Sketching New Block Designs and Settings

The Modern Quilts Unlimited monthly block design contest is more than halfway done.   I still need to design and make the block for September when I was moving.   The traditional block was the Ohio Star and I've had ideas, but nothing that has really gelled for a design.  I've got a bunch of little pieces left from the block I'm currently working on so I may see about coming up with a design that will use those or some of my other small scraps left over from prior blocks.

I'm also starting to work on designing the setting for the blocks so that I can start putting the quilt top together.   Have been working with pieced borders, but that isn't working.  

In the back of my mind has been a border that would have to be appliqued....guess I'm going to need to start sketching to see if I can get this to work out the way I'm thinking.  Now where have I "hid" my graph paper so I can start taping pages together to get it big enough....hmmmmmm.

Gratitudes:
1. For the medical insurance that I have and all that it pays for as I prepare for 4 rounds of chemo as we work to control the platelet count.

2. For all the work that my coworker (a nurse and dietician) is putting into helping me get my diet under control and hopefully help improve my health.