Half square triangles progress

I have 149 squares stitched together, and still need about 100 more.  While I don't like cutting fabric, I adore the sewing parts and the ironing.  The best part for me has been admiring the fabric colors.  All my faves are accounted for.  No purple in sight, just how I like it!

This afternoon after sewing and ironing a huge stack I had fun arranging them in different ways to see how I may want to arrange things in the final quilt.  I think my original idea still wins.  Here were the options:

Original Idea

Zig-zaggy

Diamonds

I think the finished quilt will have a higher percentage of pure white halves, but I got some cuttin' to do.  I think the zig-zag would work better with more white pieces, but I'm not sure it looks that great with the few reds I want to incorporate.  I will do this again when I have all the squares.  I am limiting my colors to just blues and greens, with a little splash of red thrown in here and there.  I am soooo tempted to tear through my stash and incorporate some of my other pinks, greens and browns....but I must use self control.  I think it will look better with my color scheme.

I have to admit, sewing has been damn good to me this year!

I've even been reading fiction books with sewing themes.  A couple of months ago I finished the Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.  Now I'm listening to Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik.  Both books take place in the 1930s.  Persian Pickle is from the point of view of Queenie, a young member of a small town depression era sewing club.  Talk of the club and its members frames a quaint murder mystery which plays out.  Oh My Stars is a little more complicated, and I'm not yet halfway through, so I will have to report back later on it.  So far, so good, though!