I need some suggestions on a quilt
 

My husband is retiring after 30 years working at the potash mine. We are having a retirement supper for him which just so happens to be the day after his 64th birthday so I thought I would like to make a quilt that people could sign and wish him well in his retirement. He plans on doing some fishing and he loves to work in his workshop. So thought maybe a quilt with things he likes to do and empty blocks for people to sign at the supper. If anyone has any suggestion of a pattern that would be greatly appreciated. I have until July to get the top done .
Maybe I could find a nice panel for the center with a fishing scene.

hello from Saskatoon.....nice to see someone else near to me......I did one with square in square and they signed the middle square.........it was a nice keepsake for the couple..........it was a wedding.

hi ...neighbor ...do you have the name of the pattern so I can find it.

I did a paper pieced one...........just google square in square paper pieced......

What about something like this
http://quilterscache.com/S/ShootingStarBlock.html

There's sq in sq PP patterns on QuiltersCache.

If you;re wanting to use novelty fabrics that represent his interests, you may want to consider that in selecting the pattern. IOW you probably want to have larger pieces of those fabrics, so you can "see" them. Perhaps the friendship blocks, alternating with solid squares of your focus fabrics?

Ther are a few wedding quilts on the site with well wishes on. Don't forget to send fabric out to those who are not close to. A friend did one for her sister and all the fabric was sent in small squares to each friend . Some wonderful phrases and pictures and stories came back. Blanks were left for others she didn't know to fill in. A is appearing 4 or none patch would give plenty of large squares plus colour.

Hi Val,
Nice to talk to you again. Congratulate your hubby on retiring.
One quilt I did for son and daughter-in-law, we used the backing for all the signatures. What about your fishing quilt on the top, and the signatures on the back?
Laurie (who is waiting, and waiting, for all this snow to go away)