Now that is inspiration. I have my fabric bagged already. I will post the pics of it tonight. The deal with my stuff is I can't decide if I like it or if I hate it. Its vintage inspired Chloes Christmas. I love all but the bright neon green in it. Can't figure how that works with traditional green and red/gold. So if you are a lucky recipient please do NOT add more of that awful green. I think it can be toned down darned if I know how. I love the quilts shown so thank you. Everyone looks at a piece of fabric and has a totally different inspiration. Its kinda fun:) How anyone can do a large group amazes me. Let alone TWO. That is commitment and my hats off to you. I think that will be an easier task for me come Dec when I am ready for the holidays and... need to keep my little hands busy.

Elizabrat: start with a 9 patch, adjust the needle till you get your seam right, remeasure after every seam, before you know it you will do it with out even thinking about it.

And another trick I learned here is square up at every step. When you make a block with points remember that the fabric does not come to a point until after it is sewn. That concept took me a really long time to learn.

I have been quilting for 30 years and I avoided making anything with a point. Now I can make points with a lot better accuracy.

Check out the tutorials on the Tutorials thread.http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/
Or the quilters Cache, they have a lot of cool blocks that are easy, and eventually you will be stepping up to the harder ones.http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html

Moonwork, that is awesome, I love how you finished your quilt. Truly beautiful. I was in two groups for boom 6 and for one of the groups I made place mats for both of my Sister-in-law's. They loved them and use them all the time. The other group I made a sampler quilt with very bright fabrics, gave it to my Grand daughter for her birthday.

For Boom 7 I did two groups, one was with Gingham and made a beautiful quilt for my niece, the other one I have not put together yet, but it will be to keep for my sewing room. I love the Boom swaps, they are my very favorite swap because you meet the nicest quilters here.

I had a couple PM about some of the blocks shown (sorry, not trying to hijack with Boom6 info but trying to help Boom8r's)

Thanks y'all for the great compliment :)

Here a couple close up shots to show more of the wonderful variety of the blocks.
Top section before sashing added
[ATTACH=CONFIG]352346[/ATTACH]

Bottom section
[ATTACH=CONFIG]352347[/ATTACH]

Someone asked if 4 charms made a block...most certainly they do in my book. If someone has health issues or sight issues, those 4 charms may have taken all day to work on and are just as precious as the most intricate paper pieced or appliqued blocks. Hopefully it was made in friendship and with good will. I think it was hard to see the wonderful variety I received (and maybe give you some ideas). The 10 minute block or 9 patch can give you a very nice beginner block.

I'm not sure yet if I can manage to join this one or not but the 2 Booms I did kept me hopping. I will continue to "stalk" this and help where I can. Thanks for allowing me to share past Boom info :)

Hey... my sample practice blocks are turning into a nice lap quilt! I've made 5 of them, but 4 are all the same fabric, with a cream on cream and a dark 3rd. I think I will give it to my dh aunt when I am done. Nothing goes to waste! :thumbup:

Marybeth I have no trouble getting consistant blocks,sigh, I guess they have been slightly short of what they were supposed to be sometimes but if I make nine I get nine the same size so it has never bugged me but with strict rules I get the make them the specific size. Also, my points come out. I just measured blocks to be 12 inches and they worked. I will do as suggested and move the needle to the right to get that .5. I ALWAYS sew with it in the middle but it makes sense it will change it to a larger size if its slightly over. Tonight I will make another.

Everyone here is the fabric you will get. Most of you will get one of this selection, a couple are duplicates so more of those. I HATE the siamese cat because of the harliquen (spell check please!) background. It looks like some darned jester fabric. Blick. I love the bells the most. I think if they were all played up towards the lighter colors and the DARK green/gold in the fabric it might make them not scream that bright green. I am excited to see what my group can come up with as I think it has potential. This is Chloe's Christmas by Redrooster fabrics.

Hi moonwork42029 and dotcomdtcm thank you both for sharing pictures of your quilts. It really helps us new people see the variety. I love it and am super excited to see how things progress.

Well, now I have 5 sample blocks... doing good on them being 12.5 since I moved my needle. This is turning out to be a nice lil quilt. LOL. Practice, practice, practice.

Rotflol... I saw the Harlequin, and I liked it except for the cats. I'm not a cat person.. or dogs or any animal really, except those birds that talk. The can mimic somone's voice exact. I like all your Christmas fabrics, you will have a nice Christmas quilt when it's done. :thumbup:

Woo Hoo...that's the spirit :)

Kensington, I think you should share your little project with us :) I am sitting here waiting on go! I dont have a current project, not enough of fabric I love to make something with. My sis gave me a huge bin of her fabric. its a lot of pale rose, pastel stuff and well its summer I want to do fun and bright and dunno. In a slump perhaps. Here is a sample block I made last night testing your theory of the move it to the right Kensington. It worked perfectly. This is another gift of fabric that I truthfully hated. Way too many bugs. However never one to toss fabric as I dont have much and its pretty darned expensive I cut it and well, its not too bad this way. The purple came out washed in these photos it is much brighter and the cream shows so bright and its definetely more subtle. Does it get rid of enough bugs this way? I would love feed back. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Ok. I have read through this whole swap blog and it sounds so fun. So I am in for 35 blocks. EXCITED!!!!!!

Linda58

Elisabrat...I think that is a great block and a top out of it would be terrific. Way to go!

The fabric I have chosen is a simple cream fabric with small turquoise dots. I found it on clearance for $1/yard once and bought the last of the bolt. Not sure why exactly, I thought I could do something with it. Now you guys get to help me use it, this should be fun. With the simpleness of the pattern it should easy to pair it up with other fabrics, other complementary solids or maybe other polka-dots? http://www.hawthornethreads.com/imag..._turquoise.jpg

I found an image online that is very similar to the fabric, not the exact brand and line but very, very similar. My quilt will be for one of my little girls or nieces.

It has been fun looking at others images of fabrics, my brain is already churning for ideas for that would match the style of fabric. Also, let us know for who the quilt will be for, for me that helps alot for the ideas.

Looking at the image just posted I would add that my dots are more on the greenish side of turquoise than this bluish turquoise, if that makes any sense at all...:D

I'm getting excited ... I've been wanting to join one of the boomerang groups for quite some time now but they were always closed by the time I saw the posts. So glad I finally got in, and I got a PM from April confirming I'm in so now I need to pick a pretty to cut up for everyone. Or several pretties. Not sure which yet. I'm going to hold off on picking blocks to make until I start receiving fabric from swappers - then match it to my stash to see what looks good.

I think that fabric will be quite easy to work with, not to mention fun. I think you'll get a lot of variety with that.

Good idea to let each person know as much about what is needed/wanted of the grown-up-blocks as necessary (other than the bock design of course). Please make sure that we send it WITH the F8 though as I know I won't be sifting back through what could be several dozen pages of posts here on QB to see if SwapperA might have mentioned anything about likes/dislikes.

After looking at your's and considering the price you paid ... I think I'm going to follow suit with a simple print that I bought on sale just because I couldn't pass up on the sale and oh-gosh-oh-golly I'll find a use for it somewhere.

OH!!! I'm so excited...alright, when I get home I'll take pics of ALL of the Seuss fabric I'll be sending out. :)

Elisabrat,
Here you go... these are my "Practice" Blocks... I made one more today. LOL. I'm trying to use all the same fabrics so I can use them in a gift. I just wanted to get that seam allowance down and check points on these blocks for accuracy and of course for ease piecing.

http://i48.tinypic.com/294jalv.jpg

BTW... are you sending a background fabric? I'm thinking about it. I don't want my blocks to cost anyone more than it has to. Just not sure what everyone does. I know we don't have to send it. Just wondering.

Great looking "practice " You can practice for me anytime :thumbup:

I love this fabric and your block is very nice. Just goes to show what one person hates someone else will love:)

Picked up my fabric today

ROZTFLOL... Hahaha... I was just looking at that picture, thinking I needed to press that bottom left block better. It's not as flat. Thank you for the vote of confidence!

Kensington -- Your blocks look great and I love the colors.

No need to send other fabrics...everyone sends the fat 1/8th and it's up to the receiver to use their fabric to make the rest of the block with. That way everyone has the same amount to work with and everyone sends out the same amount.

I LOVED when I got a note attached that indicated --
What color scheme they were heading for (some only wanted "whites / creams or certain colors used in their blocks -- I asked to use just the colors in the fabric-- nothing clashing) or if it was a truly an "up to you".

Top to be used for (Male, Female, Child, Teen, Charity, etc)...helped to decide on block to make -- Didn't want to send a "kitty" for a tough guy :)

The notes that includes their full name, board name and mailing address were even better in case the envelope got separated.

You'll love the spreadsheet that April sends with your names -- it has everything you need to track your progress! I also took pictures of the fabrics and put them in the list too as an easy reference for me (but I'm weird) along with pictures of the blocks I made for them and the blocks I received from them.

I thought I had posted on here. But, I can't find it. I am in for a small group. I just got out of the hospital with stomach inflamation and a urinary tract infection. I am glad to be home.

Sending prayers your way, glad to hear you are feeling better, and there is nothing like a good swap to put you right back on track!

I love your practice blocks Kensington, they are very nice! I made a lap quilt with my practice blocks, but I always have a few blocks waiting to be made into a quilt top.

I really like the letters with the F8, it helps tell you a little about who you are swapping with and what they would like. And adding a address label to your finished block really helps too.

very nice blocks. you will enjoy this swap. I go thru my books as I open an envelope and find what I feel matches the fabric they sent and then find the fabric to coordinate with theirs(the best that I can). I love getting notes from people, even tho I don't tend to do that. I don't usually make the same block twice unless I am getting behind and want to push a few out. I love this swap and can't wait to start again.

Beautiful practice blocks! I am working through more PMs now :)
Hugs
April

April, was thinking of you today while listening to an old Kenny Loggins song Isabella's Eyes. I almost named my little girl Isabella. It came down to that or Genavieve and her dad went for the traditional more I guess. I think they are both beautiful names :) and from the pic, both are beautiful girls too. Only mine is a tad larger by a whole bunch of years. She turns 21 in just over a week. College, Army, Culinary school.. look what you have to look forward too. Start selling those quilts NOW kids are expensive!
Kensington, your quilt blocks are very beautiful. Soothing colors. Love it!

oh yeah and April, thanks for doing all this I imagine matching partners is a bit harder too. Do you randomly pick groups or do you do it by skill levels? curiosity makes me ask. A crazy job maintaining all that without going nuts.

Wow all your guys blocks and ideas are just awesome. I have guild meeting this week so I am thinking I may sew on a few practice blocks to make sure I am warmed up and ready to go.

Hope you feel better,You are in my prayers.

You need a sexytary to help you.

Thank you very much. All encouragement appreciated. I made one more today. A Churn Dash, I have made small ones, but wanted to see how it converted to 12x12. Now, I am cleaning my craft room, and taking a break until these fabrics arrived and I get it all going again. I don't want to burn out before we start. LOL.

I used to live in Washington. Dh was stationed at Everett. LOVED that area.

Hi April,
I'm in for 2 small groups. Sending pm now.:thumbup:

Thank you for your prayers.

Good morning boomers, I think today is going to be a super awesome day! going to Dr and getting the new word on what he is going to do with my hand. My left is almost totally healed, until I forget and try to pick up something that is heavier that I should pick up!

But my right wrist is not behaving! But I am doing a little sewing, well more like wading through my sewing room rearranging fabric, and doing a little mending. My hubby won't let me do much more than that till the Dr says I can!

I am looking at block patterns and getting some awesome ideas. Normally I let the fabric I get from you "talk to me" if it doesn't, then I will use some of my favorite blocks.

I have been practicing with Embroidery before I got hurt, so If you don't mind it, I might add, but I will ask first.

OK off to the heat of the Valley, it is supposed to be warm down there today (it is always about 15 to 20 degrees warmer than up here)

Marybeth

I agree they are both beautiful names and I am sure your girl is as beautiful as her name. :) And thank you for the kind words about my Izzy she is my light!
She has been expensive since day one lol I figure I have at least another 12 years. Once she is 18 she is on her own LOLOL

I do not do groups based on skill level. What I do is get my list of swappers, put them in alphabetical order and then cut and paste them in to a group so number one stays on list one, number two goes on list two..so forth and so on. I do try to accommodate special requests if someone wants to be in with a lot of international swappers or things like that :)

And who said I wasn't nuts?? Whomever it was is lying to you LOLOLOL
Hugs
April
PS I have gotten through all PMs to this point..phew!

Okay we have members from Australia, Canada & Scotland. Any other internationals want to play?? We love to have you join us :)
Hugs
April

I realized today that I'm officially less than 30 days away from classes starting up (sigh). Nothing lights a fire quite like seeing all your free time getting flushed.

So! I have all my F8's cut and bagged with notes! And, I am super excited to say, I got to use one of the new free fonts I found thru Pinterest. Woo! So, if you get my F8 and you can't read it... well, crap. Hopefully you all find it just as legible as I hope.