Exchange blocks - Phyllis and Beth

Today I sewed the easiest Block Exchange block, Beth's Disappearing Nine-Patch (right), and a more difficult block, Phyllis's Michigan block (left).

Phyllis asked for blocks representing Michigan. Like my request for my St. Francis blocks this year, she asked for no novelties -- leaving it up to each quilter to be more creative in designing her block. My block for Phyllis has two appliqued birds that are common to Michigan - an American robin (Michigan's state bird) and a bluebird (of happiness!). The green triangles surround the birds like leaves in a tree to represent Michigan's forests, and the triangles are set in the traditional Lady of the Lake block pattern to represent the "Great Lake State."