I'm late to the party but so happy to be here!

I just wanted to say hello to everyone and to publicly thank Perri for inviting me to be a part of this group. I walked into a fabulous quilt store, Happiness is...Quilting in McKinney, Texas, a few weeks ago and saw pieces of Vignette hanging on the wall as they were offering it as a kit. It's one of those few moments in my quilting life that I saw something I HAD to have, regardless of the cost! There is just something about it that makes me happy. I purchased the kit and the magazines and off I went with a smile on my face! The kit was lacking a few Sweet Broderie and Basics fabrics (the store had to substitute) so I diligently began became obsessed with finding the rest of them. In my Googling for the fabrics I came across this blog. I'm still waiting for a few pieces of fabric to arrive but last night I had some time so I went to work. I will tell you, it was hard to cut that first piece! I just LOVE these fabrics together. I didn't get much finished but hey, 4 blocks is a start.

I love seeing everyone's progress and love seeing the quilt made with other fabrics - beautiful! I have not embroidered for 25 years - so I definitely have to PRACTICE before I start that part. I have some newbie questions for those who are experienced Vignetters.

1. Is Pellon fusible batting the same as Parlan? I have used Pellon 987F in some quilted cosmetic bags. Is it the same thing?
2. What kind of pen do you use to trace the embroidery pattern onto the Hanky Linen? I see several different ones in my Googling. I have read a lot about the new Frixion pens. I don't think they would be the best method in my climate. What else do you use that works well?

How can this NOT make you happy?

Finally, a few finished Shoo Fly blocks. Only 58 more to go!

Better Late Than Never!

I discovered Vignette a couple months ago through PamKittyMorning, a favorite blog. I love Australian quilt magazines, so when heard this one, I knew I had to have it! Once issue one arrived in my mailbox, I drooled all over it and immediately decided to make the mystery quilt. I loved the fabrics and colors Leanne had chosen, so I found a shop that had most of the Sweet Broderie fabrics. I don't have a complete 100% match, but that's okay - the stand-in fabrics have a similar look and feel.

When all of my fabrics arrived, I wanted to start the stitching immediately and thought I would do the stitching first and then attach it to the patchwork. I realized, though, that with the batting behind the stitching panels, the seams might be bulky. Of course, I had already started stitching the bird - oh well! I rethought my plan and decided to do it the way Leanne suggested. Just last night I finished the block and now I'm ready to get started on the stitching.

Since we don't have Parlon available here in the US, I went to my local quilt store and got the thinnest batting I could find to use as the backing. I'm trying to decide if I should use a spray adhesive to attach the batting or just baste it into place with thread. I worry that the spray might gum up my needle when I do the stitching. Any thoughts?

Another concern I had was fraying around the edges of the block as I work on the stitching. I've thought about using some Fray Check around the edges to keep everything intact. Has anyone else done that? I don't want to make any mistakes on this gorgeous quilt, but the edges already show some slight fraying and I haven't even started the stitching yet!

I'm exciting to be a part of this blog! Although I'm an avid blog reader, I don't have my own blog, so this is a first for me. Many thanks to Perri for allowing me to participate!

More questions...

Hi ladies!

I started reading the instructions for cutting the fabrics

for block 1 and the table on pg.31 

says that for red strip first cut 2" strip, then cut etc...

 however in the cutting chart on pg.35

one of them reads 2½".  

I'm thinking I should follow the table on pg.31...

right?

My fabrics will be here anytime :-).

So exciting!!!

PS:  Is there a private yahoo/etc. chat room for discussing

information/questions/details of Vignette magazine?

Or asking questions here is fine?