Barb:
You can use either small prints or tone on tones...which ever you have.
As far as the dates go, it's really up to you. If you want all of it out of your way then do June. If you want it when you come back July would work.
Or you can convince your daughter all of us need tickets and we can just go with you and sew the blocks over there? Heck I'd even donate my blocks to her if she wanted to host a quilt retreat
