Sorry for the confusion. The November blocks are 6-3/8″ finished and 6-7/8″ unfinished....

I’m always alert to interesting ways to use nine-patch blocks.  For many years I participated in a quarterly swap of 3.5″ nine-patches. The swap has ended but I am not bereft– I have a box with several hundred of the little gems. This month’s block features 3.5″ nine-patches (two fabrics, dark corners). If you have a few on hand you can use them; if not, they’re quick to make. Dig into your scrap bin and have...

I put the poppy blocks up on the design wall.  A side-by-side design didn’t thrill me. What about alternate blocks?  And this happened.  It’s approx. 60 x 72, all from my stash (in addition to the lotto winnings).  Cathy L. in Iowa, you inspired...

I dug into my stash and found three Halloween novelty prints in pieces large enough for this month’s blocks.  Add these to the donation list.  I’ll keep the design idea in mind for the next I Spy or Happy Blocks...

With the arrival of Margaret’s blocks in today’s mail I have all 40.  My design wall happens to be empty — I’ve got room to play! (*Antipodes = diametrically opposite part of the earth, which Australia is if you live in England. I don’t, but the word is fun. The root is “those with the opposite feet.”)

Karen’s poppy blocks arrived from South Africa today. Thanks!  

. . .I’ve just mailed the baskets to both Kathy and Peggy.

Linda’s block arrived in today’s mail.  I’ve received all the U.S. poppies — just waiting for the transoceanic bunch to get here! Thanks for the Duluth postcard, Linda. We’ve been there twice on Road Scholar trips — 2005 at UW-Superior and 2011 at Naniboujou Lodge.  (And I highly recommend Northland, by Porter Fox. He traveled the length of the U.S. / Canada border from Passmaquoddy Bay to the Strait of...

Cathy L’s poppies came in today’s mail. Thank you!

Today’s mail:  poppy blocks from Julie P. in Iowa.

Barb P’s poppies swam across Lake Michigan and arrived today.  (Thanks for asking, Barb — my back is much better!)

These were fun to make!  (A tip:  you can cut two 5 x 10 rectangles rather than a 10″ square if you’re trying to use...