Make It Merry Month Five

In Month Five, the Make It Merry assignment was to make four Block #8's and four Block #9's. I just got a notice that my Month Six installment is due to arrive in the mail this weekend, so I better started on Month Five so as not to get behind. I am reminded of a saying by Karen Brown of Get It Done Quilts that, "My main goal for myself this year is to stop feeling like I am behind." A large part of the truth in that sentiment is attitude. But also, part of it is staying aware of those " _____ of the Month" things I signed up for. 

Block #8 had a lot of cream/tan and very little red. The cream/tan has subtleness in the use of three varied "white" fabrics. I liked that difference from past blocks. Variety is the spice of life. (As a bit of irrelevant trivia, per Wikipedia, Variety is the Spice of Life is also the name of 1939 comedy film. The plot is that when her composer husband loses interest in her, an ordinary housewife turns into a seductive vamp to try and win back his affections.) Also there were only four HSTs per block which is a relief. Making them a bit oversize is great for accuracy, but the trimming them to size can become tedious.  Here are the four 6½ " blocks, rotated as they will appear in the quilt.

Block #9 had a lots of greens and was overall dark, in stark contrast to Block #8. Once again, variety is the spice of life and an aspect of this project that kept it interesting.  This block had A thru G to cut out and so went a little more quickly than Block #8 which had A thru I. If you noticed there is an "0" instead of a "D" in this tray you are very observant. My "D" went AWOL. I am not concerned. My "C" had been gone for a couple weeks before showing up between two stacked trays. I could have used the "D" from my blue Alphabitties but I rationalized that "0" looks somewhat like a "D" but with the sharp edges smoothed over. 

These are the components of the basic nine-patch layout of Block #9 followed by an image of the four blocks assembled. This was an interesting approach to getting a square (red), within a square (mint), within a square (medium green) look. I've photos for this intermediate step for Block #9 but not for Block #8. Different stages of my step-by-step my assembly process for earlier blocks can be found in my posts for Month One (6/14/25), Month Two (6/21/25), Month Three (8/16/25) and Month Four (9/1/25).

Can you locate the four Block #8's and the four Block #9's from Month Five? Hint: Four blocks are central and four blocks are on diagonals. I kind of gave it away the way I photographed the Block #8's all gathered together; but you will still have to hunt some to find the Block #9's. And YAY! I finished Month Five before Month Six arrived!