Happy New Year!

Homespun

First things first ... I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2015. Now ... let the quilting begin!

Today's featured quilt block is called Homespun, but you may look at it twice and think it reminds you of blocks with other names. Well, you would be right.

The Homespun quilt block looks similar to both the Cups and Saucers block and the Hands of Friendship block. Close inspection will show you the slight differences. What is nice about these similar blocks, is that you can check out each of them for other ideas for quilt layouts for your future heirloom.

Now, speaking of Health and Happiness ...

• "I think it is very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person."
  ~ Oscar Wilde


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


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


• "If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody."
  ~ Chinese Proverb

Happy New Year, Everyone!

_{Homespun quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
New Year image courtesy of franky242 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

Hands of Friendship

Hands of Friendship

One of the most special people in your life will be your best friend. Friends are a necessity in life -- to share all those laughable times and those sad times too. Friends are there for all those important life events. So on that segue, how about a look at the quilt block Hands of Friendship?

This quilt block is a nine patch block made with simple shapes -- the half square triangle and the flying geese units. Perhaps there is a future quilt here just waiting to be created for your best friend.

And now for some quotes about friendship ... and from a variety of sources

Best friends

• "Wine adds a smile to friendship and a spark to love."
  ~ Edmondo de Amicis


• "Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."
  ~ Muhammad Ali


• "Being honest may not get you many friends but it'll always get you the right ones."
  ~ John Lennon


• "A friend is one who takes me for what I am."
  ~ Henry David Thoreau

_{Hands of Friendship image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Cute little girls image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net}