I confess that a BOM (Block of the Month program where, for a monthly fee, a quilt shop sends you fabrics and patterns for a block each month until you make a whole quilt top) does not really appeal to me. Why would I want to make a quilt someone else designed in fabrics someone else chose. Well I tried one out and I was proven wrong. I absolutely loved it. The quilt I made was from the Amitie Textiles Circle Game BOM and ended up looking like this. If you love this quilt, I have a feeling a second round of this BOM is under way right now but I don't know if it's all sold out.
I missed their previous BOM, Green Tea and Sweet Beans (although I always think of it as Green Beans and Ham), a wonderful BOM which my friend Katy bought, never got around to doing because she has been so busy being the pied piper of the quilting world, and has passed to my friend Mandy who is doing it absolutely beautifully and I might even get some pics of it when she come here for our sewing day next week. Here is a Green Tea and Sweet Beans quilt top finished by my mate Lil.
And now there is a new BOM starting right now (go to Amitie to sign up) and I confess I signed up even before I saw a picture of the quilt itself but Jenny has just shown a glimpse on the Amitie website. You can hand or machine piece this one, which is perfect for me because I don't have the patience for hours of hand sewing whereas some people just love it. This newest BOM is called the Gipsy Wife and is as whimsical and quirky as the previous two and I cannot wait for my first month's package to arrive. I will squeal. I know I will.
What sets Amitie's BOMs apart from the rest for me are both the wonderful designs of the quilts themselves but also the fabrics they send. If you have a bored moment, pop over to their website for the most incredible selection of fabrics you will find in any shop anywhere in the world right now. Take a look at this little trio of Liberty fabrics just to get an idea of what I'm talking about (that price is AU$ BTW and not US$ since the shop is situated in Melbourne Australia).
So tell me, have you ever signed up for a BOM? Did you enjoy it? Did you get the quilt finished?
I have done a couple of BOM's and love them and are currently doing a couple more. I like to also make other quilts where I get to pick the fabrics so it's nice to do a mix of both
ReplyDeleteI've done three. I didn't like the colours of the first one, so never finished it. The blocks ended up in bags or at the charity shop. I meddled up the quilting of the second one (Tail Feathers) which I really liked, so I ripped out all the quilting (took for ever) and re-set the embroidered blocks in my own setting design. The third one (Down in the Garden) I loved and finished without any trouble and it's now hanging on the lounge wall. I don't know if I'm up for any more BOMs though.
ReplyDeleteYou da bom!
ReplyDeleteI am having enough trouble keeping up with everything else right now, but like the idea.
You'll wish you could VISIT Amitie in real life. Amazing shop and amazing service whenever I visit Melbourne. Fabric selections on the shelves are always inspiring.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm not really a BOM Person.
No, no and no but the one you have just signed up for would look fab in my mountain flat (well 80s beige flat on the edge of a big city that just happens to be surrounded by mountains).
ReplyDeleteHave no experience to share here but have contacted Amitie to see if there are spaces - you temptress darn it!
ReplyDeleteCan you turn of the blasted word verification please as these words are impossible to read!
Alas, I know, having signed up for things to work through before, that these are not for me, as I don't get them done, but yours looks great!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done any BOM yet as the majority haven't appealed to me but there are a couple of new ones out there that do. I just have so many other projects in the works that I am resisting. Plus they seem to be so expensive to me.
ReplyDeleteI've got four BOMs going right now and I love them all. I've done one or two a year for the past couple of years and have really enjoyed them. I do my own quilts too, but for some reason a block a month is fun to look forward to receiving, working on, and then in the end finishing. Enjoy! :)
ReplyDeleteI am working on a BOM right now and have been for a couple years. It's hand appliqué and I only work onnit in the summer. I like having the fabrics all right there because there's no indecision but I suspect this shop stocked the BOM kits with the fabric they were trying to get rid of.
ReplyDeleteHi! I haven't done any BOM but after seeing your beautiful quilt and those photos, I guess it would be fun!
ReplyDeleteI've participated in a few of them. The only finish I have is the one that I designed for a friend. That quilt was the inspiration for Quilty Friends. (Check it out at QuiltyFirends.blogspot)
ReplyDeleteThe mind is willing and I have two, no three unfinished BOM's in various stages but somehow the starts are so much more exciting. They are on the ever growing list of things to finish - one day.
ReplyDeleteNever done a BOM but I will enjoy hearing about your process. :-)
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ReplyDeleteThere are BOMs and there are BOMs! I participated in one through a local quilt shop where they choose the fabrics and no, it isn't finished. I got about halfway through and gave up because I really didn't like it. Although it's a wonderful quilt shop, it's very Civil War Repro oriented, so the fabrics just didn't appeal to me. I still (five years later) have all of the little Ziploc bags full of fabric pieces in a drawer somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThen there are the BOMs where you choose your own fabrics and get new block instructions each month. I like that kind much more. The group of quilters I get together with each month is starting our third BOM (theme: botanicals) and I write up the block instructions for everyone. Unfortunately, I'm so bad at finishing things that I haven't completed my blocks for either of our two previous BOMs (stars and baskets). It's a lot of fun, though, because we have such a range of styles in our group and the quilts all look so different.
I've considered doing them in the past but so far have refrained from subscribing to them - in some way's I've been happy not to have joined in as my tastes have changed over the years. I do know I wouldn't take part in one that I hadn't seen completed - to much of a risk for my liking.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see what new BOM's are around this year - something funky and contemporary and maybe I could be drawn in - maybe ;o)
I done BOm´s and love them.I`m working on one called Almazuelas and other called 12 meses en rojo and other that still waiting to be finished.
ReplyDeleteYou know I much prefer these BOM on line where yes they give you the pattern, but YOU choose the fabric!
ReplyDeleteI am doing one at the moment, that I am not enjoying that much as it is all about triangles. If I never sew another triangle it will be too soon! However this one looks amazing! so I will sign up if there is room. I could never design somethings beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJust finishing off a union jack from your moda project last year. A few more hours to go... photos will follow!
I broke down and signed up for one last year. NO I did not finish it. I had a very bad experience. The quilt shop went several months without mailing out the kit for the selected month. They kept saying they were waiting on the fabric everytime I contacted them. They NEVER ONCE contacted me about any delays in the BOM. If your going to offer a BOM then have all the supplies on hand for the duration of it. If you run out then contact the participants and let them know about it. Don't make them contact you especially when 3 months have passed with nothing.........Needless to say, I don't see one in the near future for me.
ReplyDeleteI've done 2 BOM, one I finished, the other I hate and it is sitting in a box. I really should try to sell it, it is so not my style. I can't believe I even bought it. I'm going to check out the new BOM you are doing.
ReplyDeleteps...the word verification is ugh! annoying. Love ya!
I've done 2 BOM from our local fabric store. One I gave as a gift and one I sold. Both turned out, but not my style. I need to visit this site and see what they have.
ReplyDeleteI've never done a BOM and I'm not sure I ever will (no money!) but I do like seeing what different people do with the same pattern and fabrics!
ReplyDeleteI made the 2009 TQS BOM designed by Sue Garman, but I selected my own color palette and fabrics. I would never buy a quilt kit for myself, because I think selecting the fabrics and putting my own stamp on a quilt is the most fun. However, I did appreciate the support of the TQS forum of other members making the BOM along with me. Without that support, I doubt that I would have ever attempted and completed such a challenging quilt.
ReplyDeleteI have all the Green Tea & Sweet Beans blocks completed, but have yet to sew them together - might do this bit by machine! I should get a move on as I have also signed up for the Gypsy Wife BOM and have another Amitie one on the go called The Aunts Quilt. Better late than never with me!
ReplyDeleteI have all the Green Tea & Sweet Beans blocks completed, but have yet to sew them together - might do this bit by machine! I should get a move on as I have also signed up for the Gypsy Wife BOM and have another Amitie one on the go called The Aunts Quilt. Better late than never with me!
ReplyDeleteI signed up for the quilters choice block of the month at fat quarter shop this one starts in may and I cant wait. Never done one before want to see what happens.
ReplyDeletehttp//richardquilts.blogspot.com
Make sure you stop by and put your guess in my quilt givaway by guessing my babys B-day or Birth Weight.
Thanks for the great post Lynne. I really enjoy designing these so it is really nice to know others enjoy them also. For those interested there are still a few places in "the circle game" BOM and the book " green tea and sweet beans" will be available really soon.
ReplyDeleteI am looking at 8 months of unopened quilt blocks. I signed up for the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery BOM. Nothing wrong with the patterns or fabric- just haven't taken the time to make them. I am preventing myself from signing up for another one till I finish this one.
ReplyDeleteI did a BOM about 6 years ago. It was $5 to join, and each month's block kit was free if you showed up with your finished blocks. I did it in 2 colorways, one I finished last summer & the other is still a WIP. I was keeping up with them originally until, sadly, the shop closed. But the sweet owner gave everyone the remaining kits at no charge so they could finish their quilts. which I'll do one of these days :) The pattern was a sampler, and a great way to try new skills on a smaller scale - I did my first curved & Y seams on that quilt.
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