I was going to make my Mother a quilt for Christmas. She is in a nursing home and has Alzheimers. I chose a BOM thinking I had plenty of time to finish it before the holiday. Well, the last block won't be available until March of 2011! I asked the ladies at the quilt shop if I may be able to purchase them in advance but was told they are not cut in advance so it won't be possible. Needless to say, I need an idea for something else and will have to hope and pray she will still be here by the time March comes around! Any suggestions?

If it's a sampler you could choose a block out of a book. If it's not, you could consider something a bit creative....For example, how about one block that has a picture of her on it? Or a picture of you and other family members? Or on that final block, embroider her name, birthday and various interesting parts of her life. Or you could put a symbol of your religious affiliation....or a heart block....That said, i think the quilt shop ladies should put on a smile and hep you!

Use the blocks that you have. Put a border or two around each of them, set them on point if you need to, and put a border around the whole thing. That should make it plenty big enough. Then bow out of the rest of the BOM. That's the very reason that I'm not doing anymore BOM's. They never finish when I want them to and taking over a year to make a quilt bores me to tears.

How about a simple quilt now and the other quilt later?
Warm wishes, rail fence, even a ready made panel with your borders and personal touches would be quick to whip up.

If you can get your hands on the same or similar fabric, maybe you could repeat the block you liked the best and do them in all four corners. Or, like someone else suggested, pick blocks you like from another source and just do your own sampler. I had to do that with a sampler I made a couple of years ago. One of the blocks was way beyond my skill level, so I picked something I liked and could do.

Gelly, sorry to hear about your mother. I lost my mother to Alzheimers when I was in my 30's. A small lap quilt would be lovely out of what you have.... and maybe you could buy some yardage of what they are using for the BOM quilt, or find something else to coordinate.

One year I gave my mother a "fidget" purse. She had always carried a purse and so felt comfortable with her purse in tow.... except my sister and I would always put little "things" and trinkets in it that would capture her attention when she reached in to find something. Things like old keys, little laminated pictures of family, little games with the bb's inside that rolled around, gloves, hankies, a little bible, a small picture book, etc. Then when there were times when she would be in her world, she would sit and look at things and it kept her occupied. The nurses knew where to return things that were left out....
My thoughts and prayers to you and your family, as I know how hard this life passage is...

Yes, make additional blocks from another pattern but the same finnished size. Maybe i am missing it but you are saying the shop has the pattern but makes you wait till March. Have you explained your situation? It woul;d have made a lot more sense to have this finnish in Nov. so people could use the quilt for christmas gifts.

If you can get fabric that is compatible with what you have already made - make a block that "goes" with the rest of them and let it go at that.

Did the LQS have a schedule of the availability of the blocks when you started? If so - and they have followed through - then I don't think it's appropriate to be mad at them.

I can understand and relate to your frustration - but i can also see the LQS point of view.

Great ideas! Bless you for making your Mom this quilt!

Thank you Peggy for your kind words. I am actually working on a purse for her but I love your suggestions of what to put inside of it. She does go into her "own little world" a lot more often now than before and I always feel guilty because I don't know what to do to help her! I am sure this "fidgit purse" will help alot.

Thanks to everyone for your great ideas! God Bless you all!
I think I am going to just add to what I have and say the heck with the BOM!