BOMs and QALs in 2014

I love BOM’s (Block of the Months) and QALs (Quilt A-Long).  They inspire me, they teach me new techniques, they let me play with color, AND I can finish a block in just a few visits to my basement (essential with three little girls including a 2.5 year old).  So far, this year I’m working on three (and finishing one from 2013).  I love Aurifil thread so of course I’m participating in the Aurifil BOM.

The patterns are all free – here is my January block.  I have decided to go with a beige-ish background and then pastels – very low volume…at least low volume in Persimon Dreams’ world (aka my world).  To sweeten the deal…if you post your blocks to flickr…

EACH MONTH [Aurifil] will pick one random winner that has made a  block from our 2014 designers and that random person receives a FULL BOX of my [Pat Sloan] Aurifil thread as the  prize!

Uhmmm…yeah.  Not only will I have a beautiful quilt after 12 months but I have a chance to win Aurifil thread – I’ll pretty much do anything for Aurifil thread.    Here’s where I would like your suggestions!  I would love a second BOM to do in the same color scheme so I will have 24 blocks in my final quilt instead of just 12.  I would like the finish blocks to be 12 inches or less and I prefer a free BOM, although, I’m not completely opposed to paying a fee.  First Question – Which other BOM should I participate in?  Please leave links to ones you think I would enjoy in the comments!   The next BOM I’m signed up for is another free one – Pat Sloan’s Globetrotting Mystery BOM.  I secretly love a mystery and I opening love Pat Sloan.  My first step was to pull some fabrics…  

This was my initial ‘fabric pull’.  You’ll see that already in my first block I’ve added to the stack.  I’m feeling a turqouise, green, brown, orange/golden, beige quilt about to be created.  You (and me) will just have to wait and see what happens as this one progresses. 

The first block is Washington DC.  I think this is going to be one dramatic quilt!   And of course, I’ll be making all the blocks for my own 52 Blocks Quilt Along.  This is more of a BOW (Block of the Week) but I’m excited to see what happens with the blocks everyone makes!

Block 1 – Square Dancing Whale

Block 2 – Road Trip to California As far as QALs I haven’t really joined up in any yet.  I spotted something on instagram about a scrappy bear paw that caught my attention but I haven’t found the source of it yet.  I also have an idea of a QAL to run on my blog but not sure if that’s just ‘too much’…  Too many ideas in my mind!!!! But that’s what makes creating so much fun! Second Question – Do you know of any QALs that I would enjoy joining in? and a Third Question – Do you like BOMs and QALs?  Why or why not?