Wednesday, March 5, 2014

WIP Wednesday: The Big Announcement

I am so excited about this that I keep waking up in the night, thinking "Oh, we could do that."

A quilter and fabric designer whom I have admired for years is "retiring" from the quilting business. If you follow Karen Snyder on Facebook or on her blog, Anna Lena Land, you know she has recently purchased a home in Sweden and wants to spend part of the year there. So she is handing off her "Block a Day" Facebook group -- to me!

Here's what Karen says to introduce the "Block a Day" concept:
Can't find time to make a quilt? How about a block each day! Every season I'll showcase a new block, post a tutorial on my blog (annalenaland.com) and try to give you lots of inspiration.
I've "known" Karen since my boys and I visited her shop in Washington back in the late 1990s. She designs 30s reproduction fabrics (and still has a very few on sale here) and quilts to go with them. I've made several quilts using her "Block a Day" method, such as:


Bowtie. And:


Hourglass. And:


Flying in Squares (Flying Geese). And:


Tesselating Crosses. And:


Streaks of Lightning (60 Degree Triangles). And:


Strings. And lastly:


The next Block a Day challenge will kick off on the Vernal Equinox, March 20 -- First Day of Spring! The tutorial will be here on 52 Quilts beginning March 18, so you'll have time to get your fabrics together before we start sewing. Join the Block a Day group on Facebook here, if you like. If you don't Facebook, no worries. All the details will also be here at 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks.

I'd love to know if you have a favorite block to suggest for a "Block a Day." Comment on this post by Saturday, March 8 for a chance to win a new book of quilt blocks!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

31 comments:

  1. Congratulations... I have never joined a group like this before but maybe it would be fun!! I'd be interested in the Bear Paw.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How exciting! I am in! I have been sorting my scraps (aka Bonnie Hunter's system) along with the sewing room clean up so this will be great! I would propose the Log Cabin. I know it is a basic block but due to the WIDE variety of lay outs, it is one of the most versatile.Lends itself readily to scrappiness or design. Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is very exciting! I have been wanting to join in. Maybe this time I will!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't seen this Block a Day before, I'll have to check it out. I like blocks that are asymmetrical so that you can get different patterns by rotating the blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations! I hope it isn't going to make all the work you already do too much...

    I tried to do a block-a-day after work about 12 years ago just to see if I could do it. I made about 18 squares before the project got the best of me! Gosh, it's an awesome goal when you can set aside an hour a day...

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG!!! I can't wait! I did it before and just realized when I saw your post that I hadn't done it in awhile. So glad this is coming back. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I took a class at Anna Lena's shop yrs ago, and also had a weekend retreat when she had the rooms above her first shop. She is such a warm and welcoming person. So glad you're continuing her Block A Day program!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations!
    I love the Churn Dash block!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What about a maple leaf??

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can't promise to join in, Marti, but, if I don't, I'll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines! Good luck! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  11. For a Block a Day project I like block with just a few pieces so that I actually have some hope of getting one a day done! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. How exciting! Good luck with the project.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't think I will be able to join a block-a-day challenge since I am not keeping up with my block-a-month so far!! Like Anne, though, I look forward to seeing what everyone else is creating and cheering you all on!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats! How exciting for both of you. I like the idea of doing a block a day, it's like eating the elephant one bite at a time! I look forward to seeing what block you choose. As for my choice, I like doing log cabins.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fantastic news; exciting times ahead. A block I like is card trick.

    ReplyDelete
  16. How exciting! I am off to have a look at that link now. I only discovered (and took part in) my first QAL last year and I found it a great way to work, with encouragement from other quilters, it means I have no UFO's in my closet!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I enjoyed making a small quilt using the "kiss" block (there is also a "hugs") block...I made mine with leftover jelly roll strips...was really fun to make and I will definitely make more some day using same block

    ReplyDelete
  18. How fun! Love seeing the quilts you made from the block a day challenges. I vote for friendship star or log cabin!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Churn dash, or a version of it. I like the 'O' version, where the N, S, E, W blocks are solid color as opposed to half-square rectangles.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations! I for one am looking forward to your "block of the day". Love to learn new things, and this will be a great way to try out blocks. No specific block in mind, they are all fun.

    ReplyDelete
  21. That's so exciting! I love anything with stars - but I'll definitely play along with anything! Gill

    ReplyDelete
  22. That's fantastic! I have to agree with knittertek - I really like churn dash blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am going to say I love churn dash. Hope to join in, I don't do
    Facebook by will follow along by your blog. You are super to jump in and help out. Patti

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have always wanted to do a 2 color quilt, and this would be perfect! Blue and white would be my choice! Ohio Star is one of my favorites. Also, some of the newer block patterns like Disappearing 9 patch, D4P, etc. might work as they are super fast.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Churn Dash or Pinwheel are two of my favorited!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the tumbling blocks block. Lets give that one a try!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm a fan of the snail's trail. It looks so much more complicated than it really is! (I followed directions by Janet Wickell)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Farmers daughter block is easy enough for beginners and looks great set as a whole quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I linked up a suggestion on Facebook, the Indian Hatchet block. Lots of good ideas here!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Jacobs Ladder is my most favourite block ever.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking your time to comment. If I don't answer in an email, it's because you're a no-reply commenter and I can't find you!