Thank you so much for a reply, I thought for a minute I had mis-spoke, no one responded!

I got antsy to start, so I "bit the bullet" and hand appliqued two blocks, I enjoyed it so much, I did another two!

I am still considering the machine applique, as this quilt will be a mish mash of various techniques.
I did recall though how much I like hand work. I use silk thread and a modified freezer template idea.
I ironed the freezer paper shape (without seam allowance) onto wrong side of fabric, cut out, with seam allowance and used my tweezers to hold the edges in place as I ironed the seam allowances to wrong side. After pressing the daylights out of it, I pulled the freezer paper out, and pinned into place on the background fabric. This meant I didn't have to cut the backside away to get the freezer paper out.

I'm just playing around with DJ blocks, haven't completely committed to doing it yet. I did the first row minus the applique blocks because I wasn't sure how to do them. GEM, your explanation is so precise and helpful I'm going to try one today. Thank you!!!

If it can be useful to someone, I learned how to make applique with Ms. Erin Russek starch method. You can find her full Tutorial at this link:
http://erinrussek.typepad.com/photos...ial/index.html
A hug to all and good Sunday!

Here are the blocks I've finished in the last 9 months. I'm doing an 1800's Jane and a Batik Jane. Let me explain. I started A-10 last May but had huge summer issues and didn't finish them. So I wanted to start fresh with the 2014 group. I finished A-10s and B-8s since last weekend when I visited my daughter at college. A-10 has machine piecing, needle turned center and I appliquéd the outside piece to the center. B-8 is pp with appliqué melons.

I also went yesterday to a DJ class in Celeste Texas at Quilt Emporium. A new friend from this Quilt Board met me there. I learned needle turn appliqué and finished both C-9s. Then I did the instructors method of appliqué on my Batik B3 and B2.

I hope I'm on a roll. I really want to finish both my DJs. I'm probably going to drop out of the Batik Jane BoM. I'm getting tooooooo many duplicates. I have six of some prints now and I've only received a third of my BoM. Also yesterday at the DJ class the instructor looked at the batiks I had and said. True Batiks have wax stamping? All the batiks the store has sent are from a dyed line. What do I know about Batiks???

So anyway. Here are my finishes. I'm super happy!!!! I thank all you ladies here for all the great inspiration!

Sheri, those are beautiful. And thanks for the heads up on batiks, something I did not know. :)

Still lurking here, learning as I read. I will not have a problem with my DJ batik BOM with Quilting on the Square sending me monthly shipments and I love their choices they have sent me...unfortunately, none are done yet...but have plans to do several this month. I love the blocks I see and they inspire me to start up on mine...as soon as time permits.

Glad it was helpful.

I looked at this link, as the idea of using starch sounds interesting, but all I saw at the link were a bunch of pictures?

About a year ago someone asked me to show how I needle-turned my points. I posted a tutorial at that time within this thread which you will find around post #2190-2197. One of the first posts also has a couple of links listed to other you-tube tutorials.

I have used freezer paper and I have made laminated templates, put my cut fabric to applique on top and run my fingernail over the edge of the template underneath to crease the fabric in the right spot. I've used several starch methods and have found them too time consuming although you do get more precision, but you also sacrifice soft curves and get a result that sometimes seems too flat to me. It is all a matter of preference though and more than anything it takes practice practice practice! You have to find what works for you and more than likely will eventually do what I do - come up with your own way which is a combination of other approaches.
Gus

I probably should contact PatriceJ to have her ok to set up the new thread... and maybe see if the tute can be transferred???

btw- for anyone not familiar with how to find a post number - divide the post number by the number of posts you have per page [you can find/change this in your general settings] and go to that page number.

Thanks for the info re how to find a post, and also about the earlier tutes. I'm just getting started on DJ - a little late to the party!
I am not likely to do the starch process if it's really fiddlely!
GEMRM