Last night I was watching a series of lessons on New York Beauty on You Tube, the channel (is that what's it's called?) is "On Point TV " and the instructor (Nancy Roelfsema) was building her New York Beauty using EQ8, (Curve Piecing the New York Beauty) I don't have EQ8 but her instructions for the block/quilt were so excellent, I became all inspired and made this block. I haven't paper pieced for years, but after a few missteps, it did come back to me. This block, using Karen Stone patterns, is 7 1/2 in. and nice and square, despite camera angle.
Surprisingly, it sewed quite well and quickly, the first time. (Remember, years ago, we DID set in sleeves in blouses - yes they were curved seams.) I made freezer paper templates, and each template will be reused many times. I'm not sure if my enthusiasm will last for an entire quilt, but in reality, the actual sewing took less than an hour, most of that was the arc and spikes, and I'm practiced now - will probably be faster now. I didn't have to take out any seams in the curves - just slow stitching and my trusty awl/poker.