This is so pretty so many possibilities, the colors are terrific I'm always drawn to fall colors too.

I may send out a few packages with two fabrics - I need a few more blocks and I'll be ready for my big quilt. The rest I am going to try and get some girl/boy blocks for upcoming baby projects.

I signed up for one of each of whatever happens. Yea for being an unemployed grad student (means I can spend all my time sewing)!

There you are! Was hoping you were joining this super group! Look forward to swapping with you again!
Bee

Beautiful Blocks
 

Libster! Thanks for the beautiful block from Boom 11! I love all my blocks from the Boom S&E Group. The color choice and block design gave the inspiration to my center medallion. The quilt is underway!
Still trying to get feedback entered :)

Buzzy Bee

So I went back and looked at pictures from past booms I think I am intimidated! I saw some really really great stuff where do you guys get your block ideas? Do you use patterns for them? Books? Magazines? On line? Please give me some hints and secrets on your beautiful work.

Also in reading the directions it says I should use removable labels on my baggies is there a particular label you use? Or way you do it that works for you?

Thanks for the hints

[/QUOTE]

Meant Feb 13th -- not May but thanks!

Jane

Hello Billi, Please don't be intimidated! We have swappers of all skill levels here and this is a great opportunity to learn new things. Last round, one of our swappers introduced some of us to a series of templates from which you can make lots of interesting blocks. There are plenty of books out, try your local library, or go to one of the many quilting sites including Quilterscache.com and you'll see lots and lots of blocks with fairly detailed instructions. Also, just look around this board and you'll find lots of blocks you like and oftentimes, you can simply recreate it by looking at it. Anyone else have other suggestions?

As for the labels, just any old label will do, as long as you write your board name on there so everyone knows which fabric is yours. You can also put a note inside describing any color suggestions you might like. For example, if you want blues and greens you can put that down or if you absolutely do not want orange, write that down.

Hope that helps.

Here's my fabric:


Jane

Beautiful floral....love pretty florals!

Yes, I was a new Boom Swapper last round. Some wonderful quilter pointed me to www.quilterscache.com....school to the bottom of the home page and find "Blocks Galore"...click and find Blocks by Size.....then click 12 Inch ...and the list is terrific. The instructions easy to follow. I had a great time making new designs . Love that sight! Opened up a whole new world to this beginner!

QUOTE=Janice McC;6717142]Hello Billi, Please don't be intimidated! We have swappers of all skill levels here and this is a great opportunity to learn new things. Last round, one of our swappers introduced some of us to a series of templates from which you can make lots of interesting blocks. There are plenty of books out, try your local library, or go to one of the many quilting sites including Quilterscache.com and you'll see lots and lots of blocks with fairly detailed instructions. Also, just look around this board and you'll find lots of blocks you like and oftentimes, you can simply recreate it by looking at it. Anyone else have other suggestions?

As for the labels, just any old label will do, as long as you write your board name on there so everyone knows which fabric is yours. You can also put a note inside describing any color suggestions you might like. For example, if you want blues and greens you can put that down or if you absolutely do not want orange, write that down.

Hope that helps.[/QUOTE]

I got a book 1000 any size quilt blocks. There's a CD and you can print out the pattern in the size you want to make the block. It's great for beginners.

On another note my Walmart is having a $1 a yard sale on fabric. Clearing out the old to bring in the new. I spent all the money I had Sunday . . . but I'm getting paid tomorrow :-)

I am new to this kind of swap. I sent an email to Janice. I will probably have questions once we start. First is when do we mail in our fat eights? Do they all have to be the same fabric if you are in a large group?

Thanks,

I use quilters cache online. Very good directions and they have a variety of blocks ranging from easy to more difficult. You can do it.

as far as labels goes I use return address labels and just write my board name on them.

Janice, Mosher92(Lori) and Marcialee are in for boom 13, we want to do the fast one. Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions I’ve been pursuing quilters cache and getting some thoughts don't want to make any decisions till a get my fabrics to play with and let it tell me what it needs

I was just curious where you guys got your ideas and patterns from see if there are other avenues to check out I think I'll see what my library has too

Lisa, Janice will send out the details once the sign ups are closed. Its really very easy to do, sending them ALL in one priority envelope to Janice then she sends everyone their F8s...Billi...I had NO idea what a block swap was when I did my first one...I think it was #6...Now Im on #13 and I LOVE it...Its not just getting blocks from others but being able to match fabric and make a block you think the other person would love...Challenging at lst but Ive never, ever had anyone complain to me about my blocks, although at lst I cant imagine why they didn't just throw the ones I made away.. LOL...Its an excellent way to learn about new blocks and to increase your skill levels! And besides that its FUN FUN FUN...and you make a ton of new friends!! You know you wanna..... :)

I will be away much of June and part of July, so I just don't think the timing is right for this boom. :( I will get in on the next one!

Bluelady, we'll miss you but enjoy your summer.

Same sentiments from this swapper too!

This is how I do it: I surf pinterest like it's an occupation. If I see a block I like, I pin it and generally print a picture of the block and put it in my 4" 3-ring binder. This is a wild generalization (but I'll say it anyway): most blocks can be broken down into a 3x3 or 4x4 grid. If you can teach yourself how to look at the block and break it into the grid, you will find that it is very, very easy to determine measurements based on the grid. For 3x3, each piece needs to be 4.5" unfinished to make a 12.5" block. For a 4x4, each piece needs to be 3.5" unfinished.

If all else fails, get a sheaf of grid paper at Target ($3.99) and draw it out on a grid. Or ask someone who can help walk you through it a few times till you've got it - I'm happy to help if you need it!

When I send my fabric out, I usually have a note in there and so I put an address label on the note- I use the free address labels that the charity places send every few months to get donations. I don't like putting the stickers on the fabric because I personally have gotten burned a few times not seeing the sticker, ironing it on, and having a gross gooey sticky mess to deal with on an already not-large chunk of fabric.

When I finish sewing the blocks, I include a special business card that I got through one of the millions of VistaPrint promotions. On the front it has my name, my board name, contact info, etc., and on the back I have lines to write who the block is for, the date I sewed it, and the name of the block itself. For $10, you can get 250 cards (maybe more, it's been a while now). I make sure that the handwritten info is facing outward when I package everything up.

TheMamahauser's cards are wonderful, esp how they are personalized for each swapper.

Terrific! I've added you both to the list. Thank you.

Good morning QA, like Joan said, you'll send all your pre-washed and sealed up F8s to me in a single package. how many will depend upon the size of the group you are in. As i plan to keep sign-ups open for a couple of more weeks, we won't know group size for a while yet so hang onto them until i post groups and send my mailing address. And don't hesitate to come here and ask questions. Questions always help the other newbies and most of the repeat Boomers can answer your questions just as easily (and often before) I can.

LOL My daughter's birthday is Feb. 13 and it was a Friday when she was born.

Janice,
sent you an email. I am in for a large slow group. I too will be sending out a variety of fabric as I am using my stash and a good friend just gave me oodles and oodles of F8.

Don't know how many of you are still on the fast boom 12 thread, but just finished putting your blocks together and the quilt is ready for the quilting table. For the new ones to the booms thought you might like to see a pic of the blocks I received and the quilt I put together with them. Not the best pic but think you can get the idea of what you can come up with. [ATTACH=CONFIG]475825[/ATTACH]Sorry one of my ironing tables is in the way but you can see most of it.

Jaba That looks gorgeous!

Good evening Boomers! Just a bit of a status update here. We've got 20 signed up so far and one 'iffy'. The group requests are spread all over the spectrum so we'll see how the next couple of weeks go. Remember to tell you quilting buddies about the swap and bring them over to the Boom side!

As Jaba reminded me in the post below, be sure to check out the previous swap threads. Both the Slow & Easy and the Short & Sweet threads have occasional posts so check them out. Buslady recently posted all of her blocks for Boom 11 on Slow & Easy.

I'm going to be offline for most of the weekend so if anyone signs up or emails me, you may not get an immediate response, but I WILL get to you! Thanks and have a terrific weekend. i hope the weather is lovely where you are - except if you are in SoCal, all of CA really, I'll be wishing for rain for you.

Quilterscase.com, click 12 inch blocks, you will have more ideas than you can finish.

That's quilterscache.com

She will let us know when to mail. I use all different fabrics in swapp

Georgeous, now I'm rethinking my direction for this boom.....

Me too! I really like the look of the blue and white blocks.

I just sent my email in. Been a while since I have been on the board and excited to get back to it. I loved jaba's blue and white quilt. I agree that those blue and white blocks are beautiful!! I'll have to see what I have in my stash. Looking forward to this Boom!

hi Cheryl, sent you an email.

Oh dear. I hate to miss this. What is the approximate time frame/dates for the groups? What date back to Janice? I am thinking the slow group would work for me...
I was sort of thinking about doing some applique blocks this time around, along with my Angle Play.

Bluelady, tentatively, if groups shape up fully, F8s would begin to be mailed to me about June 1st or so. i'd like them all in to me in 2 weeks if possible, although that may really be pushing it since Gaijin is joining and she'll be mailing from Japan. it may be too short for her. Anyway, by Aug 1 everyone should have their F8s and the clock starts. oct 1 blocks back to me for the 2 mo group, Dec 1 blocks back to me for 4 mo group. NOW, that all being said, if we don't get enough to fill either group fully, i may alter the dates and combine groups. Honestly, it totally depends upon sign-ups. The dates are fluid so we'll have to see just how the sign-ups go. We've got about 2 more weeks of sign-ups. i'll have a much better idea in about 10 days. Wish i could be more definite. Hope this helps a bit.

Oh! I can do that time frame! I am in!

Jaba love your quilt. Terriamn

thanks all, think my great grand daughter will love it too. She will be here for a week over the 4th of July and she loves blue.