Saturday, January 02, 2010

Saturday Sampler #1

What do you get when you mix together a new magazine and a carefully collected group of fabrics??
A new quilt project!
And what better way to start the New Year, than to start a new quilt?!?
In my Christmas stocking Santa gave me this Quiltmaker's magazine called 100 blocks. Over the holidays I have been looking at the blocks and thinking about making a block sampler. I really enjoy cutting out little pieces and fussing around to make complex blocks, so this was perfect for me. I was a little disappointed with the number of applique block patterns vs pieced in the magazine, but some of them are quite nice and I may be tempted to try 1 or 2!
So the idea was born to start a weekly "Saturday Sampler" blogpost.
Now what fabric to use?

Over the past year I had been collecting these creams, pinks and browns, some of which are really so dark that they look black. I was thinking of using them in Bonnie's mystery, but didn't think that I had 4 distinct enough colour groupings for the necessary contrast. But I think they are perfect for a sampler quilt.

And here is my first Saturday Sampler block #1 - Wishing Star
Pattern: Quiltmaker magazine "100 blocks" p.39
Block Designer: Bonnie Mitchell
Directions were perfect and the block measures 12 1/2"!
I have been looking on the internet for more block patterns and have found several great sites that have run previous or current BOM's. Here are some of the sites I've found:
Delaware Quilts
3 Creative Studios
Amy's Passions
With Heart and Hands
Friday Block Party
Chocolate Stars
If you have other BOM sites you recommend, please leave me a comment, since I've only collected enough patterns for about 1000 quilts so far LOL!

15 comments:

Carolyn S. said...

What a great looking block. The contrast looks good to me.

scrappy_nanna said...

I too have been collecting pinks and browns. I want to make a chocolate strawberry quilt.Might be an idea to follow you....

Margeeth said...

I think this is a great idea, making a sampler with those 100 blocks (I really like samplers too).

YankeeQuilter said...

I love sampler quilts...I have a box of cowgirl fabric blocks that I have to put together this year. I am much better at making the blocks than finishing a quilt....

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Oh I love your pinks and browns! And your first block is a beauty! I'm doing a BOM on the HGTV quilters message board with a friend~ check us out too. ;-)

Libby said...

This is going to turn into one delicious quilt!

Quilt Rat said...

Oh I REALLY like the look of this.........I think this "sampler" quilt will definitely have that WOW factor!

Amy said...

#1) GORGEOUS FABRICS!!!!
#2) BEAUTIFUL BLOCK!
#3) Thanks for linking me
#4) Only enough fabric for 1000 quilts??? ;0)

BitnByAQuiltingBug said...

Beautiful!

Suze said...

Very pretty. I thought about doing a BOM thing, but not sure I have the time.

Ruthie said...

What a beautiful block!

Candace said...

I love your wishing star block. It's really beautiful and the colors are gorgeous.

Jenni said...

Your first block looks great. This site has blocks listed by size. This is the 12 inch list. http://www.quilterscache.com/BlocksbySizeC.html

bingo~bonnie said...

what a fun project! I think the stripe was a perfect frame for the center focus fabric - those pinks and browns look great together.

I won this magazine during their blog promotion... but didn't look at it until Santa put it in my stocking ;)

Love from Texas! ~bonnie

bingo~bonnie said...

I forgot to say - over at Quilty Pleasures Blog (quiltmaker magazine's blog) there is a link to a flickr group they have for posting photos of anything readers make from the 100 magazine -

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2009/11/13/the-big-bundle-giveaway-u-s-and-canada/

click on the link and you should see it from there. ;) I know they'd love to see your blocks as you make them!

Love from Texas! ~bonnie