Just a quick post today to begin an update on the BOMs I am participating in. One of them is the Riley Blake Challenge for 2026. The blocks are free and are provided by the designers who work for Riley Blake Fabrics. I have enjoyed their BOMs in the past because they seem to be a step up from the beginner level you see in many other BOMs. The blocks are always 10 inches finished, so if you don’t care for a block in the BOM, you can always sub out a previously published block from another year’s sew-along.
I am working with an older fabric collection called Farmer’s Daughter by Lella Boutique. I originally had a kit that I took apart. I didn’t have quite as much fabric as I might have liked for this BOM, so I supplemented it with some basics from Basic Grey’s Grunge line and other Lella Boutique fabrics that coordinated well (Wild Honey).
These are the seven Riley Blake Challenge blocks I’ve made so far. Also, this weekend, I accomplished my fourth Swoon block. The one on the left is the latest one. I used some low-volume fabrics for this block, and I can’t say I hate it. Camille Roskelley said you can’t make a bad Swoon block, and I think I have to agree.
I hope you all had a great weekend. My medical appointments went very well. My retina specialist is very pleased with how my eye is responding to the macular degeneration medication program he has me on. I also had a mammogram, and for the life of me, I cannot understand why in this day and age we can’t have a method for detecting breast tumors that does not involve mashing and squishing a woman’s breasts in a vise.
Let’s have a great week, everyone!
15 Responses
Love your blocks! So fun to see you progress. So glad your eye “regimen” is working 👏🎉
I had to laugh at your mammogram comment! One time I had a technician come at me with a rubber spatula to “position me” she said – oookkkkaayyyy. That was crazy 🤪
Have a good day everyone! 🥰
Now, I have to say, the spatula is weird. If they can’t touch a person with their hands, they are in the wrong business.
Love that latest Riley Blake block! Thanks for reminding me I saved all those.
And on the mammo subject. The day the technician said ” I have to get a larger tray”🥴
Yikes….
I really like the colors you’re using for the Riley Blake Challenge! The latest Swoon block is so pretty in the low volume fabrics. You got to a retinal specialist quickly which is key in treating macular degeneration! Have a great week!
Thanks Jan! Hope your trip went really well! Great weather here this week, so I am thrilled.
Rest assured, if a vise-like device were required to detect cancer in a man’s penis, a better method would be developed immediately.
I think you are probably right about that.
Thanks for a good laugh!! I have fibromyalgia which makes the whole area painful to squeeze. I can hardly stand it, but fortunately the staff at our clinic have gotten pretty fast at getting those shots!
Love the Swoon blocks!! I have the pattern and numerous fabrics 🤭🤭to make the quilt and haven’t started yet. I just had my mammogram a couple weeks ago, I just hate waiting for the results, usually a week before I get a letter. I’ve had to go back a couple times for more testing so it’s always nerve wracking for the results. Have a great week!
Oh gosh, I got my results the following morning! All was good, so I won’t have to be squished for at least another year.
The only issue I have with the Swoon pattern are the instructions. In the pattern you are cutting for multiple blocks at a time, and I want to make mine one at a time to get a nice mix of fabric combos. After struggling with the first three blocks, I took the time to write out exactly what to cut for ONE block. The fourth block went so much faster! Now I have a system in place and I can’t wait to keep making more.
I am finishing up my Bliss project this week, then I think I will just focus on Swoon and get it done.
Glad the retina specialist visit went well. As for the mams – ugh! More pretty blocks up on the design wall too. The colours are sitting very nicely together.
Glad to hear you’re doing well on the macular degeneration med and I could agree more on some better way to detecting breast problems! OUCH!
The block just to the left of your newly made block (flowers in the center) would make an interesting interlocking quilt if made of only that block and you watched your fabric placement.
Hugs!
I love the look of that block, but it sure was finicky with all the points to line up!
I don’t sew the Riley Blake challenges, but I follow the Facebook feed so I see the blocks. I agree, very fun. Your fabric choices are lovely. Great blocks.