I love Ron's colors in that quilt! He's a great guy, and I was glad to see him again in Houston this year!

I fell in love with the colour theme of a quilt in the TQS 2009 BOM made by ron114 and its so beautifully sewn also by him, its been at the back of my mind and I have kept a look our for a pattern that I thought those colours would look great on, as soon as I saw next years BOM I thought wow thats a perfect pattern for those "Mexican" colours.

OK, Margo, I'll play. Here is my test case:

Margo, you are just too wonderful for words!

Hey Barbara! Your fabrics look yummy!!

As for posting photos here on the forum....just write your text then scroll down a little and click on the tab that says:
"Upload Attachment"
Click on "Choose File" which will take you to your computer's files where you will navigate to the photo you want to post.
Click on your chosen file to highlight it, then click "OPEN" at the bottom of that window.
(The file name will show up beside "Choose file")
Now click "Add The File" and let the computer do it's thing, which will just take a few seconds.
You will probably have to scroll back down again to see the file listed in the box that says "File Comment".
Apparently we can only insert 3 photos at a time here, but you can go ahead and do the procedure two more times if you want to.
Place your cursor in the text box where you want your picture to be inserted then click on "Place inline".
Repeat if you have more photos uploaded.
Hope that helps!

Margo

Regarding accuracy in paper piecing, I have found it really helps to use a finer thread--Superior Masterpiece is excellent as is the Aurifil 50 wt. I am at the end of a year-long class I've been teaching to make Sue Garman's Washington Medallion quilt, my "Joyful Journey" is the sample, and all 18 of the students were amazed how much more accurate they were with all this piecing when they used Masterpiece. Good thread is really worth it!

[url]see-quilts/show-and-tell-quilts/[/url]

Here are the fabrics I have selected for my 2011 BOM. When I bought the large pieces of batik at Hancock's of Paducah last April, I had no idea what kind of quilt I would make. This seems perfect! I "shopped" my closet for the smaller pieces. Last year pulled entirely too many fabrics from the closet so I tried to restrain myself with this one.

Haven't been able to figure out how to post photos here so the link takes you to the 2011 BOM Quilt Gallery, a good place to go!

Trust me! Margo doesn't do perfect! I do good enough for me! And yes, the papers are removed after the half-square triangles are completed. They are the perfect size and go together easily if you are careful with measuring, cutting, sewing and pressing, like Sue stresses.

Sue doesn't use starch in her projects, but I really like working with stiffer fabrics and think it helps me finish with a neater piece. That reminds me....I think I need to start a new topic!

It also helps to know how to stitch an accurate 1/4" seam allowance. If you aren't sure how accurate yours is, here's a link to a test!
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569415726bHNKHF

Just remember that accuracy counts! If you are as accurate as you can be everything will easily fit together, but don't worry, because Sue gives wonderful info about how to make the stuff that's not quite right fit together! You will love how her "floaters" work, and I'll bet that it's a technique that you will use in the future!

Oh I won't back out -- I am just a little anxious about those blocks. I just went through your webshots pics and will make the sample house using your steps. Did you really remove all the paper before connecting the blocks? I would have guessed that leaving the paper on would help with the matching of seams -- but apparently not because yours looks perfect.

NO! :shock: JoJo, please don't back out! I HATED paper piecing before Sue talked me into trying it again, and now I absolutely love the accuracy of it! Especially with these little pieces in her designs.

If you want to play with it, go ahead and download Sue's PDF Introduction for the Ruffled Roses BOM. She shows you how to do her method on a little practice house. [url]learn/all-boms[/url]

I must warn you ahead of time that the scaling is off on that PDF and the test square will NOT measure exactly 1"x1". Don't worry about it for the introduction, but you will need to pay close attention in the following tutes. This is a really good example of how important accuracy is. The scaling in the intro is only about 1/16" off. If you measure the house diagram, you will see how much you loose. It's supposed to be 4-1/4"! :shock: Accuracy counts!!

I must admit, though, that I have chosen to use a different method than what Sue does. If you would like to see how I do mine with the "Add-A-Quarter" ruler check out my Webshots album from the 2009 BOM here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569453221xrxRqK

I hope you will try it both ways and see which one works best for you! Let us know!!

Oh Margo -- I'm not a very good paper piecer and the 6 x 6 inch blocks terrify me! :shock: I may need to practice more and watch Carol Doak's show again and again....and again. <sigh>

betweens wrote:
I hope you stay excited when you realize that these basket blocks finish at 6"x6"!! They are paper pieced, and fit together beautifully!

Hi betweens Deb,
I just looked at your sewing room on webshots. You weren't kidding about not having to buy any fabric, were you? Wow!!

ah much better now I can see all that lovely applique in the middle and plan my colors thanks so much
I just love it
I am a basket fanatic I just did a wonderful civil war swap with 6 1/2in baskets but these look like they are 12in finished baskets I think with those basket blocks I am going to be very scrappy with the background fabrics on the top part and keep the continuity of the bottom part...geesh I must be getting very excited about this.

New years will not come soon enough I just have to remember not to start anything else so that I can just finish what I am doing (Love Letters, from Black Bird Designs) and keep up with the BOM. I am not sure how everyone was able to keep up with the 2 BOM from this year with the piecing and the applique...maybe I can do this years applique and 2011...hmmmm