My in-laws have a little cabin up up Cedar Mountain. It is a favorite place to go and get away from the hustle and bustle of life. In the loft of that cabin, is an old Pool Table.
*This is Eight Ball in a basic 4 x 4 layout with every other block rotated.
Doesn't it just make a cool modern design. I love the optical illusion it creates as well.
Whenever the kids get tired of hanging out outside, they come in the cabin and head right up to the loft where they throw all of the balls on the table. The funny thing is, none of them really know how to actually play.
* Adding a third color in the corner of the block gives Eight Ball extra depth and really makes the design pop all the more. Kind of reminds me of records :)
So they create their own games :) Sometimes they use the cues, and sometimes they use their hands. Sometimes it's just the Eight Ball and sometimes it's all the balls. And sometimes it is only a few kids around the table, and sometimes there are so many cousins, they can barely all fit around the table. And the games begin and the creativeness of game play is never ending.
* Putting the Eight Ball block on Point, and alternating 2 colors for the blocks gives the design an all new look. It creates an all new modern design with a great optical illusion that is super fun!
But the thing that is the very best about the play is that it is always filled with joy and laughter!!!! I love to sit and listen to the wonderfully good times that come from that old pool table. It is an amazing part of just getting away and spending time together having fun!!! Especially when that fun is making up silly games like one kid trying to get the Eight Ball in the corner pocket using their hands while 12 other kids each use a colored ball to block their attempt. Let me tell you, those balls get flying around the table and so do the Good Times!!!
* And then you can always rotate the blocks on point to give another twist to the design. Reminds me of that old snake arcade game ;) Just another way to add another dimension to the design.
But before you cruise over, I have a Copy of 100 Blocks Vol 16 for one lucky Happy Quilting reader!!!!
To enter is easy!! All Entries are welcome, including International Entries. Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;) One Entry per person please and I will announce a winner on Monday, November 20th ;)
ENTRY - Simply leave a comment that has the number 8 in it ;) That's it, super simple!!
Oh, and by the Way . . . If you are stopping by for the first time, Welcome!! I am so glad you visited and hope you will come back often. I have so much fun sharing my passion for quilting here with lots of free tutorials, giveaways, fabric eye candy, and of course, general Happy Quilting times!! And be sure to come back tomorrow for Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day :)
Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
8 has always been my favorite number! Sweet block.
ReplyDeleteYour 8 ball quilt reminds me of playing pool at a neighbors house when I was a kid. We also had lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun block! Never thought that 8 makes such a great quilt, lol!
ReplyDeleteFabulous Block makes a great quilt...
ReplyDelete8 quilt blocks would make a nice quilt!
ReplyDeleteI never thought that blocks of 8 would have so many great layouts. Very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMy son is born on the 8 of the month. Cute block!
ReplyDeletebeing the 8th person to comment: I love the story behind your block! Great block, even better story.
ReplyDeleteGreat story behind your fun block! Only 8 days til black Friday, and already the sales have started.
ReplyDeleteCute 8 block!
ReplyDeleteI remember that my favorite tv program was 8 is enough.
ReplyDeleteI consider 8 my lucky number--I was born on 8/8/I won't tell you the year, but the two numbers add up to 8!
ReplyDeletewould look great in baby quilt
ReplyDeleteYour 8 ball quilt in the first on point version looks sort of like spooky eyes. It would be great for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteI could see the inspiration right away! It reminded me if the magic 8 ball we played with as kids. You asked a question, shook it up then turned it over to get the answer. Fun!
ReplyDeleteSandy A
Congratulations Melissa! I think this would make an awesome quilt for a boy. I have an 8 in my birthday, but that is all I will say about that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun block! I can see this 8 ball appearing in samplers for the men, especially ones that love the movie, "The Sting."
ReplyDeleteI wish there were 8 days in a week and 8 more hours in a day so I could get more quilting done, LOL But then I would need 8 more vitamins!
ReplyDeleteI love the versatility of your Eight (8) Ball block! It's so strange to see a block that's way out of your normal colorway. Nice job. sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win. My husband Baja car is #8J.
ReplyDeleteMy parents had 8 children.
ReplyDeleteI love the 8 block and the Quilts that can go with them.
ReplyDeleteI am commenting on that creative 8 ball quilt block today. You are simply amazing. Thank you for being a part of the Road Rally Tour and want to wish you Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteSandi Timmons
sandit1@sbcglobal.net
Love your 8 ball block.
ReplyDeletehijoffe@gmail.com
My daughters birthday is in month 8!
ReplyDeleteYour 8 Ball block is deceptively versatile. Thanks for showing the possibilities. I can picture it in black and white and teal.
ReplyDeleteInteresting 8 ball quilts. 24Tangent@gmail.com
ReplyDeletelove your 8 ball block and its inspiration!
ReplyDeletecork@pa.rr.com
This quilt really does remind me of an 8 ball! What an innovative design setting...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePerfect block for a quilty gift for a pool player! "Behind the 8 ball" an expression I've always heard! Thank you for sharing, Susan. spierssusan52@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYour 8 Ball block is such a fun idea! Love seeing all the different settings!
ReplyDeleteOur family celebrates two birthdays in the 8th month of the year. I remember having similar times around my grandparents' pool table (especially not knowing how to play!). Thanks for the story!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a fun block, Melissa! No need to enter me in the drawing, I am on the block tour also.
ReplyDeleteMy son and I were both born in August, the 8th month of the year. Love the versatility of your Eight Ball block.
ReplyDeleteI was just listening to the Beatles channel on Sirius XM (free this week) and heard "8 days a Week". I loved reading about the children making up games with the pool table and Eight Ball.
ReplyDeleteI have such fond memories playing 8 ball as a child. Love your design.
ReplyDeleteQuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com
I was born on the 8th of June, so that's a really good 8.
ReplyDeleteIf I had one more grandchild, I would have 8.
ReplyDeleteI actually made wedding day 8/8 for the infinity aspect of it when turned on it’s side. I love the symbolism of this number :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, I had a lot of fun with a magic 8 ball that told fortunes. Love your block!
ReplyDeleteMy kids loved playing with a magic 8 ball!
ReplyDeleteWonderful 8 ball block, nice to see all the different layouts and color changes.
ReplyDeletedjcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com
My 9 to 5 job actually starts at 8! Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteOn my side o the family, we have 8 nieces and nephews and love every one of them. Neat block and great inspiration story,
ReplyDeletequiltschon@att.net
I enjoyed the story of how the 8 ball influenced this block. rita_l_39212@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI wish I could get 8 hours sleep.
ReplyDeleteWhy was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9! And why did 7 eat 9? Because you're supposed to have 3 squared meals a day.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt square is gr8! Love the story!
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying touring the 8 blogs listed each day of the tour. Thanks for sharing your inspirational block and the story behind it.
ReplyDeleteNext week is #8 on my finishing challenge! So far, only one project on the list from past weeks remains unfinished! Not bad for someone with an ADD brain that likes to jump around!
ReplyDeleteWhat an innovative block! I may need to make this since my house number is 10888!!
ReplyDeleteI love your block!! I need to lose more than 8 pounds...
ReplyDeleteGreat story for your eight block!
ReplyDeleteyoyopattycakes@hotmail dot com
I met my dear hubby when I was in 8th grade. Next year is our 48th anniversary!
ReplyDeleteWe were married in the 8th month of the year back in 1962. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteLike your 8 block. This year is our 38th anniversary. prycek(at) mymts.net
ReplyDeletelove your 8 block
ReplyDeleteI used to love the card game "Crazy Eights".
ReplyDeleteGreat 8 ball story and block, I can hear the laughter! What a great memory for your family.
ReplyDeleteWe have an old pool table in our basement. My birthday is just under eight weeks away!
ReplyDeleteI love your 8 ball story. I guess that uses an 8 in my comment but I will also tell you about my Dad who was one of 8 children, 7 boys and one girl.
ReplyDeleteokruhlik6 at aol dot com
The Magic 8 Ball! That was one of my favorites as a child. I ate 8 Hershey's kisses today. No, not really. I do not know how many I had. I did not keep a count. LOL. :-)
ReplyDeleteDang, I can't edit my comment. dlk3265@gmail.com is my email.
DeleteVery neat block. Thank you for sharing! Enjoy your day! My husband was born in 1968. angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom
ReplyDeleteIf there were an extra 8 hours in a week I would spend them on finishing all my UFOs
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun 8 Ball block!!! You are so clever and creative!!! 👏🏻
ReplyDeleteGreat 8 ball block. I like how different the quilt looks when you move them around.
ReplyDeleteA great block, Melissa. Congratulations on having another block in the QM 100 Block magazine.
ReplyDeleteI have way more than 8 quilt tops waiting for quilting. Of course I will create more tops, because sewing quarter inch seams is so relaxing.
ReplyDeleteLove how the look changes so when you turn the block. It’s great. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love playing 8 ball but the kids version sounds pretty fun too.
ReplyDeleteGreat block - love ones that are good with solid colors! (maybe I could use eight in a quilt!!!) LOL mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love it when the cousins get together and can stay up past their 8 o'clock bedtimes and make silly memories!
ReplyDeleteI just got 8 fat quarters from the quilt store. Time to get busy!
ReplyDeletekinderpam(at)gmail(dot)com
Fantastic Blocks with more than 8 opportunity's .Gorgeous design. Congrats with this result
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun block! I wish there were 8 days in the week so I could have more time to sew up these blocks! :)
ReplyDelete8 is the first number I remember learning how to write!
ReplyDeletebarbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)
Look I am comment #78. I That means there is an 8 in my comment before I even wrote it! Great quilt, I want to try it in another color scheme, but it will be 8 balls anyway!
ReplyDeleteNot a pool player - how about 8 maids a-milking - and thankful the Christmas music isn't on my radio stations quite yet!
ReplyDeleteThe 8 ball block looks like fun. It would even work for a QOV quilt
ReplyDeleteCaryn
caspharm@yahoo.com
Crazy 8s is a fun card game.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like I am entry no. 82. I love how your block looks in a quilt setting. Who knew an 8 ball could be so interesting as a quilt block?
ReplyDeleteI love your 8-ball story...such a fun way to remember the fun times shared with family.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you interspersed your inspiration story with ways to use your Eight Ball block!
ReplyDeleteMy grandson turned 8 this year. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun block and an interesting story. Kids, no matter what the age are always fun and they seem to find anything to amuse themselves. I bet that old pool table could really tell tales if it could talk. Thanks for sharing your block.
ReplyDeleteI guess number 8 is pretty lucky for me. I was born on 8-8-1950! LOVE YOUR 8 BALL QUILT. FUN!
ReplyDeleteAs I type this comment the last one displayed is 87 so I could be 88! I think that must be lucky.
ReplyDeleteFun block! Would be good for my grandson who is 8.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be 68 in a few weeks! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteOICU812 - LOL!!!! Hopefully 2018 will be a good year!!!
ReplyDeleteMY husband and I just 8 a Thanksgiving dinner at their retirement home. It was yummy.
ReplyDelete2018 is right around the corner... yikes!! Love all the options you showed with different settings!! Thanks for sharing. odiane79atyahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI turned 68 this year. I have 8 nieces & nephews and even more great nieces & great nephews, with one more great nephew on the way and a another great great due in the spring. Got to get those baby quilts made. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI just 8 dinner with my dad. Hahahaha! No, really, we had a good time and I got home just after 8:00. :-)
ReplyDeleteI usually use 8 to 12 larger blocks in a quick quilt: so 8 + 1 = 9 as my minimum :)
ReplyDeleteI hate it when I can't tell whether a number is a 6 or an 8. (Not a problem with your block.)
ReplyDeleteMy twin granddaughters just turned 8.
ReplyDeleteMy grandchildren love to play 8 ball at our family gatherings. Love your story!! radvtma@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy grandson will be 8 in March.
ReplyDeleteThe #8 made me think motor car races. It would be fun to make numbers of my sport player into a quilt. Your #8 seem easy enough to make for charity too, so all the lay out really sang to me. Especially more modern layouts. Love making your patterns. lkcquilts@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI 8 a delicious salad for dinner. Thanks for sharing your beautiful and striking block Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI have about 8 quilts that need to be finished!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having your block included in Quiltmaker’s 100, Vol. 16! Fun block and so many neat layouts! My daughter’s birthday is December 8.
ReplyDeleteusairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com
Great layouts for your block, and congratulations on being included in tha magazine! I only remember too well doing figure eights when I was a figure skater... I preferred to do jumps and spins! Lol
ReplyDeleteWe moved to Florida two years ago and I decided that I wanted a pool table instead of a dining room set. Whenever our children and grandchildren visit they gravitate to the pool room to play. The grandchildren love just rolling the 8 ball around hitting the other balls.
ReplyDeletececilialyoung at gmail dot com
Your block reminds me of the 8 ball...shake it up and learn your fortune.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson is 8 years old, but he lives far away and I don't see him often.
ReplyDeleteI've been retired for 8 years and love having time to quilt. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis 8 ball block is most unusual...it is so far out of my radar... I think this would be a fun quilt to kick start the new year.
ReplyDeletekaylace@bellsouth.net
I now have 8 nieces in total, including 3 great nieces. This is compared to the 15 nephews (including 4 great nephews) that I have. Yes the nieces are catching up. :)
ReplyDeletetushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Pool is fun. Played many a game on dates in my single days. The third version reminds me of the Minions goggles! Maybe I might have to make a quilt with the 8 block and 88, for some of my family who are NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt and Earnhardt Jr fans!
ReplyDeletereillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like all the different settings you used for the block. I have 8 siblings, all younger than me: 5 sisters and 3 brothers. The boys were the all born after the girls.
ReplyDeleteYour 8 ball block would make a great quilt for my husband who loves to play pool!
ReplyDeleteBarb
spurr@mymts.net
Those are some crazy eights! Cool settings!
ReplyDelete8 ball is fun, and I love the stories about the table.
ReplyDeleteSince 1+7=8, this is comment #118
ReplyDeleteBorn in the 8th month of the year makes me qualified to win this lovely 8-ball block drawing.
ReplyDeletebgk 44 @ msn.com
After several surgeries for endometriosis,and years of fertility drugs, my husband and I were blessed 19 years ago, on the 8th of May, with our beautiful healthy daughter! P.s.We have a pool table that she has always loved to play at, as well!. melissachilders@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteI have not played 8 ball in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI am making a Christmas quilt & I wish there were 8 blocks in it instead of 40.
ReplyDeleterozz01 at cox dot net
I come from a family of 8 and four of us quilt! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love using 8 blocks to start a quilt, and then adding more to finish it!!
ReplyDeleteSoon it will be time to welcome Santa and his 8 reindeer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun book! You always make the best quilts! Love your newest baby girl quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilts, so modern and fun. I have 8 quilts in progress right now, oh, I lie, it is more like 48.........geez.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete8 days a week, is not enough to show I care. Seeing your block immediately took me back to grade 8, slumber parties, and asking the 8-ball questions. Thank you for the giveaway. jskbloomers@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWell four plus four is 8. I can add! Such a unique block, so fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun block; especially with all the variations!
ReplyDeletenikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com
This is easy. Please see my email for my 8. A78mandel at yahoo dot com
ReplyDelete2*4 = eight.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't come up with a quirky "8" pun~ After reading some of them here, I realized how unimaginative I must be ;/
ReplyDeleteGreat 8 Ball Block with lots of fun otions to give different looks!! Thanks for the fresh design and all of the layouts!
ReplyDeletegrowing up My little brother was so annoying... (somedays still is LOL) he had a magic 8 ball and was constantly asking annoying questions to that darn thing... now I bet he would love to have that again.. just might have to make him a quilt!!! thanks for the chance to win drhodes9@cox.net
ReplyDeleteHmm... what I thought of when I saw your block was not pool table balls, but the Magic 8 Ball that my sister had when we were small. Unfortunately, I was playing with it one day (without permission, I think) and I dropped it. What a mess it was when it broke.
ReplyDeleteYour block is Gr8!!! I love how you incorporated the back history of the kids in the cabin playing pool. What a wonderful story. Love the layouts and then the secondary color in there is so cool! Congrats again on number 11. Soon you'll have your own 100 blocks publications that is 100 blocks of all you! LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence, 8 months ago I started sewing again after a twenty year break.
ReplyDeleteGreat block. Brings up many memories from college playing pool and trying to hit the 8 ball.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gr8 story! pjrquilter at msn dot com
ReplyDeleteI love your story and inspiration! 8 is one of my favorite numbers because our youngest daughter's jersey number was 8 the entire time she played soccer for 12 years!
ReplyDeleteJust finished making 8+ fold over bags to go into O.C.C. boxes. This is a cute quilt, with so many layout variations.
ReplyDeleteWorking on 8 pillowcases for gifts. Couldn't think of anything really catchy. Nice block.
ReplyDeleteI sent a link to this post to my oldest son whose lucky number is 8. He says they're playing samurai pool...whatever that is.
ReplyDeleteThe cat 8 my block. I have 8 projects to finish before Christmas.
ReplyDeletekthurn(at)bektel(dot)com
Wow, look at the creativity your suggestion has created. I don't have a special connection to the number 8 but it is wonderful in your block which I love. Thank you.
ReplyDeleterjc2cam@gmail.com
I had 8 grandchildren, but this year we added one more. Now the girls outnumber the boys. Thank you for sharing the inspiration for your block, and for showing so many variations of how to use it in a quilt.
ReplyDelete