Kate's Boomers

Here are 9 boomers for the collection - this block is a superb illustration of one of the reasons I play the lotto - this is not a block I would probably have ever picked to make for myself, nor indeed a colourway I tend to work with, but actually, I am really fond of these blocks and now would really quite like to win them!

Great Blocks, Everyone

Thanks to all for the great cactus pot blocks I received in June. I am anxious to lay them all out and try using them to make 12" blocks and set them as a frame around a basket wall hanging I started several years ago.
I have shared my swapping saga with an elderly friend (an ex-quilter) and van rider who has severe macular degeneration; I want to have her touch and talk with me as I experiment with this layout. She had tried to do a swap years ago, but it must have been one of these "pyramid" scams and although she sent a very nice block she heard nothing back from anyone.
She has been so thrilled to hear about the different colors I received and the letters from Isreal, UK, and the US and now I want to at least share with her feeling your blocks.
I think I was able to thank each of you in your comment area, if not, maybe I can do better now that I think I can write posts. Kathy in Colo

Blocks received and sent

I have today posted my June blocks off to both Kathryn in Allentown and Ginny in Brooklyn hope you recieve them soon, I also received my first blocks from Celine it was a little like opening Xmas presents so exciting and look forward to the postman calling again the blocks are loverly also the kind words you but in with them

June blocks sent!

Blocks on their way to Kathie! Congratulations June winners!!!

blocks in the mail

My blocks have gone to Sylvia yesterday and accross to the USA today. They should reach you within 5 days. Congratulations to the winners!
Celine

the boomers

Here's the boomer...And here's the boomerette!
I had fun in EQ6 -- if anyone wants the file, I'll figure out how to forward it.

Julie

post office report

Kathie and Silvia -- your blocks went in the mail today!

Julie

Welcome Lisa!

How nice to get mail from Lisa today . . . asking about the block lotto. She followed up with photos of her 7 Oklahoma Boomer blocks. Aren't they charming? You can read more about Lisa, including her comments on making these blocks, on her blog, BlogginMommy.

Welcome to the block lotto, Lisa. I've added your blocks to the list. Our new total-so-far this month is 17 .

Surfing the 'net, I found this pretty red, white and blue quilt with boomer blocks.
It's on this website:
http://www.claudiasquiltshoppe.com/newsletterJuly2007.htm

Ginny, Kathie, and Sylvia - blocks in the mail

Congratulations to the June winners!
My blocks are in the mail to you - enjoy!
Gail

Mailings

I mailed my two blocks to Sylvia this a.m. Travel time = 5-10 days to the U.K.
Congrats!

Mailings

I've mailed my blocks to Sylvia and Kathie. Also, a heads up to Barbara...I sent 4 new thrifty blocks to replace the ones that never made it in May. Hope these make the trek with better success.

Shelley

Kathie's July Boomers

I'd never seen this block before, but it is a snap to make. Seeing all these men lined up, I wondered where the Oklahoma Boomer Woman block was! I hope you all (the Americans, at least) have a festive Independence Day holiday.

Kathie in Allentown, PA

*** It's Time to Mail Your June Blocks ***

Everyone should have received email from me last night with information about mailing your June blocks to our winners.

If you made June blocks and didn't receive the email, please let me know ASAP.

If you received the email and have problems opening the attachment, found an error in the attachment or have questions, ditto . . . please get in touch with me ASAP–email me or post a comment here.

Thanks again, everyone for your participation and all your beautiful 30's sampler blocks.

For tips for mailing your blocks, follow the link.

July's Block is Oklahoma Boomer in Red OR Blue

The Ladies Art Company first published the Oklahoma Boomer block in 1898. I have always loved this block and couldn't resist including it for the block lotto in this year of traditional blocks.

. . . It's just a happy coincidence that I saw a production of The Wizard of Oz a week ago and keep seeing the Tin Man, an alternate name you might also see for this block, as in Judy Hopkins & Nancy Martin’s book, 101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts.

In July, our guidelines for fabric will be:

Main fabric (AKA BOOMER) will be RED or BLUE tone-on-tone (TOT) prints. if you make multiple blocks, you must use a different BOOMER fabric for each.

Background fabric will be cream TOT prints. You may use the same BACKGROUND fabric in all of your blocks.

(Thanks to Kathy in Colorado for this blue Boomer.)

Directions for the block are found here: Oklahoma Boomer Quilt Block. I didn't see an easy way to paper piece this little guy (in less than 4 units), but Debbie DID. Julie has created the Paper Foundation Piecing pattern for the block, as well as her original "Boomerette"block. If you would like to paper piece the block, contact me by email and I'll forward the PDF files to you.

Since LIFE was in the way and I couldn't even think about building a virtual quilt for inspiration this month, how about this Tin Man quilt from Hopkins and Martin's book. Even if you're not so hot on the Red-Blue-Cream colorway, you can see how adding a fourth color in the sashing might take the blocks in a new direction . . . and you still might want to enter (and maybe WIN!)

This quilt keeps it quite traditional with the addition of gold, but how about adding more of a true yellow for a red-blue-yellow primary colorway, or a bright multicolor print for a more contemporary look? I think an imaginative winner could take these blocks in a lot of directions . . . if a patriotic BOOMER wasn't their cup of tea. (Of course, a Patriotic Boomer quilt could be pretty wonderful, if it was ;-)

I think a row quilt of alternating rows of red boomers and blue boomers "holding hands" could be fun, too.