Here are the official changes to the Happy Blocks. PLEASE READ THEM IF YOU ARE NEW TO HAPPY BLOCKS OR ARE GOING TO BE SIGNING UP FOR ANY OF THE SIGNUPS STARTING WITH THE JUNE SIGN UPS.

Changes to Happy Block Rules Beginning With June 08 Sign-Ups:

1. There is a minimum and maximum of blocks that are to be made. Minimum is 2 and maximum is 10. While you may choose to make as few as 2 blocks or as many as 10 blocks, you name will go into the drawing for the number of blocks you do up to 6 times at the maximum. If you make 8 your name only goes in 6 times. If you make 2 your name only goes in 2 times.

2. Beginning with the June sign ups, those winners that will be drawn in July, if your name is drawn as a winner, You will be required to participate for the next 2 months in the swap before your name can go back in the drawing. You can't participate one month and drop the next month. ( If you do this, you will not be allowed to do Happy Blocks anymore.) Hopefully this will give everyone a fair shot at being a winner! ( If you sign up to make HB’s and don’t make them and send them out when the time comes, you will be banned from making and participating in any more swaps. (Unfortunately, we have had to add this in here).

3. The moderators will be the HOSTESS' for these Swaps beginning with the June sign ups. The first name that is drawn will be the CO-HOSTESS. The CO-HOSTESS gets to pick the color/theme for the next month and gets to draw the names of the two winners. The second name drawn is just a Lucky second name winner.

4. Same THEME that has been chosen previously cannot be chosen within a ONE year time frame. ie: If it is chosen in the month of June 2008, it will have to wait until June 2009 to be chosen again.

5. Color/Theme announcements will be made on the 15th of each Month by the CO Hostess. Drawings will be on the First Friday of each month! Many have day/night jobs, so anytime that day is sufficient.

6. The swap rules will be posted on the Main Page Under Happy Block Swap Rules only.

7. All rules are expected to be followed and any issues that might arise, the participates are to email the MODERATOR HOSTESS that month! The MH will contact those involved to solve problems that may arise.

8. All participants will provide a current/correct phone number, current address- and email address to the MH. The MH will then send out by PM to everyone the winners address’.

9. The rules will be posted on the Main Page Under Happy Block Rules, so the MH each month doesn’t have to post them again. We will direct everyone to this page.

10. These are Happy Blocks, that are supposed to make us Happy in making and sharing them, so let's all participate and Have some fun with them!! Happies make us Happy!

ALL blocks need to be measured after stitching them. If they don't measure 8 1/2" re-do them! It is so hard to make these fit in with the others when they measure 8 1/4" or smaller! Use a 10-12 stitch per inch to keep your stitches tight. A 8 1/2" ruler to square these up is VERY HELPFUL!!! It's no fun to receive blocks that you can't use.

P.S. I bought myself a 12.50" square up ruler and it goes from 1/2" to 12.50" in size. One of the best Notions I have in my sewing room!

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Here are the How to's to make Happy Blocks:
Provided by Pat. Thanks so much for doing this for us Pat~

"Making Happy Blocks for the First Time"

Fabric for these blocks should be 100% cotton quilting fabric.

Before cutting and sewing, please wash your fabric with mild soap on and dry in the dryer or on the line.

Carefully press all your fabric with a lift and press action so as not to stretch and distort the fabric.

Happy Block
Finished Block Size (In Quilt): 8" x 8"
Unfinished size 8 1/2 " x 8 1/2"

Here are the How to's to make Happy Blocks:

Step 1 ~
Cutting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22943809@N02/2347593759/in/set-72157603848418028/

From “Frame” fabric cut:
2 ~ 4½ " x 2½" rectangles
and
2 ~ 8½ " x 2½" rectangles

From “Center Square” Fabric cut:
1 ~ 4 ½” square.

Design Tip: You may want to “fussy cut” the 4 ½ inch center squares so that a center motif is centered in the square, as in the case in the center of the Oriental Floral blocks as shown.

Step 2 ~
Lay out the block, as illustrated above.

Step 3 ~
Sew the units together, as follows:
Usually, 12 (approx) stitches to the inch works well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22943809@N02/2347594857/in/set-72157603848418028/

Sew even ¼ inch seams.
This is the standard used in quilting. If you do not have a quilting foot, use a ruler to accurately measure ¼ inch to the right of your needle when it is lowered and place a piece of masking tape front to back to establish a guideline. This guideline is also useful to maintain an even seam line.

Sew the two 2 ½” by 4 ½” to either side of the 4½” square to form a row.

Press your seams to one side using a lift and press motion. Do not move your iron across the fabric when it is down as this may stretch or distort the fabric:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22943809@N02/2348425914/in/set-72157603848418028/

Sew the two 8 ½” by 2 ½” rectangles to the top and bottom of the center row.

Press your seams again to one side.
The unfinished Happy Block should measure 8 ½” by 8 ½” square:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22943809@N02/2348431138/in/set-72157603848418028/

You don't need to do anything to the edges, just leave them as cut.

Here is an illustration of a block that is ready to be mailed or sewn into a quilt:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22943809@N02/2348433102/in/set-72157603848418028/

Here is an alternative layout using a print fabric in the frame and a tone on tone fabric in the center:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22943809@N02/2335366028/in/set-72157603848418028/

If you have any questions please ask.

The Mods are always ready and happy to help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OKNANA,