Repentant Quilter
September 30, 2011 Forgive me Father for I have sinned.
I've never participated in a Block of the Month Club. Ever. In 25 years of quilting. Can you believe that?
I've watched many a BOM Club project unfold - from a safe distance. Some even start out promising. Really promising. But just when I think I'll jump onboard, a super ugly block and/or fabric shows up and I turn and run for the hills, thanking my lucky stars that I escaped unharmed. I chalk it up to an (un)healthy dose of "perfectionism" (or control-freak-ism ... whichever you prefer. I'll admit to both).
I started one once - about 15 years ago. The first block had a white background. But then the next one had a cream background. Couldn't do it. So I quit.
If I'm gonna spend that much time on a quilt, I want to like it when it's done. I don't want to make (yet another) quilt I can't stand and then end up giving it to my brother who lives in a cabin in the woods ... where no one who knows me will see it. Ever. Because it's so ugly.
(No, he's not the unabomber. He owns a ski lodge/touring company for extreme skiiers. And his "cabin" is a pretty nice lodge ... )
See, I've long referred to myself as a "Line Whore" - meaning I'm most comfortable making quilts with fabrics that are all from the same designer/collection.
I know, I know. Some quilters think that's a lazy/boring way to sew. I understand. And I deeply respect those who can throw fabrics from here and there and everywhere into a quilt and have it be the most stunning thing EVER. I envy that skill. But I can't help it. I've just made too many costly mistakes and I'm very gun shy about experimenting.
Told ya ... perfectionism at its worst. :(
Well, I finally found a BOM - "Mystery" no less - that I'm excited to do. It uses a TO-DIE-FOR fabric line ...
I mean, come ON. HOW can you NOT love Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree?
And with blocks designed by super awesomely nice & talented ladies like these?
Can't go wrong. :)
This Club started in June but I'm a little behind because I entered my address wrong when I signed up online (graying hair strikes again!) with the Fat Quarter Shop and ... long story short, I got my first block & finishing kit 3 months late.
TOTALLY MY FAULT!
And the ladies at Fat Quarter Shop were so nice about it too. (Thank you, Cheryl!) :)
The best thing about this BOM for me? I joined with a friend of mine. We got together a few days ago to play catch up. She was nice and waited for my stuff to arrive in the mail.
I have good friends. ;)
Oh, and the OTHER best thing about this project? We split a fat quarter bundle ... in case we screw up.
Any excuse to buy more fabric, right?! (Although it's possible I threatened her into the joint purchase).
But I'm finding that the fabric provided in the monthly kits seem to be VERY generous so we probably didn't really NEED the extra fabric. (Since when did I ever worry about NEED?) tee hee
Block #1 - by Bonnie of Cotton Way & Camille of Thimbleblossoms
Block #2 by Pam of Heartspun Quilts
Block #3 by Carrie of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.
These blocks were fun to make ... but at 12" they are positively GINORMOUS next to all my little 4.5" FWQAL blocks!
Reader Comments (35)
Oh, man. Where do I start? I'm positively in a quilting haze of love over this! I've never liked BOM projects either, and I live in an area full of them. I still find myself preferring more modern and/or retro. And I still laugh over your Line Whore reference, but boy do I get it! I just might be discovering that I'm becoming a Manufacturer Whore. Moda, you are ruining me! And smart fabric buy! You can always take the leftovers to add to that depleted stash of yours! ;)
Come on Kristyne, admit it you knew you wouldn't need all that extra fabric, didn't you! :) Say it out loud now Kristyne, 'I'm a fabriholic'.
It's ok I'm a yarnaholic. ;)
Happy weekend,
Vivienne x
Wow! Amazing! I love the last block! I can imagine a whole quilt with just that beauty. Thanks for sharing!
You are too funny....got my ounce of goodness today....love your 'line whore' reference...I think I'm beginning to be one too!! Fat Quarter Shop has me shopping on their website all the time....fabric pushers! Love all Moda's fabric line and love those blocks of the month...love that they are using a fabric line and yes I agree with you about BOM, I've never done one...well because I only like certain fabric and don't want to waste my time on fabric I don't like...ie. fabric slut...thanks for sharing...your blog rocks.
beautiful blocks
I love the blocks you've already made and you can use your 'spare' fabric to make a companion quilt in case the first one gets lonely!
Of course love Joanna's line and love the blocks, youre piecing is perfection. See you at the end of October!
Welcome to the Strawberry Field BOM club!!! I couldn't resist either. teehee
And here I am a fellow 'Line Whore" - I'm so glad I have a name now! Hold your head up be proud to be a 'line whore'. :-)
Oh goodness. I love your blog and you have the CUTEST and most beautiful projects going on! If I only could stop time during the day to just sew to my little heart's content. I am not usually a BOM Club person either, has to be the 'right' kind of quilt. Looks like you've found a winner though!
I have the opposite disease. Someone says "BO" and before they can get to the "M" I've signed myself up.
It's the thrill of now knowing. The naive hope that I'm going to somehow have MORE free time in the next twelve months than I have right now, and that I will magically be able to sit and get ONE MORE thing done each and every month.
Here's the thing. It isn't my fault. I don't go looking for these opportunities. People boast about their BOM projects online and flaunt their cute little blocks and perpetuate this notion that there's one more out there that I could/should be doing.
AND YOU'RE NOT HELPING ANYTHING! :-)
Truth.....it's the darn cutest BOM I have ever seen. EVER. But I'm with you. Out of Fig Tree?? Automatic home run! This looks like a lot of fun. (Of course it does. I'm an addict.)
Dear Miss Line Whore...I mean Dear Miss K, I feel your pain. I had one bad experience with a BOM and I refuse to participate in any new ones because of that one bad expereince.
I LOVE Strawberry Fields. You'll be glad you bought that bundle...it might be a year or two when there is no more to be found but you will be glad. ;0
THe blocks are lovely!
Love Strawberry Fields! I made a quilt in July with a jelly roll...it came out so awesome! I love these blocks!! Very cute!
Oh how I wish we lived closer...although you get way more accomplished than I ever would/could I see so much of you in my head...again,not in a creepy way, a fun way. I have never done a BOM but went to my MIL a few weeks ago and she showed me the BOM that she is working on...guess which one it is...yep, thats right, the same BOM you are working on! I have been on Fat Quarter Shop site twice this week getting up the courage to add another 'to do' to my long list. You make my day with each post, you can't hear me but I giggle each time I read your posts, they are perfect! I will send you a separate email, my trip was changed slightly so maybe I could still stalk...I mean meet you when you come to Houston! Have a great weekend you silly girl. Lisa In Texas
PS. If you have been quilting for 25 years you must have started in preschool?
Oh my. Where do I find out about this BOM? Love it. And starting out with Bonnie and Cammile, and then Carrie.......with Joanna's fabric........it doesn't get any better. I haven't made that many quilts yet.....but I sure have been buying up the fabric. And I always buy one line, always by Moda. My sister calls me a fabric snob!
DANG!!! Lisa gets to meet you??!! Okay, i'M officialy jealous. :(
Just got my first BOM block project.......didn't know people are actually using it to make a quilt....ummmm....the fabric is hideous.....I thought they were just using scraps to practice..... LOL! Thanks for the heads up HA!
I may have to join yours but I don't know if I could "practice" with such PRETTY material!!! Love all the Moda girls and fabrics! ....and of course YOU & your blog!
Can't wait to see the rest!
Your cracked me up!!! This is my fourth BOM and I am already behind on it. I do love it though. The other three, okay five I have never finished for one reason or another. I have only been quilting for 2 1/2 years and really BOM's are a good way to learn. But, like you I end up not liking something about them. I am doing this one with my Daughter and my Sister (she lives 740 miles away :)). So glad to hear that I am not the only "line whore"...giggle...
Love that BOM! Am so glad there are other "line w_ _ _ _ _ out there. I thought it was just a fixation I have. My sewing friends think I am to particular and need to get out of my "box" but, I like it there. Just recently found your blog and am loving it! Thanks!
Oh, I'm so totally a 'line whore'!! Glad I'm not alone. What I love is when I show people a finished quilt and they say "Wow... you did an amazing job picking out fabrics... they go so well together!" Ha! Is it bad that I just say "Thanks" and don't admit that they're all from the same line so OF COURSE they look amazing together?! ;)
ROFL
A "line whore"? I haven't heard that one before. And given that I've been busted for the same "offense", you would think I should have been called that a time or two. Just so you know, my other favorite terms are "button slut" and "trim tramp". Guilty as charged.
As for the BOMs... just wait. It can get worse. Shhhh.... don't tell anyone but I signed up for the same BOM at two different shops. It wasn't an oversight either. I knew what I was doing. I couldn't pick which one I liked best, especially since they were quite different from each other. Truth be told, I would have gotten them for the fabric alone. It really is a disease, isn't it? Here's hoping nobody finds a cure any time soon. :)
I love that fabric. You cracked me up because my friend and I split up that same bundle!! Those blocks are gorgeous. You won't catch me doing a BOM, but I'll watch you from afar :)
These are gorgeous blocks - I wish I could do it too!!
I love strawberry fields, it's just too cute to resist! And the good news is that strawberry fields has finally arrived at my local quilt store here in germany, yeehaa;-) I wish I'd have a friend to split a FQ bundle, lucky you! Hope you'll show us your BOM blocks every month, these are to die for!
Your charm pack whore;-) Hildy
Wait. You didn't scale the patterns down to 6 inch blocks? I'm shocked and disappointed! ;)
These look lovely, and very you. Or at least what seems like you from the projects you've blogged about.
I'm wary of BOMs too. Especially if they are mystery ones. But the Moonglow quilt I'm making was originally a BOM, so I guess you just have to pick the right ones.
Well, you did it! I just signed up for this BOM. So happy I found your great blog. You're an inspiration and a hoot! Thanks for the chuckles and the nudge to "get 'er dun." Now I will play catch up and it will be so gratifying to quilt along w/you.
We may just need to start a line whore club - seems to be a lot of us out there!!
Love your work.
Feeling Guilty - I used a picture from you blog, but I linked it back to yours. I hope that is ok. I should have asked first - I just saw you thing about using your pics. I used you picture of you pretty stash!
OMG I was reading your blog and we are so much alike except for the brother that has a cabin for extream skier!!! I too could not find a BOM I liked due to the selection of fabric. I love to work with collections of fabric because I want everything to match just perfect. I also signed up for this BOM and I love it. I really enjoy your blog thank you for sharing
You are SO darn funny. I have to differ with you on the BOMs though. I'm in Ina's camp, although I haven't had that one bad experience. I'm a BOM boycotter 'cause when I add up the total cost of a BOM I want to have a Heart. Attack. It's always amazed me that they're so popular, given their price.
And. Just when will you and Lisa be gettin' together...hmmmmm?????
LOL Kristyne...you are too funny! I have a good friend who is doing this BOM, and checked out her blocks today. Oh my, they are SOOOOO lovely! I'm saving my Strawberry Fields for a special project that's coming up :) Will watch your progress with interest!
Love your blocks... I have just starting quilting about 6months ago and this is my first BOM and my 2nd quilt ever. I am loving the fabric and I must agree I totally love all the fabric to match... so I guess I am a Line Whore as well LOL.
My fourth month just arrived in the mail today so hopefully I can get to it soon. Enjoy and can't wait to see how your blocks comes out
Love me :-)
love love love! You know I love that fabric, but I love your blocks and of course you are the best person to watch doing this because you are so meticulous. Just maybe I'll decide I can do a BOM thingy someday too. cheers, girl! xo amy