Bridget What a wonderful tutorial. You covered everything from start to finish. You must work with computers to make such a professional presentation. Your tutorial will be a great help to all of the newbies and those os us who have been quilting for a while.

Thanks for all of your work in putting that together.

Love your block, it looks great.

Sandy in Phoenix

Bridget473 wrote:
WOW!!! BRIDGET THAT'S GREAT!!! Thank you so much for adding a whole new technique for the BOMettes to work with!

And, Bridget, I think that we should be allowed to post a warning that "hands in photos are younger than they appear"!!! LOL!!!
I was shocked to see how bad mine look! :shock:

I've just posted pictures of how I folded some of the fabric in my stash since some ladies have asked about it.

http://community.webshots.com/user/TennGram?vhost=community

(Not only do you have to promise not to look at my hands but the fashion police will probably notice that I've been painting!!)

OK ladies. Deep breath. I've posted my machine applique tutorial online. If there is something that is unclear or completely left out, please let me know. This is just how I am comfortable doing machine applique. I'm so glad others are also letting us in on their techniques as well! This is such a fun and educational group! And Margo -- you are wonderful to do this every month! Applause!

http://bridgetlilja.homestead.com/MachineApplique.html

And I'm putting out a disclaimer on the condition of my hands and nails -- the weather's been nice and I've been out gardening all week. (My daughter said, "Eww! Are those your fingers?")

Now I'm off to post my block and maybe give myself a manicure!

Marge, Maggie and Bonny Thanks for your nice comments.

I did cheat and start a little early. I put the star on my background and made lots of berries so I could pick & choose when I got ready for them. I also made the bias stems for the flowers and berries. It did save me a lot of time when the pattern was available.

Bonny, I'm sure you'll like the MA. It definitely is a lot faster and I've got a couple of applique projects that I would like to finish this year. I love the needle turn applique because it is so relaxing but it does take longer to do. Good luck to you.

Sandy in Phoenix

Margo wrote:
Margo, I am trying this again and hopefully it works. THis is too simple not to get it. :shock: Yes!!!!!!

Bonny

Sandy and Leslie - both your blocks are beautiful.

I love all the different ideas and colorways of each block.

Sandy, I hope I am going to like the MA - once I get started on it.
Will save me a little time hopefully in finishing some of my projects.

Bonny

Sandy, I love how you have gradation in your berry colors! Looks great.

Leslie, if you had a mistake, I couldn't see it!

Maggie in lovely spring in E. Central Illinois

Only 5 days late! My April block is finished and on my profile. TIP: If you find that something is not cut straight (like a little notch that shows up in the handle) just get out a black (or whatever color you need) permanent marker and fill it in. Worked for me. It was a very tiny little spot but it needed covering.

Sandy, your block is lovely. The vast is gorgeous! You were really fast doing this block.

Hello Ladies!

I just posted my May BOM. I have been doing all of my blocks with the invisible applique using the variable overlock stitch (#3 on my Bernina 440). I am using Sharon Shamber's applique foundation and thread to match the applique (except for the berries on this block and I used the monopoly so I woun't have to change thread so much!).

I have done needle turn applique using toothpicks for years but since I have started getting arthritis decided to do this quilt with this method. I am still trying to decide if I am completely happy with it or not. Guess I'll wait and see how it looks after quilting.

I did want to pass on a tip to the newer quilters on pressing. I know we have all learned, but maybe forgot, that the applique will stand out more if we press from the wrong side and lay the block on several layers of towels. That way your applique will not be all smashed down flat but will "pop" out more.

I sure enjoy reading all of your posts and seeing all of your blocks. It is just amazing to see all of the different colors.

Sandy in Phoenix

Thanks Margo for the reply. What I needed is exactly what is happening here! Fantastic group of ladies! I also worked a little in my yard yesterday....then I went to lqs-LOL! What can I say? The weather is beautiful, a little windy, here in the Dallas area.

Janice

Margo wrote:
Thanks, I was wondering the same thing.

Lisa

Blisstwin wrote:
Hi Bonnie!
When you want to quote a post, just click on the little "QUOTE" icon that you see in the upper right corner of each post. It puts the whole thing into your "post a reply" text box. If you don't want/need to quote the whole thing, you can delete parts of it from here!
Margo

Love your blocks, Maggie! Judy in Torrance