THE SIGNATURE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT BLOCK SWAP 2000 GUIDELINES
Swap Hostess - Linda DePerro
The Signature Christmas Ornament Block Swap 2000 involves each person making 19 signature ornament blocks to be exchanged and incorporated into a Christmas Tree Wallhanging Quilt. (Mary Ann Beattie's Tree Quilt measures approximately 39" x 47" including 1 1/2" borders. Linda DePerro's Tree Quilt measures 44"x44" plus the size of your borders.) The "ornaments" which we will be swapping are not actual tree ornaments, although the 4" finished blocks could be backed and quilted for use as ornaments, if so desired.
----------------------
COMPLETION DEADLINE:
This is a centralized swap which means that everyone will mail all 19 of their *signed ornament blocks* to me so that I receive them by October 15, 2000. I will swap them so each swapper receives 19 different signature ornaments back by November 1, 2000, giving everyone time to finish her Tree Quilt by Christmas 2000.
(Optional: Make an extra, complete or partial ornament block for the swap hostess - ME. In return, I'll mail you a copy of the 3" variation of my star and ornament pattern in case you want to make a smaller tree wallhanging someday - featuring family names, perhaps.)
------------------------
REGISTERING FOR THE SWAP:
**PLEASE EMAIL ME YOUR HOME ADDRESS to officially register for the Christmas Ornament Block 2000 Swap.** When I receive your home address I will let you know where to mail your swap packet. I require your address when you register so that I have a way to reach you if on-line communication should become a problem. Please alert me in the event of an e-mail or snail mail address change.
------------------------
CHOOSING YOUR BLOCK AND TREE PATTERNS/DESIGNS:
Some swappers like a scrappy green look to their block backgrounds and tree and so want Complete Blocks. Some swappers prefer Partial Blocks so they can add their own shades of green background fabrics to the block and ultimately match the particular green of their tree wallhanging. I believe it is an easy matter to satisfy everyone's preference.
In either case, each of us will be making and signing 19 ornament-blocks based on EITHER Mary Ann Beattie's ornament pattern OR Linda DePerro's ornament pattern. The pattern that the swapper makes is the very same pattern that the swapper will receive in return.
------------------------------
PRINTING OFF THE BLOCK PATTERNS:
The URL for Mary Ann Beattie's Log Cabin Block Pattern:
This is the URL for Mary Ann Beattie's 4" (finished size) Log Cabin Signature Christmas Ornament Block.
http://bankswith.apollotrust.com/~larryb/Christmasornament.htm
The URL for Linda DePerro's Simple Ornament Block Pattern:
Print it off and measure your copy to make sure that the design is 4" without seam allowances and 4 1/2" with the seam allowances. Use this paper (or whatever paper works in your printer) as the foundation for your paper-piecing.
Use a very tiny stitch to sew the block so the papers will remove easily; BUT DO NOT REMOVE THE PAPERS. Each of us will do that after we join the ornament blocks to our tree blocks for our wallhanging.
---------------------------
SIGNING YOUR SWAP ORNAMENTS:
Use a Sakura Pigma black .01 pen to sign your name, hometown, country on plain WHITE fabric. I suggest the following:
1. iron the shiny, plasticized side of Reynold's freezer paper onto the back side of a sizeable portion of fabric;
2. rotary cut 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangles;
3. sign the fabric, being careful not to let your writing extend into any of the 1/4" outer seams. Smooth, steady pen movement nets best results.
4. remove the freezer paper backing and center the siggy facing up from the back side of the paper-piece ornament pattern; proceed to the paper-piecing.
--------------------------
PAPER-PIECING THE ORNAMENT BLOCKS:
1. PARTIAL ORNAMENT BLOCKS TO BE USED IN LINDA'S SIMPLE CHRISTMAS TREE WALLHANGING:
When making partial blocks (thus, leaving off the green background pieces for the owner to complete with her own fabric):
a. be sure that all outside edges generously provide seam allowances for the background pieces to be added to the "ornament". Remember: you will not make the additional cap section of the pattern.
b. press the unfinished block flat; and, pile the blocks so as to keep them pressed
c. sandwich the pile between two oversized pieces of cardboard that have been tied securely so the blocks won't shift
d. place into a plastic bag for mailing.
2. COMPLETE BLOCKS TO BE USED IN MAB'S LOG CABIN ORNAMENT AND CHRISTMAS TREE WALLHANGING:
If you are making complete blocks with the green background,
a. Paper-piece and join both sections of the pattern; trim seams to 1/4"; press as you piece.
b. To finish block and secure outside edges, stitch the outermost green background pieces 1/8" from the outside seam allowance.
c. place blocks into a plastic bag for mailing.
******************************************************************
BLOCK SIZE
All Complete "Ornaments" should be 4 1/2" counting seam allowances with your signature and hometown in the plain WHITE center section.(All Partial "Ornaments" should have ample fabric to provide seams for the greens to be added to the signed partial block which will also measure 4 1/2" when fully pieced. Blocks which fail to meet these requirements will be returned to their maker unswapped.
*******************************************************************
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
1. Use only good quality, prewashed, pressed 100% cottons. Here's a chance to use some scraps. Or, if you prefer to make several ornaments the same, rotary cut your strips and triangles from one, two or more layered fat
quarters for fast assembly-line cutting and paper-piecing.
2. The background for the signature section should be PLAIN WHITE - no tone on tone.
3. If you are making complete blocks, the corner background sections will need to blend into the tree portion of the wallhanging and should therefore be a mottled *Christmas green*.
4. For the ornament portion of the block, get creative. Use fabric scraps from your stash and vary the ornament fabrics and colors. Predominantly green fabrics should be avoided, though, since they would merge into the
tree background; thus becoming invisible from a distance. (Personally, I think red or multicolored Christmas prints would make especially nice ornaments; but, that's just my 2 cents.) Striped fabrics in the band above and below the signature section make especially nice ornaments.
5. Washable lace or beads may be added if you are especially ambitious.
----------------------------
MAILING YOUR SWAP PACKETS:
No later than September 30th, 2000, place a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope and your plastic bag of 19/20 signed ornament blocks into a heavy duty mailing envelope; and, mail it to me in Virginia. To be safe, insure the contents, outgoing and incoming - SASE and mailer. Or, trust the mail service, as you deem appropriate. I personally insure because that's what my dear dad, the career parcel postman always advised me to do.
International swappers can work out mailing arrangements with me personally as I realize the difficulty of arranging to put American stamps on the SASE.
I'll send you my address as the due date nears.
-----------------------------
MAKING "ORNAMENT" BLOCKS INTO ACTUAL FREE-HANGING CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS:
Depending on personal preference, any swap recipient may elect to turn her signed "ornament" blocks into stand-alone ornaments for decorating a real Christmas tree. Directions? Simply make an octagonal backing the same size as the ornament; then place it and the front of the paper-pieced "ornament" right-sides together; add batting to either of the wrong sides; stitch 1/4" seams to all but the top edge; turn right side out; add a ribbon loop for hanging; hand stitch the top closed; topstitch around the edge of the siggy, quilt as desired. With these, there would be no need to make the Christmas Tree Wallhanging; just hang the quilted ornaments on a real tree. I think these would give a great country look to any Christmas tree.
In December 1999, I made 19 ornaments with siggies from my quilt guild in only 2 days. It took me a month to find time over Christmas to construct the top. But, remember, I had the holidays, lots of company, and a funeral to slow me down. I really believe that my simplified ornament and tree could be completed very quickly under normal conditions. My top is gorgeous, if I do say so myself. If I
ever get a digital camera, I'll post a picture - if I can figure out how to
do that. LOL
I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING LOTS OF POSTMARKS FROM DIFFERENT STATES AND COUNTRIES AND TO SEEING LOTS OF COLORFUL "ORNAMENTS" ARRIVE IN MY MAILBOX. LET THE FUN BEGIN! Linda in VA