Month Two Ruffled Roses

[Geneva C.]

Dorothy, your block is so calming. It's beautiful. geneva

[Jo H.]

I decided to use the first centre block I did, as I am still plodding on with my stable stuff on the second one not very successfully I might add. I am pleased with how Februarys worked out, it all fitted together :lol: Dorothy UK

Oh wow.... I can't stop gazing at your quilt-in-the-making Dorothy. I think it has to do with those softly shaded colors. Reminds me of walking by the ocean watching the cool breeze bring in the fog...and lends itself to be very mysterious (arouses wonder and inquisitiveness). In my mind so far your quilt has been name Mystique.

I can't wait to see how it changes with next month's addition. :P

[Jo H.]

I decided to use the first centre block I did, as I am still plodding on with my stable stuff on the second one not very successfully I might add. I am pleased with how Februarys worked out, it all fitted together :lol: Dorothy UK

Dorothy, it's really pretty. I love the fabrics. The latice really sparkles against your background fabric.
Linny T

[Pam D.]

Dorothy, your colours are subtle but it all works so well! I love it.

[Pam D.]

Thank you to everyone for your kind comments it is so encouraging, that little slat border gave me a headache and I have never done a lattice border before but would certainly do one again, now I know how :roll: I just wish I had more of the setting triangles fabric, not sure where or when I bought it, what little I have I hope to spread through the quilt.

Geneva's block was so gorgeous with such strong colours.i just loved it.

Ladyquilter what a lovely name to call my quilt " Mystique" I do think I shall call it that Thank you. Dorothy UK

[Pam D.]

Dorothy, Is it one of those frosted fabrics?

[Pam D.]

No all I can remember is that it was called Stonehenge.

[Margo C.]

No all I can remember is that it was called Stonehenge.

Here are some Stonehenge fabrics: http://www.fatquartershop.com/Stoneh...tt-Fabrics.asp

[Pam D.]

Dorothy, Quilters Haven in UK have just a few if you want some more of that range. http://www.quilters-haven.co.uk/cata...mp;x=0&y=0

[Pam D.]

Thank you Margo and Pam, I did go to Quilters Haven yesterday it's just 1/2 an hour away from me because I thought I had bought the fabric from there,but it was a time ago and they had none of that range left. i did buy a similar yard from the new range and I think it will fit in later on though it's not quite the same. Dorothy UK

ps Pam How you doing with that stable stuff ? :wink: I did so want that puffy effect but I am having a hard time to get it to look right, might stick with bonda web (wonder under).

[Margo C.]

Thank you Margo and Pam, I did go to Quilters Haven yesterday it's just 1/2 an hour away from me because I thought I had bought the fabric from there,but it was a time ago and they had none of that range left. i did buy a similar yard from the new range and I think it will fit in later on though it's not quite the same. Dorothy UK

ps Pam How you doing with that stable stuff ? :wink: I did so want that puffy effect but I am having a hard time to get it to look right, might stick with bonda web (wonder under).

Dorothy, what kind of trouble are you having with the Stable Stuff technique?

[Pam D.]

Dorothy and Margo, I watched Alex's classes on Freezer paper applique and read Margo's instruction, all of which were very clear and straight forward. THey were excellent. However as I had not done hand applique before both method were fiddley, and would take abit of getting used to and take longer that an experienced appliquer. I found that as the stable stuff is so soft that I was pressing part of the SS over along with the seam allowance. I also found the vine rather daunting with all the v shapes of the stems coming off of the vine. By this stage it was half way through January and I was frightened that I would either just chicken out of doing it at all or end up with a block that I wasn't happy with. I therefore decided to take what seemed like the easier the option which I hoped would get me a result that I was happy with and used the fusing method. I hope to make a small piece of work using the hand applique methods that I can do in my own time. I really dont want to get too behind on the monthly schedule or I can see the quilt not getting finished. Also if I get behind there will be so much more on the forum to read. My block isn't finished yet but I can see how it will look and an pleased with it.

[Robin G.]

Dorothy, I'm glad you decided to use JoJo's suggestion of Mystique for your quilt -- it's perfect! And I'm interested in hearing yours and Pam's experiences with Stable Stuff because I bought some with a plan to use it in my RR, but it sounds like I might run into some of the same problems you two are. Margo, I'm eager to hear your advice!

[Margo C.]

I will admit that turning all of the edges under on the main vine can be tedious with the Stable Stuff. Maybe you would want to use a fusible web of some kind for that part of the design until you are more comfortable with the technique. I think you will find that the leaves and the flowers and berries are very do-able with the Stable Stuff foundation and glued edges.
You will notice that I always use glue on the edges of my Stable Stuff for machine applique. That does make the edges a little stiff for hand sewing. It's do-able, but it's definitely more stiff than doing needle turn.
Alex uses liquid starch on her edges and irons them over. If you use liquid starch with the Stable Stuff, it will dissolve and become too soft to give you a crisp edge. I only use starch on templates that are cut out of manila folders (my personal favorite!) or templates made with several layers of freezer paper fused together. They will remain crisp with the addition of liquid starch. The Stable Stuff won't. You will need glue sticks for that technique.

[Margo C.]

Dorothy, what kind of trouble are you having with the Stable Stuff technique?[/quote


Well where do I start, you name it I had it, I was all fingers and thumbs and gloooood all over ops: i just so admire hand turned appliqué and i so wanted the puffy look. Margo your instructions for the machine turned appliqué were wonderful and perhaps I did not persevere long enough, I too did not want to get behind and I was still trying to get it to look half way decent when February arrived, so I chickened out.
It was the vine :? that did it for me I could have coped with the leaves and flowers but the pesky VINE would not go right.

Do not fear though I have a small hand turned project on the go now that I have finished my 2009 BOM Yippee and I am determined to crack this and then on to machine turned appliqué complete with PUFFY flowers & leaves. Dorothy UK