A snowflake quilt has been on my design agenda for some time now. I decided to work on that goal by creating a block for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Volume 2. With only an inkling of an idea floating in my brain, I jumped ahead by collecting lots of icy silver and blue fabrics.
As I pondered over how to design a foundation-pieced snowflake in Electric Quilt, I did some research. What I found was fascinating. Have you heard the theory that no two snowflakes are alike? (I guess I’ll need to design more.) Did you know that all snowflakes start as droplets that develop into six-sided prisms? And according to a story in the New York Times, Guinness World Records lists the world’s largest snowflakes as having fallen in January 1887 at Fort Keogh, Montana; allegedly one measured 15 inches wide! (Makes my 12 inch snowflake seem a tad small.)
My husband doesn’t see the design as a snowflake at all. He keeps referring to it as a “starship fleet emblem” or “galactic interspecies peace symbol”. (I think somebody is watching too much SciFy.) But if that’s what you see, to you I say, “Live long and prosper!”
I auditioned several silver prints. When I switched them to powdery blues against the blue batik background, the effect seemed much more dramatic. Doesn’t it look icy and transparent?
Ice Crystal by Eileen Fowler
Now I need a quilt project. How about this tree skirt?
Or this setting found on page 12 for a wall hanging or throw?
How would you use the block? Leave me a comment by 10 am Mountain time, Monday morning, November 15th, and I’ll draw a random winner for a copy of 100 Blocks, Volume 2.
From Eileen: Thanks for all the creative ideas! I can’t wait to make some more snowflakes so I can use them. A random winner has been selected and notified by email. Check out the list of all the blog tour winners.
This has to be the most gorgeous block I have ever seen. It’s seriously amazing. I love it. If I had the ability to make something this exquisite, I would probably make it into a single block hanging (like you hang from those small frames) for starters, then a tree skirt! I’d put it on the side of a beautiful winter handbag, so that I could carry it around with me, and use it to make throw pillows for my couch as well. If I knew how to sew a little better than I do!
I absolutely love it. I can’t wait to see what you do! (BTW – choose someone else to win the magazine, I won one recently, so I should not be in the giveaway for another one, it would not be fair! Thanks!)
What a gorgeous design – I’d love to make one but I think one would probably be my limit!!
Gill
As a fellow watcher (perhaps) of too much scifi:
“The Crystalline Entity was a powerful, spaceborne creature characterized by a crystalline structure that resembled a large snowflake. It had warp speed travel capability, formidable size, and the ability to consume all life on a planet or starship.”
It is a fantastic design but I would probably use it as a galactic peace symbol and make a quilt for my daughter (who definitely watches too much Si-Fi). Also I live in Sydney, Australia where it does not snow.
I can see 6 of these blocks in a window setting – each a various shade of light blue to purple/blue – like watching the snow fall out my kitchen window on an early morn.
This block is seriously wonderful! I would like to make a couple sets of pillows with it for winter.
Wow – that is amazing – I would love to make a valance for my kitchen window – like snowflakes coming down!
Your block is breathtaking! Fabric selection is spot on. Love it!
Wow – beautiful. I probably would make a wall hanging for winter.
I have tried pieced snowflake blocks in the past and been unhappy with the results, but your block looks amazing. It could be just the block I’ve been looking for. I would make a table runner with it.
That is absolutely gorgeous and would make a great table runner.
Snowflakes hanging from a Christmas tree as a gorgeous wall quilt
It’s an awesome block – I think a table runner would be nice with them!
I love the tree skirt idea. It is absolutely beautiful!
In honor of receiving the gift of our first snowfall last night, I officially love this block. It is gorgeous! I’d probably make something simple like a wallhanging with a single snowflake showcased in the center of the quilt. You have outdone yourself. It is outstanding!
I love the tree skirt! I might tackle that as a new project! Can’t wait for the magazine!
Love the block! I think it looks great as a tree skirt, or as a wall hanging to really highlight it’s beauty.
Great Block! I love the tree skirt.
This is a wonderful block! I love the wallhanging, very “wintery”.
I would not use it as a tree skirt, it is too beautiful to put on the floor and cover with gifts (etc). I think it would be a wonderful wall-hanging or just one block as a door hanging to my apartment. It has serious impact.
What a beautiful block. I think if I were to use that block it would be on a table tunner altrernating with possibly gift packages and/or Christmas tree blocks or just all the blocks using th snowflake and alternating sparkly fabric plain blocks to allow its beauty to stand alone in the runner with no other blocks.
OMG – this block is the most amazing, intricate one I’ve seen – I would set it on point and put it on my wall – not hide it away to use only once a year as a tree skirt
I see the snowflake. What an amazing block! Don’t know if I am up to the challenge. Love it as a tree skirt, but would look great as a quilt all year round too.
I’d use it in the tree skirt! So pretty and unique!
Your block is beautiful! I would probably make it into a tree skirt. A few of them placed side to side would make a pretty winter table runner.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I love this block. Very technically challenging, but beautifully simple with the shades of blue. I would use them as cornerstones with maybe one larger one as a medallion or else a snow scene in the center.
Well, I’d use it in a quilt, silly! Seriously, this is a gorgeous pattern. I think it may be a little above my skill level, but if it wasn’t, I would use it (not only in a quilt
) sparingly so it would stand out better, rather than just block after block after block. Although, any way it is used would be gorgeous. Perhaps I’ll preactice with the block and raise my skill level. I like that idea! Thanks so much for such a wonderful and fun week!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, goregeous!!!! I would use the exact same coloured batiks and make a table runner to use all winter. And in northern Canada we have looong winters!
I have a little stand made to hold a small 12″ square quilt, and this block would be perfect for that.
I would use it in a table topper with an appliqued snowman.
I just got in on this bit for your magazine. Hope I win!
I would love to make this the centerpiece of my table topper and would display it all year. Absolutely gorgeous block
That block is fantastic!!! It’s very elegant! I think that the perfect place for that is a wall hanging to show it off to everyone!
This is the perfect block to use in a winter quilt — in those icy colors you selected above. It looks difficult, so would alternate with some other blocks (maybe even one of the trees and snowmen blocks shown earlier in the tour) so would be a focal point among the tree blocks. Just gorgeous. Of course, put my name in the hat for the drawing (so will have the pattern).
I love the block and I think the tree skirt would be beautiful. I think it would also be great to use with other Christmas and Winter blocks; so many options. Thanks for the chance to win.
Beautiful block! I would make a tablerunner with it.
I love the tree skirt. I don’t know that I could come up with a better idea than that.
I really like the second setting; I like the idea of trying to “scatter” them to make them look like snowfall. But I’d also be tempted to make one in sci-fi colors for the geek in my family!
Oh my, I love this block. It’s absolutely beautiful. I can see this as a tabel topper, table runner, bed quilt and lap quilt. This is a must do!
Love that block.
I would make a narrow wall hanging with three blocks to hang between my windows that hopefully will be showing a snowy scene outside. Beautiful block!!!
I’d make a single block with borders as a small table topper. Love the pattern!
It’s beautiful a I feel really conveys a snowflake. I love the treeskirt idea
That is a beautiful block!! Love snowflakes
What a beautiful block! It’s the perfect block for wintertime!
Thanks to your creativity, I’m going to use this block on the back of my son’s (he’s 3) Christmas quilt. I believe it would keep him busy counting all the sides as he awaits (as does Mommy) the sugar plums dancing in his head as he gets a good night’s sleep:)
This is stunning! I think your fabric choice is spot on.
I think a mini version of the block would be great on a holiday mug rug…in fact I may just have to make one myself right away!
That has got to be the best block in the whole book. Awesome! Although your color choices are the best too. So if I don’t win one I’ll need to buy the book for your snowflake pattern!
I was thinking how nice it would be to make a snowflake quilt, this would be beautiful and different.
Debbie
OMGosh!! That just took my breath away. BEAUTIFUL!! And if I can’t win one of the books….this block alone will send me to the store to buy the book. I MUST make it!!
Opps – forgot to say I would start with a tablerunner but would hope to make a big snowflake quilt someday!
I probably make one of these along with a few other designs to make a quilt. I like variety.
I would use the block to create a table topper or runner. I could see using a fabric with some silver sparkle and then having a center piece with candles.
New to site and like what I see. You have given me some new ideas. Thanks
Love the tree skirt idea! I would make a table runner too. Thanks for the fun!
love the snowflake! I too have been thinking of a quilt/wall hanging with snowflakes since those would be my favorite kind of snow — something to look at and not shovel! The tree skirt is a great idea also.
I would love to do a throw or wallhanging with this block in shades of blue from light to dark I love snowflakes! We just had our first snow of the season a couple days ago.
I always wanted to get serious about learning paper piece. This is the PERFECT block to start with. =) What couldn’t you do with it??
Beautiful! This would make such a pretty pillow.
Eileen what a beautiful block. I love the idea of a tree skirt or even a table topper. This block certainly looks like a paper piecing challenge! Thanks for the chance to win.
This block is stunning! I can also picture the block used as stars in the night on a landscape quilt. Thanks so much for the chance to win!
WOW! I just learned how to foundation piece, and I’m loving it. This would be an amazing challenge.
Being a collector of Jim Shore figurines, I want to use this block in a snow angel. I swear, one of these days, I’m going to copy one of his designs in fabric!
I haven’t done much paper piecing, but this block, I just have to try! It is really gorgeous!
LOVE IT ! ! ! !
My hubby is asking for a quilt for his bed (give most away), and THIS is the pattern. Hurry, 100 quilts II to my newsstand.
Wow! I can feel each one of those sharp points on my face, just like bite of a 40-below windchill of a January winter in Minnesota. I would love to make three of these blocks, wrap each one separately around a stretched canvas frame, then hang them side by side on the wall. Stunning!
Living in MN I’ve been looking for a good snowflake pattern for a long time. This one is by far the most beautiful I have seen! Color choices are perfect. It would look lovely in a large version as the centerpiece in a medallion quilt.
Oh my, that block is beautiful and I have just the perfect fabric for it! I would probably start with a dramatic wall hanging but I could see it expanding to a lap quilt.
Ohh my gosh! Your crystal design is absolutely gorgeous! I have a few ideas swimming around in my head, like the standard place mat, wall hanging where the star is the focus. What idea I like the most is to make 2 exact blocks, sew wrong side together, leave an opening to stuff it, close it up, add a loop and hang it
Maybe affix a crystal towards the top 
Wonderful block! I think it would make a great table runner of wall hanging.
I think I would like to use this block as the center of a holiday table runner. I’m not sure I would have the patience to do a lot of them — I could be wrong, of course.
Oh this is stunning -I could see it large on the back of a quilted jacket for the holidays, small as an ornament, medium sized candle mats – set in a runner with other blocks ….
This is quit unique. Love the flow. As I came from the north and had more snow and cold to condend with, I would love to add pictures in the centers of the design of my family and our winter experiences and use a a wall handing. I think a nice darker blue fabric with small white show flakes would be good as a border giving more of a draw to the original design and pictures. Just beautiful. I would like to make it some point as it would bring back some wonderful childhood memories. Thanks for the design and the memories it can hold. Cathy
I’d love to see a bedspread made from it. Beautiful!
that is so stunning! You hit the head on the nail with your color choices. I’ll have to get my magazine if only for this block!
Definitely the tree skirt – that is possibly the coolest tree skirt I have ever seen.
Beautiful block!!! First would be a wallhanging, then maybe a mantel scarf. I can just see 6 or 7 snowflakes hanging above a crackling fire! I might need to make one to use year-round while I watch my Sci Fi shows.
That block is just beautiful! I love the tree skirt idea but a table runner would be great too. There are just so many possibilities.
Awesome block…LOVE snowflakes! I really love the tree skirt – not too time consuming, not a ton of fabric needed, & gorgeous end result…thanks!
I’d like to use these blocks to surround a center snowy scene or applique of several snowmen.
I love the block, but at the risk of hisses and boos, why are you trying to cram it into an eight sided design or a square design? Three sides or six sides, yes–four or eight–no. When I came to quilting and had a class in equilateral triangles and hexagons, I finally realized what I had been trying to do my whole life–I’m not a round peg, nor am I a square hole. I am a hexagon! (PS. I already won a copy of 100 blocks.)
Beautiful beautiful block! As much as I love the tree skirt you designed, I think I would make the quilt as it could be used for a longer period of time over the winter and well into the new year.
Beautiful block! I’d probably make just one and use it for a pillow!
This is a gorgeous block! I don’t think I’d be able to make many, so it would probably end up as a wall hanging with one block and lots of pieced borders.
Beautiful!!!! That is usually all the snow we get around here oin Central Texas….fabric snow:)
Love the look of these, I just don’t think there are that many great looking Christmas designs, or maybe I’m to picky. I am in the process of making table toppers for a small 48″ table I have in my living room. Trying to make a different one for each month or season. So far I have Valentine’s Day, 4th of July and think this would make an ideal Winter one. Of course I’d do Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, but probably use them the week or two surrounding the holiday and have fall/autumn and winter for the rest of the season.
Thanks for sharing,
Elsie
Honestly, I don’t think I’d have the patience or skill to make more than one block, so I’d blow up the pattern and make a centerpiece for the table in a hexagon shape. Hmm…yes…that’s sounds do-able!
I’d make 3 of these blocks in red, white, & blue with a navy background and make it into a wall hanging. This block reminds me of fireworks.
Love your block! Your colors are perfect! I think it would look wonderful in a table topper or table runner. Thanks!
Gorgeous block! I would make napkins and placemats with this block. Perfect to use all winter long.
Breathtaking! I LOVE that snowflake/star pattern! I have a collection of ice blue with silver metallics I would Love to use on this block! Probably a table runner and wall hanging!
Robin
qltnrobin@hotmail.com
love it I’d have to have table runner , pillows and a quilt! cause Blues are favorite! thanks for giveaway
Beautiful…every year when my sons were growing up we would fold paper into snow cone shapes and then proceed to cut angles, circles, slivers and slices until we had beautiful snow flakes to hang on the windows. Would love to make this as a lasting fabric memory!
Oh my!!!, I have a weird fascination with snowflakes, they attracks me alot. I’m babbling watching your tree skirt, I like it, because you can make a tree skirt or a table cloth instead (love makovers). I also see the block as windows, they’d look so cute 4 or 6 all together, ahhhhh!!!!
Maybe use it as a medallion – with smaller snowflakes around the outside.
Wow!!! What an amazing block!!! I really LOVE it!!!!
Beautiful block! I would use it in a table runner that I could use for the winter at work. I have several places that need a little color, and this would be great!
I love snowflakes, but they are rare in Louisiana. Yours is the nicest one I’ve seen.
I love the block ! I’ve always been partial to snowflakes in design and using them. The colors are great that you selected and really set it off!
Laura T
I would make this block into a table topper. One of my friends used another snowflake pattern to make hers but I think yours with the blues would be just beautiful.
I think it is beautiful! I would love to have it in a table runner.
I love the block and would use it for a tree skirt. I have never had a tree skirt in my life. Sad. This block would make a good one.
Love this block! I would make a lap quilt and do some blocks in blue batiks as you did and some blocks in red/orange batiks and call it my fire and ice lap quilt. Then I would use it to sit by the fireplace on a cold snowy day here in New England!
Your colour choices are perfect! It does look icy. I love the tree skirt. A tablerunner like one side of the tree skirt would look nice too, with two blocks on point in the centre.
I agree with all that this pattern is gorgeous and the colors great! Your artwork, showing the possible projects, is perfect! I am thinking this pattern could be reduced in size and used as a border on a quilted winter scene for a wall hanging. Thanks for sharing!!
The block is so fantastic. I could see them set by three and put in a wall hanging. I really like it.
Ice Crystal is stunning! I think I would make it into a wallhanging with only a single block. More would detract from the design.
I’d put it on a sweatshirt jacket
Fantastic Ice Crystal. I would love to try it on several projects!
I would probably sew it all up as the tree skirt. What a great idea!!
Pillows! Yes, definitely, pillows! Or, maybe a wall hanging. Or a lap quilt. Or your tree skirt idea is fantastic. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for offering the giveaway.
I love the block! I think the quilt layout is stunning as well as using the blue/silver color combo. Way to go!!
What a beautiful block. That would make a gorgeous center block. Then I would design a quilt around it. Maybe add some smaller versions as an outer border.
This block looks very interesting, maybe a little difficult for me to make. But would love to try it. Beautiful snowflake…….
It does look hard.
The block is so intricate that I would like it as a table topper for a coffee table where it may not be covered with other stuff so that the design could be seen.
Love snowflakes as motifs (don’t care for the real kind, live in WI) and love to do paper piecing so your block is just what I have been looking for. Love the tree skirt idea. This block could be used in so many different ways and can be kept out all winter long not just for Christmas. Like placing the block on a towel for the kitchen or bath. Even as a decorative potholder.
THe Snow flake is beautiful. I thoink it would be great as a calendar page for July to help cool me off tin the middle of the steamy summer.
I would use your beautiful block in a winter table runner for my sofa table. I think 3 or 5 of the blocks would look gorgeous there.
This block just blows me away! How about a mantle scarf, so the snowflakes hang down over the mantle?
What an awesome block? I think this block could be used to make a gorgeous purse.
beautiful block! would love to use it!
What an incredible block! I’d love it hanging on the wall. Looking forward to getting the new 100 blocks book.
Table runner would be my first choice as I have trouble committing to more than 3 of any block. I see it with some glowing colors in the middle like there is fire in the middle. A great block.
Beautiful block! I think I would do it as a tree skirt in aquas and purples, but I think I would do each snowflake a little differently, just like real snowflakes!
Esquisite block! Having lived in both Wyoming and Idaho, this block is indictive of winter but it also reminds me of the rare glimpse of the Northern Lights!
I would make the tree skirt! I love that!♥
I think this block is just beautiful!! It would look awesome as a table runner and placemats…I would just hate to see someone spill something on it though!! It would also make a beautiful bed runner!
I would lay it at the bottom of my bed with some small pillow at the top with single snowflakes. What a beautiful bed I would have. I could put my white blanket in under it at the bottom so if I need a nap my beautiful snowflakes won’t be bothered with my feet kicking. I love this look.
GORGEOUS block! Looks like a snowflake to me, and in fact one of the best I’ve seen. I would make it into a tablerunner for all to see, altho I do like the tree skirt setting too. However, it’s too beautiful to use under a live tree, that’s for sure.
I love the detail of this beautiful block. I would use some shimmery fabric for this snowflake to make it sparkle on any project.
I love this block! I would use it so many ways!
I like the tree skirt but I’d make little star blocks to put into the spaces, so each point of the flake touched another!
Thank you for the block.
Take care, Leslie
It is a gorgeous block! I think I would make a winter runner with it for my sister. I made her winter placemats in the colors of your block so they would coordinate beautifully!
Great block! Love the colours…
I love the tree skirt – But, I’m pretty sure that it is pretty time consuming so…if I made one I would most likely display it as a pillow – Simply Gorgeous!!!
So where is this block pattern? I gotta have this pattern! Last year I ordered and tried out Quiltmaker’s “Snowflakes” pattern (do you want a picture?) and loved it! More snowflakes, yay! Not for nothing do I live in Utah, the “Greatest Snow on Earth”.
I misssed the date to enter—but I LOVE the block, and yes it is very wintery—the beautiful part of mother natures havoc anyway. Very unique–I think it looks like an ice crystal. Beautiful.