Block Names / Layout Names, Non-Quilting Life

This quilt hangs in the restaurant of The Morgan House, a gift shop and tiny restaurant in Dublin, Ohio.  Isn't it delightful?!  And calmer that it would be if the quilter had used more colors.  I included it in a recent post and asked if anyone knew if the pattern had a name.  Several readers responded in the comments.  Thanks so much for looking and sharing, ladies!

• Julierose of julierosequilts and Jocelyn of Canadian Needle Nana called the blocks Dresdens.
  
• QuiltGranma (who doesn't have a blog) thought the pattern might be called Sun Rays.  You can see two examples of Sun Rays quilts here and here.  (I'm including links instead of photos so I don't violate copyright.)
• Janet of Rogue Quilter looked through Brackman's new book and suggested the pattern might be called Path of Fans, Chinese Fans, or Baby Bunting, among other names.  Images for Chinese Fans here, and Baby Bunting here.  Path of Fans below.
  
  


• Robin of I Like to Create thought her mother-in-law called the pattern Indian Trails.  I couldn't find any images for Indian Trails with arcs, though Google doesn't have every answer.  Edited to add:  Robin searched and discovered that the name of the layout of this block is Mohawk Trail.  Thanks so much, Robin!
  

As I was thinking about this quilt I realized that there are blocks and block names and there are layouts and layout names.  (Think about log cabin blocks and the variety of layouts possible, each with its own name.  And other blocks and layouts, too.) 

This is the block that makes the layout pattern for the quilt above.  Unlike the individual blocks for Path of Fans, these blocks have a little pie shape in one corner below the arcs and the "blades" of the arcs are irregular sizes.  Do you think she used paper backing to stitch the strips of fabric? 

I think the quilter took a somewhat casual approach to creating the pieced arcs.  They are irregular widths and the narrow edges are not placed in the same direction.

This is the layout for a larger block comprised of 16 of the smaller blocks.  I think the fan/arc blocks were about 6"-7" square.

The layout is similar to several of those named above even though the small fan/arc blocks aren't exactly like any of them.  Was the creator of this quilt a novice, or a very scrappy quilter with a limited access to fabrics, or was she just using scraps to use them up?  Whatever the situation, I think she created a beautiful and interesting quilt. 

Here are a few more photos of the blocks.  Such fun!  I find the quilting interesting, too.  It has a free-form, inexact look which I think compliments the blocks really well.

I'm glad The Morgan House shares this quilt with its guests.  It's a beauty and a treasure!

Aside from Quilting....
I've had the hardest time getting motivated to quilt or do much of anything else since coming home from time with my daughter and her family in early May.  She was having pains in her abdomen and went to the ER where they determined that she had gallbladder problems and would have to have surgery.  I've spent most of the month wondering if I would be called away spur of the moment or whether I'd have time to do laundry and put the mail on hold before going.  I learned on Wednesday that surgery is scheduled for June 16.  I have time to rest in preparation for lots of activity and to be prepared!

We had sorrowful event the Sunday before last.  When my daughter comes to visit she always brings her two cats, 4-year-old siblings Jack, a tuxedo cat, and Jane, a little grey and white.  On Saturday Jack kept raising his front paw.  My daughter examined it thinking his toenail might be broken or he had something stuck between his toe pads, but his paw seemed just fine.  He continued to raise his paw on Sunday until, on Sunday evening, his back legs became paralyzed.  It was alarming!  We immediately rushed him to the nearest emergency vet where he was diagnosed with a blood clot that caused saddle thrombus or arterial thromboembolism.  The vet said the recovery rate for this condition is about 5% and even if she chose treatment for Jack, it would be long, slow, and painful for him.  With two miserable choices, neither better than the other, she chose to have him put down rather than suffer.  He is at peace and without pain but here we are missing him.  Jack was a cat with personality, a boy who responded to "Hello" with a meow, liked to play fetch, and enjoyed being held like a baby.  It's no wonder my daughter is heart-broken. 

And hasn't this spring been crazy?  In early spring we had late-spring weather.  Then in mid-spring, we had winter weather.  These past few weeks we've had summer weather and now, yesterday and today, it feels like early spring.  What will our summer be like?!

I hope all is well in your home and with those you love.

--Nancy.