To piece this block, I sewed the small shapes first, then moved on to large pieces.

Usually when I make a quilt, I press my seams to the darker fabric side because its very quick and it eliminates the issue of show through on lighter fabrics.  For the horizontal and vertical seams of this quilt, I've been pressing my seams open. Because the seams are pressed open I don't have to plan ahead about which way to orient my seams (for sewing intersecting seams) which means I have more freedom when I piece the blocks. --Joelle