I think that some popular quilting designs are regional. I make table toppers or runners when I want to try a new block. Then if I really like it I can do a bigger quilt later. For example I did one turkey tracks block - never again. It went into a Thanksgiving quilt for my mom.
I personally like making stack and whack fan quilts. So much fun for me.
Right now I am trying to concentrate on UFO's and my scrap stash.
I have also been having fun with a quilting design I came up with. So far I have made 8 and they are all different. Depends on where you do different cuts and arrangement of blocks.
I'm not really crazy about sampler quilts.