Anne, you asked about thread color for your brown block... cream sounds like it would blend nicely. Are you using different color threads on your other blocks? Also, you mentioned you were going to use your regular foot for sewing instead of FMQ foot. Does that mean you are leaving your pattern paper on and stitching over the top of it? How will you keep the paper in place while you are sewing?
FMQ can be very intimidating. Most instructors will tell you that once you get everything ready and start to 'remember to breathe'. I thought that was funny but it is oh, so true. It mostly takes practise, practise, practise... I have not mastered it but I am more able to breathe now when I am FMQing. LOL