My .02 worth:
First, thank you Jeanne and Kristene for your hard work to set up these birthday block exchange groups! Your dedication and concern that the exchange succeeds is very much appreciated.

Second, I just want to say that I really enjoy making the blocks for my group members. It is fun to try out different blocks in different fabrics and colors that I might not choose for myself. And....it's just 1 block! I'm very excited about the bed quilt that I will make with my blue and white Swappers' Star blocks that I received this September. I'm now in the process of making more blocks to add to the ones made by my group. Then I will add a border of white and then a border of Delectable Mountains in blues.

At Camp Cheerio I made two blocks of my 2011 birthday block choice just to see if I liked the block. My choices look great to me, so now I can make additional blocks for that quilt also. Nothing like getting ahead....right?

Teresa

Glad you enjoy being in the group, Teresa. (Just have to brag a bit about Teresa, she was instrumental in making the arrangements for the Quilting Forum to have their retreat at Camp Cheerio. I went for the first time this year and what a fun weekend, a nice location, and delicious food!)

If you are in the Piece of Cake group for 2011, I selected a block called the Pineapple Blossom and told the quilters in my group that I would share a picture of the three blocks that I already made so you can get an idea of the colors, etc. To me, this is sort of a tropical look with the color scheme. I asked for at least one strip of blue and at least one strip of yellow to be used in each block (I used sort of a golden yellow, but any type of yellow/gold is fine) --- overall, a scrappy look. You can see that I used prints, shaded fabric, polka dots... a little of everything. What I call "the flippy corners" are to be done in white or white on white.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Has anyone else make a sample block of what they requsted for 2011 that they want to share?

Does everyone know how to share pictures on the Quilting Forum? Perhaps one of us can summarize that or find a link telling how to do it so everyone will know. We love to see pictures.

Have a great day!

Jeanne

Kate posted instructions a couple years ago about pictures. Too bad we don't have the ability to put them in the FAQ section.

Here is a link that might be useful: Easy Photo Posting Instructions By Kate

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

My husband and I planned to go to the SC State Fair yesterday and as we were driving there I realized we would be going by the Richland County Public Library. The library now has the Gee's Bend Quilts on display so we made a spur of the moment decision to stop and see them. I was impressed. They are so interesting in person!

{{!gwi}}

Then we went on our planned activity. I just love going to the Fair! I entered my Santa quilt in the Fair this year. It is not a prize winner, but it is interesting to look at. It was very prominently displayed at eye level with other Christmas items around it so I am sure people have been enjoying it. Here's Santa enjoying his two weeks at the Fair --- well, actually all 12 of the the Santas enjoying the Fair!

{{!gwi}}

I posted the November birthdays, but haven't made the block I need to send yet, so there is an idea for how to spend part of my day!

Jeanne

Thanks for posting the link to the information about how to post pictures. It's really easy if you follow the steps. Great job with explaining it, Kate! I will say that I have problems if I try to interact between AOL and Photobucket, so if you have AOL and encounter a problem with getting photos into your album, let me know and I will explain how I do it now.
For me, time to go outside to enjoy some of this pretty weather!
Jeanne

HELP!!! Ok fellow members of the Patchwork Pines... I'm working on my October blocks - almost ready to go. In reviewing all the blocks for the year including the October ones I only have made 11 blocks. So I must have forgotten someone!! We only have 2 in October, and my list has none in November or December. Hoping I can figure out my mistake. I'm so scatter brained these days. (Which is why I didn't sign up for the 2011 exchange) Hope you can help!! Thanks- Judy

Judy, 2 in Jan, 2 in March, 1 in April, 1 in May, 2 in August, 3 in Sept, 2 in Oct.

Email me if you need more info.

SharonG/FL-IN

Thought I would post this FYI since many of us in the Birthday Block groups have chosen blocks found on Quilterscache.com. And many beginners to quilting might not think to look up the term "scant 1/4-inch."

Some of the patterns on Quilterscache call for the use of a "scant 1/4-inch seam" when piecing the blocks. This is the definition of that term:

"What's a SCANT 1/4" ?... A scant 1/4" seam is about two threads shy of a true 1/4", and is done to compensate for the amount of block width you lose each time you press over a seam allowance. This is really important! Think of a 12" block that is made up of four 3" squares across...each time you press over the seam, you are losing about 1/16th of an inch...so you just "lost" 1/4" of your block!" [quote from Quilterscache.com]

A scant 1/4-inch is not a 1/8-inch seam. So be very careful when piecing that you are not taking too small a seam in your block construction or those seams won't meet precisely and those points may get cut off. I use the piecing foot made for my machine and move my needle position over to the right. This gives me the closest to a true 1/4-inch that I feel is possible on my machine. I piece all my blocks with this preparation before I begin and I have good success matching seams and resulting in a block I can be proud of.

Teresa

Kay who is in the Piece of Cake group for 2011 sent me this picture of a block she made that is like what she requested for 2011.

{{!gwi}}

This is the Ribbon Quilt Block. I love how it looks. To me it looks like one of those mosaic style stone floors that you see in churches, etc. in Europe! In fact, if I am needed in Group 3, this is one of the contenders that I might choose --- that is if Kay doesn't mind me being a "copycat!" LOL

Thanks for sending the picture, Kay.

Jeanne

Thanks for the compliments, Jeanne. And as much as I like the individual block, I really love the look when they're set without sashing, as in the example on Quilters Cache.

The other thing I loved about it is how FAST it went together!

Kay

jeanne, your b d block the pineapple blosom is there simpler instuctins. i'm out of ink and my friend has copied all my imfo off but when she went to do yours it was 8 pages. and with more mformation than i needed. help

Pat (and others) -
I don't know of an internet site where the Pineapple Blossom pattern is presented or at least presented in the same way. If you will give me a week or two (seems like I have a ton of deadlines this week), I will sketch out my own version of what I did in a much shorter format and scan it in and e-mail it to anyone in the Piece of Cake group who needs it.
Hope that helps!
Jeanne

I hope everyone has a good weekend and gets to enjoy Halloween. No trick or treaters here so other than a few decorations that I put out indoors for us to enjoy, not a lot of Halloween activity.

I know I have posted this before, but for those who joined for 2010, it is getting close to the end of the year. If it is more than 1 month past your birthday --- and especially if you have not heard from the person who is overdue in sending to you --- let me know ASAP. I know we have some people who will make a block or two for those who might not receive what is owed to them. We want you to end the year just like you should - even if the blocks might not be from someone in your group. We certainly don't want any bad feelings. Now, if you didn't send - either because of your own circumstances or because you knew the "sender" was no longer sending, you may feel like "Nothing lost, nothing gained," but please - if you feel like a block or blocks are owed to you, I would like to take care of it. No one joins a group like this planning to end the year shorthanded.
My e-mail is accessible so just send me an e-mail and I will coordinate things.
I can't believe how quickly this month went by. Soon I will start a community discussion heading for November.
Jeanne

I heard from Cindy today that she had not received the e-mail with the list of members in her group and their block choices. All names for the people in that group were included in the e-mail that I sent out and I didn't get information back that they were undeliverable, so I assumed everyone got the e-mail. I am posting the members names here. The group name is "Piece of Cake." If anyone else did not get the list, please let me know ASAP so I can resend it. It was sent out on Sept. 27th.

The group members are:
Sue (polardream)
Andrea (dragonflyusc)
Kate (k8orlando)
Marsha (magothyrivergirl0
Jeanne (sandlapper_rose)
Cindy (quiltpartner)
Linda (lindaruzicka)
Pat (patti60)
Teresa (teresa_nc7)
Kay (kay_in_pa)
Linda (LindaOH)
Darlene (chickie1)
Virginia (macbeaner)

Talk with everyone soon. ...and, Pat, I know I promised to get some simple directions written up for the Pineapple Blossom block and I won't forget. I have just had so many doctor and dental appointments lately that it seems I don't get another thing done! Certainly they must be coming to an end. I think almost everything has been checked by now! LOL
Jeanne