting your own Irish on?

Irish sayings or proverbs

• "Irish diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip."
  ~ Author Unknown


• "There are only two kinds of people in the world. The Irish and those who wish they were."
  ~Author Unknown


• "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough!"
  ~ Author Unknown

_{Lucky Clover image  © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Shamrock/hat Image courtesy of Iamnee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net} 

Abe Lincoln for Inspiration

Abe Lincoln's Platform

I was working on a quilt block today called Abe Lincoln's Platform and thought this would be the perfect time to show what an inspirational and thought-provoking man he was as well.

Some thoughts by Honest Abe:

• "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
• "It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues."
  

and finally ... don't forget to smell those roses ...

• "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."

  

  Young Abraham Lincoln

  
  ~ Abraham Lincoln

_{Abraham Lincoln image - public domain
Abe Lincoln's Platform image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}

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}

Two Oscars for Today

Today is the big night in Hollywood -- the night of the Academy Awards, or more commonly known as "The Oscars". So what about another famous Oscar -- I refer to Oscar Wilde. I would be hard pressed to think of a wittier man, so today seemed appropriate to offer a few of his words.

Quotes for today:
For those receiving an Oscar this evening:
"I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best."
~ Oscar Wilde
and some more of Oscar's wit:

Garden Path

"I like men who have a future and women who have a past."
~ Oscar Wilde

For those who do not win an Oscar tonight, perhaps they were led down the Garden Path. Okay, that was lame, but the quilt block is pretty. .


_{Oscar Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Garden Path © W. Russell}