by Sandra | April 17th, 2012
OK my faithful friends, I need your help.
I want those of you working on this Naturalist’s Notebook Applique “Mystery” Quilt to finish! I feel it is my responsibility is to provide you with a challenge (especially the advanced appliquers) and yet not frustrate you to the point of giving up.
I DO NOT WANT YOU TO GIVE UP! This quilt is going to be stunning when finished and you will be so proud of your accomplishment.
However, as I work on the rosebuds I am seriously concerned that they might create just this type of situation. I won’t lie, the sepals of the rosebuds are very small and will test your angelic patience to the point of breaking.
You can judge the scale of the pieces by comparing them to the small applique pins in the picture below.
Not everyone uses the freezer paper templates, I can’t just create a simpler substitute version to include in the template pack along with the original templates–follow?
So here are my brain storming ideas….
1) Simplify all of the rosebuds even though they will be different from my sample.
2) Create *two* pattern choices. Pattern A will be simplified rosebuds and Pattern B will be this more difficult advanced version.
3) Quilt worrying and just get on with it as is.
Any other ideas? Or am I over thinking this?
UPDATE:
You have spoken loudly and I hear you. You want big girl applique challenges and that is what I will deliver to you. I am beyond impressed that so many of you want a challenge even if it means you might struggle a bit in the beginning. I am also really pleased that you also are willing to change things up a bit if needed to suit you. Hurray for you!!!!! <applause>.
If you simplify them it would not be a Sandra Leichner pattern in my opinion. Anyone could choose to make them 1 piece couldn’t they?
love your work.
Sandra,
My opinion is just get on with it. We adore your quilts because of the artistic touch and I feel that if it is’nt up to everyone’s abilities then thy can decide how to tackle the situation. Many may try for embroidery or to try freezer paper applique. I love stretching my skills if it does’nt work after the third try. I just do the best of my ability and I live with it.
Love this series so much just waiting to get through my daughters wedding in May and then my time will once again be my own. This is the first thing on my list. I agree it will be beautiful!
I agree just get on with it, I am definitely not advanced but would not want a simplified pattern. I love your patterns and will plod through even if it is difficult
I encourage my students to change a pattern if they find something is beyond their abilities. Not to shy away from it, but if it is too difficult design it so they can continue on. They are often surprised by their own abilities to redesing/redraw a particular piece. I say leave it as you have created it!
I agree with just get on with it. Anyone finding it too difficult will probably simplify it themselves. I will enjoy the challenge of trying to better my skills.
Sandra, please do not change the way you do things. This is the reason I want to make this beautiful creation because it is not the same old applique you can find anywhere on the net. I love to stretch and learn new things and you work is tops.
What is up with this? The reason we, the faithful, love your patterns is because they make us think a bit. You are sounding more like me than yourself. I am the queen of the universe named indecision and am not about to move over to let you sit in that chair. Did you worry about the blackberries, the bumble bee or bird legs?? You just stepped us through it and held our invisible hand while we waded in with you. Love you honey. Holding my breath till you finish this one.
t
I think that your patterns are advanced applique. I would just hang in there.Test out one sepal on a test piece until you have it down then transfer your new skill to Sandra’s pattern. I love that you push the envelope and stretch our skills. ove your work.
I vote for #2 or #3, If I could take a class w/ you I’d have a better chance of success, w/ the harder applique, but want the opportunity to try. I love your art. It’s the biggest reason I check in each day! The difficulty is part of the “I DID IT” factor. Thanks for what you do.
I agree with Deb, give us a challenge and we’re “big girls” – we can deal with it. I would imagine that most of us are used to adapting our skills to produce the best applique we can. We need things to strive for! Carry on!
Your instructions are always clear and I learn so much from them. Just do your magic and it will help us all do better!
I will repeat the blog update here for those of you who check back on the comments:
You have spoken loudly and I hear you. You want big girl applique challenges and that is what I will deliver to you. I am beyond impressed that so many of you want a challenge even if it means you might struggle a bit in the beginning. I am also really pleased that you also are willing to change things up a bit if needed to suit you. Hurray for you!!!!!.
It really is music to my ears to hear a number of people say they want it “harder” not “simplified”. happy sigh.
Dear Sandra
Wihtout the dime next to the buds it is a little hard for me to realize just how small it is.
However, the whole point is to learn somehting new. You once gave us a lesson on adding on a small piece to a second fabric before cutting the second fabric ( I believe it was for a leaf – maybe from Jason’s quilt) and this bud would give practice for that. Whoever feels they cannot tackle it could by themselves combine the small piece as one piece and work on that.
But I agree with the majority that the whole point is to progress and learn new things.
Ha. I noticed you stopped to think about all this (and take that picture) right at the tip of a “super-model point.”
It’s funny to me how getting through those points can make you pause to consider life in general. [rolling eyes] But getting through ‘em only happens when we get to practice them…the hard way.
Kewl.
I say keep the original version … don’t mess with perfection! a little challenge never hurt anyone.
Sorry I’m late chiming in but I’m all for the challenge. Those elements are what make your quilts so special, Sandra. I also think I figured out how you can pin so many overlapping pieces at once. Looks like the middle sepal is folded over and pinned out of the way so you can do the one at the edge. Very clever. I’ll have to give that a try. Thanks for all your wonderful talent and generosity.
Miss Gini
I am late to the party I know, but my vote is for the challenge of your advanced patterns, please don’t simplify.
I see you have made a decision, but I’d like to say I think you mde the right one. I choose to work on your patterns to challenge myself. If I find something too hard for me to achieve, I challenge myself then to come up with a “work-around” resolution. this I feel is part of advancing as an appliquer.
Thanks as always for your beautiful work!
It looks like everyone else felt the same as I did.
~a
Kathleen, well said and stated. One of the things I try to get across is that, there are ALWAYS many ways to innovate for resolutions that work for YOU. As you said brilliantly in a few words,
No one appliques exactly like another. We succeed by combining a variety of techniques to come up with our own custom mutt method. As long as you throw yourself a challenge in every project, you will progress and refine your work. It does not involve magic, more time than another, obsessive compulsive personality, etc., but rather, a little bit at a time, a challenge to your skill, patience, a willingness to throw out what does not work and keep what does, etc.,
Only that will create success rather than excuses
Karen, well said with your usual sense of humor and good sense.
Sara, Yeah!
Just get on with it! Your patterns are for advanced applique — beginners or intermediates will just have to put in the time and patience required to get the superior results your design was meant for! You should not feel any pressure to dummy-down your designs for anyone!