HI, all, I have been in contact with Kim and she said to go for it! I am proposing a signature ornament block swap. I saw a pattern a couple of months ago for a wreath wall hanging using log cabin blocks and signature ornament blocks, and thought t would be a good swap. This block is 4" square and paper pieced, though one could make templates out of it or I can provide rotary cutting instructions.
Here is the link for the block
http://www.geocities.com/pcpiecers/fp-ornament4.html

There is a link on that page for a wreath and a tree layout.
http://www.geocities.com/pcpiecers/christmastree.html
One could also make small stuffed ornies with a hanging string with them.

Linda! has agreed to be my moderator/co-hostess. Thanks, Linda!

If anyone is interested, please post here. I will gladly do the swapping, but would need a co-hostess. I had thought to have signups until August 15, then deadline for mailout to me September 30.

I hope this is a go with all of you! I'd love to do this!!

July 9, 2008 IT'S A GO!!

OK, WE ARE MAKING 4" BLOCKS, USING A MEDIUM (CHRISTMAS) GREEN FOR THE BACKGROUND. PLEASE USE SOLIDS, TOT, MINI PRINTS AS THE PIECES ARE QUITE SMALL. PLEASE USE WHITE/OFF WHITE/CREAM FOR THE SIGNATURE PART. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN YOUR LAST NAME IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, AND PROVINCE/STATE AND COUNTRY SHOULD BE ON THERE. SIGN UPS UNTIL AUG. 15, MAILOUT DATE TO ME IS SEPT. 30. I AM IN CANADA, SO YOU CAN'T SEND RETURN POSTAGE WITH YOUR BLOCKS - I ALWAYS SEND A FAT QUARTER TO COVER POSTAGE TO ME WHEN I'M IN A SWAP. I WILL UPDATE THAT CONCERN SHORTLY)
PLEASE PUT YOUR FINISHED BLOCKS IN A ZIP TYPE BAGGIE WITH YOUR NAME ON IT, AND INCLUDE A SELF ADDRESSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE KEEP ONE BLOCK FOR YOURSELF AND SEND THE REST TO ME - THANKS!

Participants:

Gerda
Meg - info rec'd
Rebecca P - info rec'd - BLOCKS RECEIVED - blocks home Nov 3/08
Vicky - info rec'd - BLOCKS RECEIVED
LindaO - info rec'd - BLOCKS RECEIVED
Susie - info rec'd - RECEIVED - blocks home Nove 3/08
Melita - info rec'd - RECEIVED
Debo - info rec'd - pulled out (health)
Michelle - info rec'd - pulled out (Ike)
Deb F - info rec'd - BLOCKS RECEIVED
Becca01 - info rec'd - RECEIVED
Holly (marthamomma) - info rec'd - BLOCKS RECEIVED - blocks home Nov. 3/08

ALL BLOCKS WERE MAILED OUT TODAY OCTOBER 28, 2008!!! Please post on the thread when you receive them. Thanks again!!
Please see page 7 for further info - answers to questions. Thanks!

Let's have fun, and fire away with questions!! THANK YOU for joining in!!

July 13: YOU WILL BE SENDING THE BLOCKS TO ME TO SORT AND SEND BACK. PLEASE HAVE YOUR POST OFFICE MAIL YOUR ENVELOPE/PACKAGE FIRST, THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHETHER A FAT EIGHTH OR FAT QUARTER WOULD BE APPROPRIATE (OR SOMETHING OF SIMILAR VALUE) TO COVER MY COSTS IN SENDING BACK. I WILL PM EVERYONE PARTICIPATING MY MAILING ADDRESS AFTER THE SIGN UP DATE, THEREFORE AUG. 16. THANKS, ALL!!

OH, please PM/e-mail me your info - thank you!!blocks received

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

Well, it looks like we may be doing TWO, count 'em, TWO Christmas ornament swaps!! WHAT FUN!!!

Gerda, I am confused. Does everyone make the same block and sign it? Or does each person pick their own block? Am I having a blonde moment? A senior moment? Or still fuzzy from my 24 hour bug?

Ok point taken! I need to be clearer. No, it's not a blond or senior moment!!

Yes, Meg, I am not sure yet how many we should do - groups of six or twelve, or however many sign up. We would each make that many of the same block, you can use different fabrics if you want, and we would sign each one. I hope to get a couple of samples made today, and will see if someone can post the pic for me (hanging my head, I still haven't learned to post - I can e-mail them, though ) I wish I could remember which magazine (which I had borrowed from the library system) had the pic - it was either Quilter's World or Quilt or Quiltmaker and it was from last year, I'm 99% sure. I haven't been able to get it back, and like a loon, I forgot to take a scan of the wreath pic. DOH!!

Gerda

Gerda ... looks like fun ...

I love the "tree" quilt pattern with the ornament blocks in one of the links.

Before I commit, I am going to make a sample block to be sure my PP skills are up to par.

As usual, I have a couple of questions ...

(1) Is there a particular backround color (like green) we should all use?

(2) Can the center fabric, where we write our names, be any light color or do you want them all the same white or off-white?

(3) Am I understanding correctly that we will be committing to making one ornament block per each person who signs up?

Thanks for your help,

omg! wow! no way! how can i make these blocks?!?!?! and i really wanted to be in this one

April, take a deep breath, honey!!! It's not hard! Besides, what I often do with a PP pattern, is to cut it apart on the lines (ignoring the outside line), and using them as templates. I lay the pieces on my fabric, and use a small ruler to measure 1/4" around on all sides and mark. Another way to do it, is to lay these pieces on a piece of paper, trace around each and add the 1/4" seam allowance, then cut out and use as templates. And I have also spent some time on this particular block, measuring for rotary cutting. All that said, it is a good idea to do the technique as given, otherwise how will you get better? I don't like wasting any more fabric (even when using scraps!) than I have to, which is why I was so pleased when I read of doing this method in a paper piecing book - I have done some regular paper piecing, too.

I would prefer white/off white/cream/TOT (tone on tone) for the background and signing area. Centre signature piece can be another fabric, light, of course.

Yes, Pat, we would make one per participant. A longer time to get them to me can be arranged if everyone thinks the time is too short - we all know life can get in the way!! And: IF YOU DON'T ASK, YOU WON'T KNOW!!! Questions are GOOD!!

Thanks, Gerda,

I am sure I will have more questions along the way ... ... and you are right .... always best to ask.

im in for having a go at this block

sorry but that explanation confused me even more