One year we each chose a theme & other members of the group had to make a block for us that related to that theme. We told group what size block we wanted, what colors we didn't want, if any, included some fabrics we did want and established any other criteria unique to us.
Each meeting we randomly chose a name & that was the 'block of the month' for us to create. These were kept hidden in a bag labeled with name of 'owner'. At our June mtg. blocks were passes out & we decided that over the summer we would put our indiv. blocks together & share wall hangings at 2nd mtg. in the Fall.
Some themes were: flowers, stars, Maine, 9 patch, lighthouses, baskets....
It was fun & not too stressful since we only had to make 1 block a month. Beg. could get help from others.