Adventures in Applique

Here's a peek at what I've been doing off and on this week:

I've been drawing a lot of faces lately and I decided to translate one into fabric. Everything went smoothly until it came time to do the facial features...I just couldn't figure out out to hand applique them using my favorite technique (freezer paper on the wrong side of the fabric), so, I fused them into place. I really didn't want to fuse, but it was the only way to get this impromptu project off my plate and into the "almost finished" pile. I haven't finished the raw edges of the fused pieces (still thinking about that) and she still needs to be squared up (cropping is such a wonderful thing!).

I think I'll name her "Bernice". :)

My First Hand Applique Project

Here is a peek at what I've been working on this week. It's my FIRST hand applique project!

I've had a love/hate relationship with hand applique ever since I began quilting 20 years ago. I LOVED it and WANTED to do it, but all of my work really looked bad. Since I'm a confirmed perfectionist when it comes to sewing, each attempt ended up in the trash.

I decided that I just wasn't cut out for it and didn't try again until this week, when I came across this wonderful tutorial from Rose Rushbrooke. I tried it and it worked!

Now, the butterflies do have nice gentle curves, which I'm sure has added to the ease of the applique, so I think I've chosen the perfect pattern to practice on. I'm having success and that is keeping me working on it. :)

There is a bit of embroidery yet to be added to the blocks (antennae and lines on the body), but this project is going really fast. I'm shooting for a queen size quilt with sashing strips and maybe some posies appliqued in the border. :)