Through The Looking Glass - A Complete Kaleidoscope BOM

Wow, I can't believe I managed to finish my Kaleidoscope BOM within a month of finishing the blocks. Those that know me know that I'm great at finishing quilt tops, but finishing them is another story. But I'm SO happy with how this quilt came out.

It took me a little while to settle on a layout. One tip that I tell people when trying to decide on layouts of quilts is to pull out your camera phone and put it on the black and white setting. Look at your quilt through your camera with that setting and see if you have a clustering of darks, mediums or lights in one area. Move blocks around until you find the right balance. You'll probably have to play around with color placement as well. Just remember - you can continue to make changes, OR you can sew the quilt together, quilt it and enjoy your quilt.

Anyone that knows me or has followed my quilting journey also knows how much I love some good custom quilting. But because the fabrics were busy and this quilt already had so much going on (and admittedly, I really just wanted it finished), I quilted this with straight lines about 1/2" apart.

I admit, I really want to try to make a quilt or two just using one block, repeated to see the secondary designs created as a result.

All of these blocks are still available on Craftsy as individual blocks. BUT, I also created a pattern with all of the blocks in one place for ease of download and use. Click here to check it all out.

For those that followed along with the entire BOM, thank you for joining me. I'd love to see your finished quilts. And if you're just joining now, welcome! There's never a bad time to start a quilt. Enjoy!

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 12

Well, this is it! We've reached the final month in our Kaleidoscope BOM. It's bittersweet for me. I've really enjoyed designing and making all of these blocks, but I'm also excited to complete this quilt and think about another project.

I like to call this block the "pinwheel trifecta." I love how the lime, teal and orange color combos create three fun pinwheels. I'd love to see this block repeated in a quilt. Imagine the movement!

This block has such a fun circular feel to it. Can you imagine a quilt with, say, four or five of these, offset, in some different color combos. I bet it would be super fun.

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too. And stay tuned for the finished quilt with all of the blocks combined.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 11
Month 10
Month 9
Month 8
Month 7
Month 6
Month 5
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 11

This is it, we're on the home stretch here with the Kaleidoscope BOM. I can't believe we're almost done. In a way, it makes me a little sad, but I'm also excited to see how everything comes together.

I love this block, mainly because every time I look at it, my eye goes to a different feature... the purple pinwheel, the orange star or the 3-D teal. This block has so many possibilities. I just love it.

And cam we talk about how fun this block is. I love the deep contrast between the purple and lime green here. It just gives this block such definition. It's proof that the right fabric placement can do wonders.

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 10
Month 9
Month 8
Month 7
Month 6
Month 5
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 10

Why hello there October, you sure snuck up on me. September was a crazy insane month at work as my company was part of the largest technology merger in history. Fortunately, we're onto the next stage, so I have a little more time to quilt. That means I can oogle over this month's blocks in the Kaleidoscope BOM.

I'm absolutely in love with this block. I don't know what it is about it, but the colors in this block sing to me, maybe more than any other block to this point. They just go together so well and create such a dynamic block. I might have to make a whole quilt using this color way.

Could you imagine an entire quilt using this block? It would just scream for some continuous circle quilting. The movement is so fun. It's the color placement, with the green on one side and purple on another that really gives it movement.

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 9
Month 8
Month 7
Month 6
Month 5
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 9

It's September, so that means back to school (at least here in Massachusetts), slightly shorter and cooler days and the emergence of fall colors and foods. While most people I know can't wait for fall, I'm hoping Summer lasts well into October and beyond. I love the heat, the summer foods and the long days. I'm not quite ready for fall, but I am ready for two more blocks in the Kaleidoscope BOM series. Let's check these out. 

 As you can tell, these blocks are starting to become a little more detailed. With a few more pieces to each block, there are more and more possibilities in terms of fabric placement and ways to emphasize different elements. In this block above, I was just thinking how cool it would look if I replaced the orange with the white background. Wouldn't that look neat?

This next block reminds me of a bouquet of roses all wrapped up tight and ready to give to a special someone. I bet this would be great with some reds and yellows where the purple is here. 

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 8
Month 7
Month 6
Month 5
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 8

Ah, August - with your glorious heat, chatter of back to school and the reveal of yet another set of Kaleidoscope BOM blocks! I love the heat and warm weather, so the thought of fall coming is a bit of a disappointment, but to many, it's a welcome season. These two blocks channel fall with their colorings. We're starting to get into some slightly more detailed blocks, with more pieces, but that doesn't mean they're any more difficult than the other blocks.

I love the possibility that this block has. If we repeat this block in one quilt, the lime background could create an interesting grid pattern with its straight lines. The bold use of purple in this block really makes the star stand to here.

The second block this month has some fantastic elements to it as well that can be emphasized depending on the fabric placement. Emphasize the purple or green stars, or both, should you choose. The possibilities are endless.

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 7Month 6
Month 5
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 6

Here we are, at the halfway point in the Kaleidoscope Block of the Month! I get so excited every time I finish another block and add it to my collection of finished blocks. That feeling grew when I placed the two blocks from month 6 up on my design wall. I can't wait to finish all of them and play with the layout a bit.

This first block is fun because of the super narrow pinwheel formed in this block. I can't help but love the thin orange lines outlining the pinwheel. I love adding thin lines around elements to really emphasize a feature and make it stand out.

The color combo in the second block this month is really fun and cheery to me. You could have a lot of fun with depth here, using the darkest fabric where the plum is and working out to the lightest fabric to create a 3-D effect.

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 5Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 5

Welcome to month five of the Kaleidoscope Block of the Month! I have to say, I'm loving how quick all of these blocks are coming together. An hour or so in my studio and I can have a block done. I love projects like that where I can spend a short amount of time sewing and see great results. With work being extremely busy right now, I need more of those projects in my life.

The first block this month is really fun and different than some of the other blocks we've done. It definitely has a more geometric feel to it than other blocks. Those of you that know my style know that I love some good geometric elements.

The second block for month five is super simple yet dramatic. I'd love to see someone use a great fussy cut print in the dark teal here. It's a larger piece compared to many of the other blocks we've made, so it's perfect for showcasing a fun print. Or, if there's one color that you love and want to highlight, this is the place to do it. There's no coincidence that teal is my favorite color and it's highlighted the most here.

Download the block on Craftsy today to join along. Don't forget to use the hashtag, #kaleidoscopeBOM and share your creations!

Check out the previous months too:
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 4

Can you believe that we're 1/3 of the way through the kaleidoscope BOM now? I know I can't. The flowers are starting to bloom here in New England. It also means I can sew with the windows open in my studio, which is exactly what I did when sewing these blocks together.

This first block is fun. It uses a gradation of fabrics from dark to light, outside in, to create depth and movement. I tried making a scrappy version of this block and it created a much different effect. I happen to like the gradation in this block, as I'm getting enough of a scrappy feel with the variation of fabrics in the quilt blocks.

As you can see, we have a theme this month with flying geese. In this block, the geese are going away from the center of the block. You could also make this one scrappy if you wanted that look. Below is the same block in different fabrics. I think I'm going to use the aqua block above because I like the contrast in the aqua and the background more, but I do love the purples and lemon colors together in the block below. This just goes to show you how changing up the fabrics can make a big difference in the final product.

Want to download these blocks and join along? Check out the Craftsy page here. Don't forget to share your work using the hashtag, #kaleidoscopeBOM.


Check out the previous months too:
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 3

Can you believe we're already onto month three of the Kaleidoscope BOM? It feels like New Years 2016 was just the other day. I'm so excited about these two blocks because they start to get a little more detailed, which adds a new layer of dimension to these blocks. 

This first one is so cool to me. I love the way the orange in the middle creates a pinwheel, but it also adds a ton of depth to the lemon star. The plum secondary background adds a cool dimension to this block as well. I love the effect of the kaleidoscope pieces extending into the background as an optical illusion. The quilting could really enhance this when we're done. 

The second block for month three is also so fun. This one has a great out of space vibe to it. Maybe it's the fabric selection or the angles of the center of the star and the star itself, but I feel like I'm on Space Mountain going through the galaxy on a space ship. This just goes to show you how the fabric choice and pattern can really make a block pop. 

If you want to download these blocks and join along in our BOM, hop on over to Craftsy. And remember, if you make any, make sure to share them on social media using #KaleidoscopeBOM

Check out the previous months too:
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 2

Where did January go? It feels like I just introduced the Kaleidoscope BOM a week or two ago and we're already launching month two.

Month two has some really awesome blocks in it. This first block would be amazing repeated in a quilt. I'd be interested in seeing the movement that the light teal would work that way. As just a single block, I feel like I'm on Space Mountain at Disney World, just zooming into space. 

The second block for this month is a bright and cheery star kaleidoscope block. I really like how the white background intersects the orange star in this block to give it a great effect. I love star blocks that are framed up, and the use of the same color of fabrics in two different tones really has a nice effect here. 

I can't wait to see what you make with these blocks. If you want to participate in the BOM, download the blocks on Craftsy here. Don't forget to hashtag your blocks using #kaleidoscopeBOM. 

Kaleidoscope Block of the Month - Month 1

Here we go, it's month one in the Kaleidoscope Block of the Month. Hop on over to Craftsy to download the first two blocks today!

Block one is a simple kaleidoscope block that has a couple of star patterns here. If you look at the light teal and the dark teal, each color individually could be a star. Make one of those colors the same as the plum in this block and you have a completely different look.

Block two has a lot of depth to it with the dark and light orange here. Playing with color here could change the look of this block as well. Alternate colors for more of a spiral look or make it more scrappy with more fabrics instead of just three here.

Download the blocks here!

Share your blocks on Instagram using the hashtag #kaleidoscopeBOM. I can't wait to see what you make. 

Coming Soon - Kaleidoscope BOM

A while ago I started doodling out different types of kaleidoscope blocks in search of the perfect block. I was originally inspired by my Sunrise Delight quilt, where I took the traditional kaleidoscope block and mixed it up a little. After a bunch of doodling, I couldn't narrow the blocks down and decided to keep going until I had enough to make one a month. Yet I kept doodling to have enough awesome sketches to make two a month. Thus the idea for the Kaleidoscope Block of the Month was born.

With this BOM, I'll post two blocks a month to Craftsy for just $2.50 the first week of the month from January to December in 2016. The blocks will finish at 12.5" unfinished, and if you make all 24 blocks, you'll have a quilt that will measure 72" x 48". Of course you could always take one of the blocks and make an entire quilt out of it. While the blocks will be paper pieced, they're all fairly simple with no seams to match up outside of the point of the kaleidoscope.

Here's a preview of the first two blocks for January:

Here's a look at the fabrics I'm using... I chose four colors, orange, teal, lime and purple and selected a light and dark fabric for both. The backing will be one of my favorite Carolyn Friedlander fabrics.

If you want to sew along, here's what I recommend for fabrics:
Background: 5 yards
Kaleidoscope Fabric: Approximately 8 yards of various prints. For this quilt I will be using eight one yard cuts. You could also use a fat quarter bundle for a more random look. If you go that route, I recommend at least 32 fat quarters that contrast with your background fabric.

I can't wait to see what everyone makes with these fun blocks. 

Christmas BOM Finally Finished

Yup, it's official.  I'm finally finished the FQS Designer Mystery BOM from 2010.  I finished it at retreat last weekend. This made my third finished quilt top for retreat.  Granted I just needed to finish the border, which took a LOT longer than anticipated.

I struggled with the border for a while.  I have no idea why, but I had issues aligning the stars so that they lined  up.  I cut fabric the wrong length.  I had a hole burned in my fabric, so I had to piece on part of the border that didn't need to be pieced originally.  Needless to say, I loathed this quilt come the end. Especially when I laid it down and realized it didn't lay flat in one area (see that pucker in the border on the right). Seriously?  I haven't had this many issues with a quilt in probably 5-7 years, when I was still just a novice quilter.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled that this top is done, but I think I'll be putting it away for a while until I grow to love it again and want to quilt the top.

I do want to note that the issues I had were not with the pattern itself.  The FQS did a good job with the pattern, I just had so many issues with the border.

Another Simply Radiant Block

While I had no machine, I prepped a couple of the Simply Radiant BOM blocks from the Carol Doak Yahoo Group.  Here's this completed block.  I just love how these blocks are turning out.

And here are the eight that I've completed.  Just four more to go.

This block is in the upper right corner.  I said it before, and I'll say it again, I love these!

FQS Designer Mystery BOM - Block 11

And block 11 is finished.  Just one more to go after this.

I love the uneven bow in this block.  I think it adds character.  I wouldn't really associate a basket with Christmas, more Easter, but it's still cute. 

One more to go (oh, wait, i already said that...)

FQS Designer Mystery BOM - Block 10

I finally got back to working on the FQS Designer Mystery BOM after a few weeks off and finished block 10.

I love this block.  I think the elves ice skating are so cute here, and the bow is adorable.

Now to finish block 11 and 12...

Designer Mystery BOM - Block 8

Yet another BOM that I'm way behind on.  Okay, so I'm not AS far behind on this one as I am on the Radian Star BOM.  I made block 8 last weekend.  This one is a gingerbread house.  I think it turned out cute. 

I'm still totally in love with this fabric line and this quilt.  Well, I'm in love with every one of Kate Spain's fabric lines.  They're all so awesome. 

Simply Radiant BOM - January

As I was preparing to teach the BMQG paper piecing, I was looking for just the right pattern that didn't have too many pieces, needed to be pieced together to show how to join two paper pieced blocks, and had different angles to show how to take care in lining up the fabrics.  I decided on the January BOM from Carol Doak's Simply Radiant Star BOM.  I hadn't made this block, but it appeared to be the easiest block out of the bunch.  It would be perfect.

Here's my finished block.  I really like how it came out.  As I was preparing and picking out fabrics I decided that I needed a block with red as the dominant color.  I think this works well.

Here are all seven blocks so far.  See why I thought I needed another block with red as the focus color?

I put this aside for a while, but I'm going to TRY to pick it back up again and get a few more blocks done.  All of the patterns have been posted for the quilt, I just need to finish them all. 

Radiant Star BOM - Block 6

Well, after a break from quilting for a few weeks with traveling for work and pleasure, I finally got back into the swing of sewing the other night.  To start, I worked on catching up on the Radiant Star BOM.  I think we're up to block 9, but I just got to finishing block 6.  Progress is progress though.

I love these blocks.  I think it's fair to say that I really love Carol Doak's patterns and I love to paper piece.

Here are the first six blocks.  Half way done!  I love how using one line of fabric for the entire quilt pulls everything together even though the blocks are all different.