January - NEW YEAR - The Anvil block in black and white
Link to The Anvil
Inspiration picture:

Here are Kate's Anvil blocks for January:

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February - EARTH - Ribbon Quilt block in earth colors of blue, green, beige
Link to Ribbon Quilt
Inspiration picture:

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March - SKY - Flyfoot block in light blue and white
Link to Flyfoot
Inspiration picture:

Here are Kate's Flyfoot blocks:

This post was edited by k8orlando on Sun, Jan 12, 14 at 20:45

Get our your bright, cheerful fabrics because you can use them for April and May!
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April - SUN - Ribbon Stars in brights and white.
You have a choice this month and can do either block or a combination, up to a total of three. Why two blocks? Because one is very simple and the other a bit complicated. We think the two blocks will go together very well, too, as long as you stick to bright, modern colors and white for the background.
Link to instructions for easier Ribbon Star
Link to more complicated Ribbon Star
Inspiration picture:

Here are Val's blocks:

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May - JEWEL - Depression block in vivid blues, greens, reds, yellows.
Link to Depression block
This is an old favorite block but we're going to go bright, bright, BRIGHT with it this time. Make all half square triangles with one 1/2 blue or green and the other 1/2 red/orange/yellow. It will be great for a cheerful gift quilt or a child's quilt. Here's the quilt that inspired this choice:

Here are Kate's Depression Blocks:

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June - MINERAL - Pieced Box block in shades of gray and beige (gold, silver, bronze). No white, please.
We'll leave the brights behind us for now and go with a more sophisticated, subdued palette.
Link to Pieced Box
Inspiration picture:

This post was edited by k8orlando on Sun, Jan 12, 14 at 20:40

Boy! You ladies have been really busy. I'd better get caught up with my UFO's
LindaB/CA

July - MID YEAR - Dewey's Victory block in deep red/maroon, dark blue and cream (NOT white). More cool, classic colors to get us through the hot days of summer.
Link to Dewey's Victory block
Inspiration picture:

Some completed blocks. Note: these all have the outer star in red and the inner pinwheel in blue but you can reverse that if you want and do a blue star with a red pinwheel.

August - OCEAN - Waterwheel Variation block in watery shades of blue, green, purple. No white or beige in this one; use a pale shade of blue, green or purple for the light background squares.
Link to Waterwheel Variation block
Inspiration picture:

September - ANIMAL - Wild Duck block in animal prints with off-white. This is a fun block with an interesting secondary pattern. Try to use either two distinct animal prints, so the block pattern shows up, or use a dark solid for Color #1.
Link to Wild Duck block
Inspiration picture:

This post was edited by k8orlando on Sun, Jun 1, 14 at 14:46

October - FIRE - Contrary Wife in fire/fall colors of red, orange, purple with off-white background. We did this block a couple years ago in jewel tones and Tamie/Bozogardener made a truly beautiful quilt with the blocks. Link to Tamie's quilt picture.
Link to Contrary Wife block
Inspiration picture:

November - MOON - Triple Irish Chain in black, gray, silver, blue with light gray backgound. This pattern makes a large 22" block! The cut pieces are 2 1/2" so they should be easy to work with. It's a good way to use up some of your scraps too. You can make this scrappy in the colors specified (see the scrappy photo) or you can go less scrappy. I think the blocks will blend well either way.

Image of the block - wrong colors but this is the pattern:

Inspiration picture:

Link to the pattern: Triple Irish Chain

December - no regular Lotto for December (but check out the 4th quarter block!)

This post was edited by k8orlando on Thu, Oct 2, 14 at 10:18

QUARTERLY SPECIAL LOTTO
We are also going to have one block each quarter for those who want to try something special. As with the regular Lotto, you can make 1, 2 or 3 blocks.

1st Quarter - due 3/31 - paper pieced 6" Heart in 1930's scrappy. This is a very basic paper piece pattern and a great way to give this method a try if you haven't done one before. There are other free patterns available but let's stick to this one so we know they'll all fit together.
Link to Candy Box Heart paper piece block

2nd Quarter - due 6/30 - paper pieced 12" Birdhouses in brights. Any colors. This is cute, cute, cute! For the holes, you can fuse or applique holes on, or just skip that part and let the winner decide if they want to add buttons instead.
Link to Birdhouse block

3rd Quarter - due 9/30 - paper pieced Leaf - any pattern 6" or more, any leaf, any colors (scrappy OK)
There are several paper piece leaf patterns available for sale from $2 to $6 on line, but you can download a free one here: Paper Piece Leaf
Let us know if you find another free one!

And here's a free pattern that Beth found at Quilterscache called Palm Leaves Hosannah:

4th Quarter - due 12/31 - UPDATE!!! Because of copyright issues, we are removing the 24" Swoon block from our list and replacing it with a beautiful 20" block from Fresh Lemons called Radiant Spendor. It's a fresh approach to a block that dates from the 1800's! How cool is THAT?!? We'll stick with the original plan and do it in Christmas red, light green and white. OK for any shade of red and OK to use Holiday prints. Also OK to do reds in the center and green for the outside stars or vice versa. Let's keep to a white or W.O.W. background so they all go together.
Radiant Splendor is a large block so it won't take many to make a nice quilt or Holiday table topper. We'll post instructions later, but you can find them right now at the Fresh Lemons Quilts website in the 'tutorials' tab. Easy instructions and a great tutorial.

I'll post a picture soon along with a couple sample blocks!

This post was edited by k8orlando on Thu, Jul 24, 14 at 8:29

Nov. link doesn't work here.
Theresa

Oh no! Does it get you to the Jinny Beyer site? From there click on 'Free Patterns' and then 'Double Irish Chain'.

Trying again with the URL link below...

Looks like I was able to edit and fix the link. Thanks for letting me know it was 'broken'!

Here is a link that might be useful: Double Irish Chain

This post was edited by k8orlando on Sun, Jan 5, 14 at 20:22

WOW! I've very impressed!

I love that you have a theme each month, and an inspiration photo as well! And the quarterly blocks are fantastic!

I may have to contribute this year...We'll see!

Good job, gals!

(All links worked for me)

Link is working today. Thanks Kate.
Theresa

You have both done a wonderful job of putting this together. I like the inspirational pics. Thank for all your hard work. I look forward to playing.

I really like the inspiration pictures. They give us a fuller picture of what the quilt colors should be. I'm looking forward to trying some of these!

Thank you for the kind words on my quilt from a previous lotto!

Please note that there has been a change! After making a couple of the Broken Wheel blocks for February, littlehelen didn't think the block worked very well and wasn't up to Lotto standards. She tried a couple others and decided Ribbon Quilt Block was The One. I agree! It's gorgeous in the blue/green/off-white combo and should make a really pretty quilt. This block, in these colors, will work well for any quilt from babies, to teens, to grandparents.

Here are a couple sample blocks in our EARTH colors:

And here's what the finished quilt would look like:

Thanks to littlehelen for working through this for us!!!

Wow, what a fun post. Your plan is very inspirational! I hope to participate more this year.

I agree with you, Kate. I like the Ribbon better. :-)

SharonG/FL

Val found it and used beautiful blue/green prints. I may have to go fat quarter shopping to find something perfect for this one.

I think I have some blue/green batiks that might do the trick for this one.

March: I made Flyfoot today. Love the light blue and white.

SharonG/FL

I updated the posts today to add some sample blocks. I'll keep doing that as Val and I get blocks completed.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm!

Kate

Will Val mind if we send more than one month's blocks at a time? Postage from here (Canada) can be pricey. I know I sent Kate more than one at a time.
Theresa

Theresa, I'm sure that's not problem at all. Include $1 for each month, but send as many months as you can stuff into the envelope. The more the merrier!

Wonderful choices and examples. Thanks for all your hard work.
I hope to be able to play this year.

No problem at all to send several months blocks at one mailing, I'm sure that will be a little savings. Just be sure to have your name on the block...that's all.
Looking forward to seeing everyone's creations again this year!!!
V.

Just moving this up so can keep it on the page. Valarie & Kate - thanks for all your work organising this swap. You have certainly inspired me to join in
Kristene

Kristene! Yea!

This weekend I'll be posting more pictures of the blocks we've completed. I have a couple more done but Valarie has really been busy!

Kate

Moving to the top

LindaB/CA

Moving this back to the top as I get ready to post the April Lotto and the 2nd quarter paper piece Lotto. This year is moving so quickly!

Bumping to first page. Will post more block pictures shortly.

Beth found another free leaf pattern that will work great for the 3rd quarter paper piece project. The full instructions at Quilters Cache show 4 blocks, each 6x6, sewn together to form a 12" square, but you can just do one 6x6 for this lotto.

Palm Leaf Paper Piece Block

Thanks Beth!

Kate

I had to go searching for this & the August block, so I thought I'd bring it back to the top for everyone else, too...

Oh oh! Sorry! August snuck up on me! I'll try to get it posted tomorrow!

Moving this back up for those who want to check out the blocks for the rest of the year!