When is a Baltimore Album not a Baltimore Album.?

Answer: When the color scheme goes above and way beyond.

The warm glow of the gold background and the rich blue hues of the sleigh, combine to give this color scheme a definite thumbs up.

When selecting a background fabric for your "It's a Baltimore Christmas, you must first decide if you want a traditional BA or a "beyond" BA.

Can we ever go wrong selecting a variety of batiks? Though not often used as a background, there are many batiks that are worthy of that starring role.

Then take into account how you intend to use the finished quilt.

Is it going to be used in a specific room?

Will it be a wall quilt or a bed quilt?

If so, select colors that will compliment the colors of your room.

A touch of country and a touch of class - all in one color scheme. The blue ticking used for the background makes this one of my favorites.

With the background fabric selected, the real fun begins. You will want a large variety of reds and greens. Your orchestra of fabrics won't be complete without some rich golds and browns along with several shades of at least two accent fabrics.

The fabrics of the flowers, leaves and sleigh are all the same in the next three. But each is unique as the background has been changed.

The leaf background fabric is the same fabric as the next block, however, each is in a different color way.

Christmas colors vary from year to year. Reds span a wide range from deep burgundy to bright fire engine red. Greens may be "true" green, blue green or yellow green. The colors may be bright or grayed. If you will be using the quilt in a room that already has many Christmas decorations from past years, you may choose a color scheme that reflects those Christmases past.

If you are making this quilt as a gift for a child or grandchild, you will have a greater latitude when selecting the colors. There is no way for you to know where the quilt will be used or displayed in the future so you are free to select fabrics for the pure love of the color and fabric. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now the owner of your quilt will choose their Christmas decorations based upon your quilt.