ha! I am NOT the creative one ... like you Jenniky!!!!
You'll notice a big difference with the spray basting ... it holds it all together ever so well.
So the practice blocks ... are they going to be the join together blocks? or is that a different quilt?
One gal I know made oodles of placemats as she practiced FMQ.
Now she makes a new one, every time she sets her machine up to start a new FMQ project ... an eclectic setting for the table and kind of like a trip down the quilting memory lane as you eat!
From something I read .... take a print fabric and FMQ around the designs to learn control. Could be a paisley, or flowers or a novelty print or most anything. I haven't done it yet, though I think it;d be a good way to practice and get more smoothness into curves etc.
Jenniky ... your first work looked pretty good to start, so I can only imagine how great it;s becoming as you work at it.