Things to do while the Block Lotto takes a break in December

As previously posted, there will be no block lotto in December.  Some of you will be glad because you're so busy that you'd never have time to make lotto blocks anyway.  Others may miss having a lotto block excuse for a little me-time away from the hustle and bustle of the season.  For the second group, here's some suggestions.

DO SOMETHING WITH THOSE LOTTO BLOCKS!

Have you won some lotto blocks . . . that are still just blocks?  Take them out, put them on a wall, spread them out on the floor, arrange and re-arrange them on your bed.  If it's been a while, you may find some new inspiration–if not, it might be worth considering if you will ever want to do something with them. Maybe sewing them into a quick charity quilt or passing them onto someone else is the "something" you are meant to do with them–and I personally think that's perfectly OK.

Now that I have a real design wall, I plan to pull out my "love letters" lotto blocks and all the wonderful rose blocks that some of you gifted to me and have another run at these blocks.

WISH YOU HAD WON THOSE LOTTO BLOCKS?  MAKE SOME, OR ...

Everyone has formed an attachment to a block that they really wanted to win, felt they were meant to win, but didn't.  It seems I say it at least once month, most of these blocks aren't difficult and you can MAKE SOME OF YOUR OWN or convince some friends to swap with you.  this STILL a work-in-progress top is made from flying geese units from an exchange.  I can't remember which came first, these swap blocks (we swapped individual geese units)  or the Jeweled Geese lotto blocks, but the setting was definitely inspired by the same quilt that was my inspiration for choosing the Jeweled Geese.

(And yes, I made many of these FOR MYSELF and may be making more before this project is finished ;-)

SPEAKING OF SWAPS...

If you enjoy the scrappy goodness we create with our lotto blocks each month, consider joining a block exchange or round robin.

For immediate gratification, you might consider the JOY swap with a deadline at the end of the month that Marybeth (MB) is hosting.  This example block photo is hers.    If you are interested in a longer term commitment, Julie (Floribunda) is putting together a round robin for 2012. 

MAYBE YOU ALREADY HAVE SOME SWAP BLOCKS ... OR A HOLIDAY UFO?

I may FINALLY have a Christmas quilt for my bed this year, made from some very OLD swap blocks–those that have known me long enough, know that I am a recovering swap-aholic.  I am thinking of naming this quilt "In the Mood" because I figure with this busy contrasty quilt on my bed, there's no way I won't be feeling in the holiday spirit.

If you have holiday themed project, you will likely never feel more like working on it than now, so why not take advantage of that?   (or maybe that's just me ;-)  

GEAR UP FOR A NEW CHALLENGE

Are your quilt projects all done or you want/need a new challenge and some inspiration?  In the last couple months of the year, you'll find a lot of people talking about or kicking off some year-long challenge for the coming year.  A couple that have caught my eye are the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 and Judy Laquidera's 2012 Color Palette Challenge.


IF YOU BLOG ...

If you have a blog, then you might put your creative energy into freshening up your blog ... which I plan to be doing here and on my practically abandoned personal blog, sophie junction.

After the discussion about the new dynamic views and how the sidebars would disappear–at least until Blogger finds a way to put them back, since lots of people seem to be complaining about that "feature"–I mocked up a new page,  This Month, using November as an example, to see if I could create a "one stop shop" for all the info you need for the current month at a glance.  Please take a look and see what you think.   I also removed the forum page.  Since activity went from a little to none, my conclusion is we do NOT need that functionality here.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Will you be using your Block Lotto time this month for other quilt (or blog) projects?  I added a survey in the left sidebar, but feel free to share what quilting in December looks like for you in the comments.