I've been participating in the lottos now for about three years, and only once have I seen one get so big that there were enough for more than one full or queen sized quilt and the winner used the extras for a charity. A very generous and appropriate destination.

I wouldn't want to see less than needed for a full-sized quilt split. How wonderful it would be to win enough to just sit down and make a quilt without having to make more. I have lost count of the number of blocks I've sent in, but it's substantial. I won one lotto and got back eight blocks in addition to the three I sent in. I was thrilled with just having eleven blocks, and it saved me a good deal of time......but we never know how many blocks any potential winner has sent in over the years, and they may have really earned the priveledge of getting a lot of them back and using them to their discretion.

I agree with Calliope. But wouldn't it be nice if we could continue this level of participation? Wow, what a bonanza for someone each month!

Also, I'm asking for 2 volunteers to help do the winner choosing, one to receive the list of names and the other to choose a number. Once I've received the mail on the last day of the month, I'll email the names & numbers so they can be announced on the first.

Thanks for understanding my dilemma... I just keep drooling over these squares... maybe I'd better wash them before sending them on!

Kat & Calliope you both made valid points. I tend to agree more w/Calliope tho, that one winner regardless of the # of blocks is still the best way. What # would be selected as the 'magic' one that is large enough to split?? If the winner has so many that there are blocks left over after making a queen sized quilt, all the better! Make a king:) or give the extras to charity, make a charity quilt...
I've not been on the forum for as long as most of you, but as the winner twice - once winning 16 blocks, 3 of which were mine --- & last month winning 5 blocks, 3 of which were mine*! So my view is if there are a lot in a given month, let the winner get them all & rejoice!!

*I did later receive 2 more blocks from a dear quilter!! Thank YOU!

Good idea with extra blocks to be used for a charity quilt if the winner so desires!! I work full time and have small children so I never think bigger than a lap size quilt. I think if I did nothing would ever get done!!

I think your proposed method of choosing sounds fine and fair. I can't volunteer this month because of traveling but another month I will.

I also think that the winner takes all! Let it be a feast if there are a lot of blocks. It makes it all the more exciting!

Kate

Kay I'd be happy to help you any way I can.

Thanks, quiltpartner! Just need one more volunteer to help with the choosing next Saturday.

As we now stand:

Kate 3 - Received
Kay 3 - Done
Sue 3 - Received
Cziga - 3
Lafonda ranch - 2
jck 1210 - 3
quiltpartner - 3
patti60 - 2
Susan - 2 Received
calliope - 3

I finished mine yesterday and should get them in the mail this afternoon. Wow! I can't believe the number of blocks in this one. Good luck everyone!!

kay,

I just sent you an email because Google Docs is down and I can't get to your snail mail address. Help!!

This lotto is so exciting! It's been a long time since we've had this many blocks involved!

Whew!! Finally finished!! Didn't take much time but I kept procrastinating. Then when I set aside the time to do them this past weekend I've been getting interrupted since friday!!! Finally finished and I love the color combo, can't wait to see all the blocks laid out together when the winner gets them!!

Just dropped them off in a fedex envelope so they should be there tomorrow!!

Mine were sent out Friday, so should be there now or very shortly. I also can't wait to see everyone's finished blocks. Whomever wins them BETTER TAKE A PICTURE!

jck 1210, Fedex just came knocking on my door.
Wow, love those fabrics!
OH, my, oh, my.. it's getting close!!

Calliope, yours are here, too!

I can just picture the winner, lying back in bed, tossing them in the air and wallowing in the beauty!!

The first year I participated in the lotto - 2007 or 2008 - one of the blocks was a scrappy Buckeye Beauty. There were lots of blocks involved and I wanted them so bad I could hardly stand it! I compulsively checked the website each day to see how many more there were and then held my breath on the day of the drawing. (no, I didn't win). Hate to admit it, but it's almost that bad this time too. I LOVE this block and think it will make a stunning quilt. I'm truly excited for whoever wins these beauties!

(BTW, have you seen the purple and lavender Minky fabrics on sale at fabrics.com? Either color would make a great backing for these!)

Kate

Kate, after our conversation the other day I was thinking the same thing!!! I have five yards of minky on its way but i might have to order some lavender too. Whether I win or not, I'll be making this quilt!!!

Kat

Be careful, Kat! Once you start with the Minky you won't want to stop. But I agree that lavender would be perfect!

Well, mine were sent out ages ago but (silly me) when I wrote the address, I was sending 2 envelopes on the same day and wrote half of each address so ... the envelope just came back to me yesterday. It being so late, I didn't want to pull out (blocks were already made, packaged and everything) so I send them UPS and hopefully will get to you in time :)

With that much effort I think cziga's blocks should be counted even if they aren't there on the 1st.

Kate

I agree, I think Cziga's blocks should be counted also. I'm so excited to hear the winner announced (tomorrow?)and see a pic of all the blocks!!!!

We're almost there!

Lafonda Ranch, your blocks came yesterday, so here's where we are:
Kate 3 - Received
Kay 3 - Done
polardream 3 - Received
Cziga - 3 On their way
Lafonda ranch - 2 Received
jck 1210 - 3 Received
quiltpartner - 3 Received
patti60 - 2
itsmesuzq - 2 Received
calliope - 3 Received

We're still missing squares from another person. I've emailed to see if they're also en route.

Does everyone want to wait until Monday for Cziga's to arrive or do the drawing this evening? It's up to you, I'll be here all day today, but not on Monday.

Quiltpartner has volunteered to help with the drawing, so I'll be emailing her a name code. Then whoever is online this evening (would love an email ahead of time to know who that might be) can draw the number.

Let me tell you.. the winner is going to be one happy quilter! These squares are gorgeous. Hubby has camera with him for work, but has PROMISED me he'll do more pics tomorrow!

If you are going to accept Cziga's blocks late (and I don't have a problem with that either), it should only possibly delay sending the blocks. Why would it delay pulling the winner out on time?

Ok, just wanted some feedback that it wasn't going to be a problem. In that case, we're ready to roll.
The other quilter whose blocks weren't received won't be participating due to health problems.. hope she feels better soon.

And other than Cziga's, all blocks are here.

So we're ready to choose as soon as I have 2 volunteers to help draw the name!

I'll be home tonight and can help if you don't have anyone.

Email = gwsolstice@gmail.com

Kate

Okay everyone, I'll check the computer at 7 pm EDT and see if we have a couple of people on to draw the lucky name!

I'm online too Kay.

Me too

Okay, I'm going to send Kate the list and calliope, when she posts that she has it, you pick a number between 1 and 25.

I've got the list of names... ready to shout out an answer as soon as Calliope give me a number!

Gotcha

Calliope? The number?

Kate................the lucky winner shall be.........(drum rolls and a trumpet blast or two)

Number nine

Congratulations to:

9 polardream !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whooo.hoooooo.... you're gonna love this batch!
I'll send them as soon as I receive cziga'a blocks!

Whooeeee what a jackpot! Congratulations to Sue.

(Sorry that took so long! My message kept getting rejected because I had the same subject line. Had to change it every time! arrrgghhhh!)

Congrats to the winner. On this one I have to admit I'm quite jealous! But I'm sincerely happy for you and can hardly wait to see what you do with these blocks!

Woo hoo for YOU!

Kate

Thank you ladies for helping with the drawing a winner process!

Congratulations!!!!! I cant wait to see all the blocks laid out!!!

Kat

Congratulations Sue!! You are the envy of most everyone on the QF!:) Enjoy!

Cziga your lovely blocks arrived yesterday! Polardream, they'll be on their way shortly!

What an incredible month!

Ah, I'm glad they got there at least close to the deadline :)

Congratulations Polardream/Sue ... that is going to be one beautiful quilt!!! I'd love to see the photo of all those blocks all together :)

Here are the pictures of the finished blocks!

Just beautiful! I can't wait to see the finished quilt, not to put any pressure on the winner, of course!

Here is a link that might be useful: July 2010 Buckeye Beauty Blocks

Ugh!!! When you laid them out, I see that I have one curner flipped!!! (how embarrassing....) And I did it twice! I'm sorry Sue, I hope it's not much trouble to flip that one corner.

Congratulations!!!! Please show us how you put it together. So many options.

And then I can't spell. curner? You can tell I've been away for a few days. It feels like a Monday.

Does Sue know yet that she won? I dont' think I've seen her post about it.

Well, I think she'll get a pretty good clue when a box full of lovelies shows up on her doorstep in a couple of days!

Lucky lady!

They are very lovely indeed! This is a great block. She will be thrilled.

She's been on the road travelling so she'll be excited when she logs in.

OH MY GOSH! I am so thrilled! I didn't know I had won - we just returned about 3 hours ago (after 5 weeks) of travel and found a box full of BEAUTIFUL quilt squares in my mail. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I am going to be so excited playing with all these squares and deciding how to arrange them. Everyone did a beautiful job.
Sue/polardream