I used a jointing board on my table saw (I posted a picture of the fixture here about a month ago) with a diablo thin kerf glue line blade so i had very clean and square cuts. then I layed them out in a pattern that I liked. brushed Titebond III on them and clamped them up with some F clamps. Let it dry over night then ran it through the planer until both sides were level. Cut the shape out of what I had, did my corner work then lots of sanding.