Splendid Sampler ~ Blocks 1, 2, 4

I told myself I wasn't going to start any new projects until I finish a few of my numerous WIPs. I was
doing so well, being so strong, resisting some great quilts...then I went to my quilt guild meeting last week and heard about the Splendid Sampler. Some of the girls had brought their blocks in to show. When I got home, I looked up the website and I realized that resistance is futile: I HAD to start this project!!!

If you haven't heard of the Splendid Sampler, it's a quilt-a-long being coordinated by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. Twice a week, they are releasing a free pattern for a 6" (finished) block. They have gotten over 80 quilters to design a block; there will be a total of 100 blocks over the next year. You can go to the Splendid Sampler website for all the info and to sign up for email alerts when a new block is posted.

I decided this is the perfect project for all those red and white polka dot and geometric fabrics that I've been hoarding collecting. Here are some of the fabrics I'll be using:

I'm also going to occasionally use a bit of turquoise fabric for added interest. Not in every block, but in some of them. Here is block 1, designed by Pat Sloan and called "Hearts Aflutter." I hand-appliqued the heart onto the background:

Here is block 2, designed by Jane Davidson, called "Wings." I didn't want the background as busy as the original, so I made it all out of Kona Snow, and I eliminated the four-patches in between the butterflies. I'm still undecided if I'm going to embroider the butterfly antennae or just keep the block as is...

When I saw block 4 by Jen Kingwell, called "Happy Happy," I couldn't resist starting it right away. I think it's such a cute little block. Some of my hand-appliqued circles didn't come out perfectly, but keep in mind that those tiny ones are about the size of a dime!

 

Although I've skipped block 3 for now, I do plan on making it. Since I started this a week late, I'm playing a bit of catch-up. Of course, I don't realistically think I'll stay on top of these blocks during the school year! My plan is to print out each pattern and make it as I have time, for now. During the summer I should be able to make more of them.

 

I'm linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching and Judy's Design Wall Monday.

 

Happy stitching!