Log Cabin Designs
 

Okay, so I'm really looking for thoughts and ideas. Just to give a little bit of background, this is for my niece and her family. This is her second marriage, she has a daughter from her first marriage, a daughter from this marriage and her husband just recently officially adopted her first daughter. Since this is a blended family, I decided to put a little oomph and meaning behind the quilt, so here goes my explanation and I hope it makes sense.

I made the logs out of my niece, husband and her first daughter's favorite colors. The squares are done in rainbow colors because her second daughter has anything and everything rainbow. I got the design from Shar Jorgenson's take on log cabins, one is her Sugar & Spice (because trust me, this family is quite an interesting blend of personalities) the other is my take on a lover's knot.

The problem I have is which one I should do. Any thoughts and I'm always open for ideas. One last thing, please excuse the quality of the jpegs if they're off, I had to do a recovery on my laptop last week and I haven't plugged in my usual photo editing program yet.

I like them both but especially turn to the second one. The pattern reminds me that you are combining two different families and personalities with the squares and blocks criss crossing each other. Hope you understand what I mean but this is what I see after reading your message.

I like the idea of trying to use significant things/colors from both "eras" of your niece's life.

Probably just me - but both arrangements make me feel a bit "tipsied"

I like the second one....it looks more "blended" to me.

These are mind blowing and what ever you decide are going to be great for this blended family. I love Shar Jorgenson's templates they make making her quilts so much easier.

The first one made me smile because it's different from anything I've seen, and took me a bit to figure it out. Still I prefer the second one because it's more stable -- just like you want their family to be.

After reading your description of the family, I could only go with #1. To me it signifies that each is an individual, but they all come together and celebrate being a part of the whole, and yet remain as individuals. I guess I may be a bit emotional today, because the first design actually brought tears to my eyes since you told us the meaning of why you are making this quilt. The second one is nice but it just doesn't speak to me. It doesn't tell the story. I think you should include their story on a label on the back of the quilt so they will understand the why of the design and the celebration involved.

I also like the first one better.

This^^^. With the exception of crying, I agree with every word.

The second one is my favorite

what a great meaningful quilt. I like the second layout best.

It sure is meaningful. But I can't decide! They are both awesome!
Okay, my vote is one :)

I could have gone further with the designs, I'm considering making the 'knots' into hearts for four distinct reasons. Number one, my niece actually had open heart surgery when she was three months old to repair two holes in her heart, then her first daughter had to go through surgery to repair her heart, though they were able to do it through her femoral artery and she was three years old.

Add her husband, a former Army Ranger with this amazing heart of gold to serve our country after 9/11, but suffered from severe PTSD when his unit was hit with an IED and he lost most of them. He's the sole survivor now, those that did survive and came home, took their lives. When he met my niece, everything changed for him and when they discovered she was pregnant, it was like watching a flower bloom. The light that shines from that man after so much darkness is just breathtaking. He's a stay-at-home dad and absolutely relishes it.

The littlest girl, oh my gosh, want to talk about a cutey but she is completely rotten to the core, and she knows how to work it to her advantage. They were already a family before she came along, but she just completed everyone. She's such a ray of sunshine and just a bundle of pure, magnetic joy with these huge blue eyes and eyelashes that would make super models weep.

They're just a sweet, loving, energetic family that deserves a quilt like this. It wasn't easy in the beginning because of his PTSD, but they dug in and they fought their way out of it. I figure what better way to celebrate the bonds they have, than a quilt made from the heart.

I like the second choice. Like the family it is a blend of log cabin and and Irish chain. Just another little piece to add to your story maybe.

Awesome quilts
 

Love them both as the reason for making the quilt.
However, the first one is my favorite, so unique. You cannot go wrong either design you decide to go with.

The first layout for me is butterflies taking flight together and would be my choice.

The great thing is, whatever you do it will be great! I know that we as quilters try to stitch in all the love and hopes and prayers we can into our projects. Our recipients don't always realize the amount of time we spend thinking of them as we make them, but then they live with them longer after we are done. I would include some part of the story of "this is an original design and what it signifies to me" along with the finished quilt.

Railroadersbrat-Thank you for your inspiring story. It sounds like their life has many blessings and they are thankful for that. Please let us know which pattern you choose but I am sure either one will be treasured by the family.

Love the 'quirkiness' of the first one!

Second pattern