2025 May Quilt Block Mania

2025 Quilt Block Mania (QBM) is going to be full of themed photo, color inspired, traditional quilt blocks! I had so much fun designing this quilt based on photos from my phone. All the fabrics are from Charisma Horton's Live Boldly Collection by Timeless Treasures.

The May prompt is "Up in the Air." I'll admit, I don't have many pictures of things up in the air, yet in scrolling through pictures I immediately knew this picture was perfect!

Northern lights as seen last year in southwestern Ohio! Living in town, it wasn't dark enough to see them except by photograph. I was saddened they were visible to the naked eye. There are so many colors in this block to pull a beautiful color scheme from.

The green is a little hard to see in this photograph, it's spotty within the blues. I saw many friends pictures and the greens they captured were often vibrant - almost a lime. God's creations never cease to amaze me!

In developing this block, I knew I wanted the colors to be gradient with a transition from one to the next. I was thinking through different star blocks, but I settled with pinwheels instead- 16 (3.5") pinwheels to be exact! It sounds more difficult than it actually is! If you have never pieced small units before, this is perfect practice! My number one tip for small piecing is keeping a consistent seam allowance.

If you want to make the entire quilt, go ahead and add a 1 1/2" border. I decided to take (1.5" x 3 1/2") scraps to make the side borders. For the top and bottom, I used the predominant colors from the picture - purple and blue. If you add a border the block will be (14.5" x 14.5"). This is how mine turned out. I love it! I feel like the graduating colors represent the photograph well!

I'll be sharing a tutorial of how I made my border on Facebook. Like and follow my page so you don't miss it!

Sign-up to receive the block via email. You only have to register once to receive my monthly email, which includes the complimentary block download. The sign-up request is on the home page. If you don't receive an email right away, don't fret! I have to send them out manually right now. It will come, I promise!

Since we are on month five, here is a peak at this quilt blocks and their photos thus far!

For more information on previous block and this quilt, check out this page!

Check out these other "Up in the Air" inspired quilt blocks!