Diva Block Exchange

This last year my friendship group The Dixie Divas had a block exchange. The rules were fairly simple. We individually selected an 8" block pattern. I chose "Nautilus". With 8 of us in the exchange we each took a month that our group worked on that specific block.


We opted to have each Diva pick her own color scheme. I selected "Balarinji" by Andover Fabrics as my focus fabric. I provided my focus fabric, along with other fat quarters from the line and a few yards of muslin in a bag with my name on it. My bag was then passed along each month from Diva to Diva who worked on that month's block.
We could use the fabrics in our bags, or add some from our stash to enhance the block we were working on if needed. We made 6 of each block.
I loved receiving a new bag to work on each month. I visualized my Diva friend and sent her happy thoughts as I sewed on her project. A lot of love was shared as we met each month and exchanged bags.
I liked the idea that we selected our own colors because we each have such different taste. One Diva's blocks are all done in shades purple. Another chose red, white and blue. Now that I am living in a desert type home I need more quilts done in Earth tones to match my house.
One of my goals for 2008 was to work from my stash. I had purchased this line in a fat quarter bundle at Market the year before and the muslin was also in my stash. This made the project even more fun because I was using up what I had.

Next month at our guild meeting we are supposed to show our projects from our friendship groups. I've got my blocks up on my design wall and I'm trying to figure out how I will be setting them. So many choices it's hard to decide! I think I like this configuration. I plan on joining them together with some sashing.

I saw my bag being passed around each month, but until the end, I didn't see all the blocks together. I love how each Diva chose carefully what fabrics to use in the blocks. Didn't they do a great job?

I'm excited to see how the others will be putting their quilts together. We could add more blocks of our own if we wanted to make the quilt bigger. I'm happy to leave mine as is. I've heard Jan K. is doing some applique blocks to add to hers. I bet the unveiling will be terrific.