Ovals round a circle?

[Artyboots]

Dear Geniuses (pardon my bad Latin),

Senility has set in, and I can no longer remember how to stick ovals around a circle. Need to do this for a client's site, for a gallery (patterns in the little ovals will show large in the middle), but think this is more a graphics question at the moment than a web question. This mock up was done in Illustrator by the client. I know Xara can do this easily, if I could only remember how. Have a feeling i have seen a tut illustrating this, but haven't been able to unearth it. All pointers greatfully appreciated. Thinking it might be a blend, but not sure. Can't persuade things to go round the circle, nor work out how to keep them equidistant. I am such a newb.

Thanks in advance.
Ali