Very old sampler blocs

Not too long ago I decided to collect all blocs I ever made and put them in the Picking up the pieces quilt.
The size?  Well, the aim is to make a cozy lap quilt. But it really depends on the blocs I gather...
I found a few very old and unfinished blocs; samples from the first quilting course I followed over 20 years ago.

This log cabin was the very first quilt bloc I ever made.

The chicken was supposed to become an egg warmer but - after a lot of pinning and a few minutes at the sewing machine - it ended up in a patchwork block.

The Celtic knot has also been finished after sitting in a folder for 2 decades.

Next step: finish the Sew over the Rainbow quilt, which will become the center of Picking up the pieces.

Picking up the pieces

Last weekend I visited my sister, an advanced amateur quilter. She is teaching me some hand quilting techniques and I already made a few sample blocks, like the ones below.

My sister and I have been quilting together and we talked a lot - about quilting, family, holiday, beauty treatment, and whatever sisters talk about.
Also difficult issues were discussed. For the first time in my life I told somebody about my hidden pains and my decision to tackle the cause of these pains, and the desire to make a new start with my life. 
It was difficult to say it out loud and it still hurts a lot, but at the same time it was a relief that finally I found the courage to finally admit that the limit had been reached.

On my way back home (1,5 hour drive) I kept on thinking about what we had done and discussed, and at some point I realized that over the years I "collected" a lot of sampler blocks that are kept hidden in boxes or binders.... and the name "Picking up the pieces" popped in my mind - a perfect name for a quilt reflecting the current period of my life.

So my plan is to find all the sampler blocks and blocks that never have made it into a quilt and turn them into a real quilt - literally picking up the pieces.
It will probably become one of the most curious quilts I've ever seen, but as long as working on this it keeps my hands busy and my mind calm it may be a healing process to help me through the difficult period that lies ahead of me.