Perhaps you thought this post would be about Block 5 in Reach for the Stars, theseries quilt in Quilter’s Newsletter magazine that I — and a few likeminded quilters — embarked on a couple of months ago.I finished Block 4 last week and intendedto start right away on the next one.

Instead I made a new Block 1 . . . out of a completely different set of fabrics:

Am I making a second version of Reach for the Stars? I’m not sure! Then why did I make this block? Well, my friend Colleen has been thinking about reaching for the stars, too. Her stash includesseveral piecesfromtheMorrisTapestry andMorris Apprentice lines of fabric, both by Barbara Brackman for Moda. I have a few (ahem) pieces of those fabrics myself.I wanted to see how they would play together in a block, perhaps givingColleen a little boost to join our party.

Here is the block on point, with those birds of a feather properly oriented:

And I’m not the only one with a newblock to show off.Jennifer Thacker ofHouston, Texas shared a photo of herBlock 1:

Jenniferwas able to find most of the fabrics used in designer Terri Krysan’s quilt, which graced the Oct./Nov. 2013 cover of Quilter’s Newsletter magazine. Thatpaisley print in the center of the block — so rich and lush — is a substitute. I think it is even more beautiful than the original!