Wow, that applique quilt is totally adorable! Mine's much more basic -- just a bunch of squares and triangles -- but I'm hoping it will turn out cute.
I am using a ruler, but still seem to have some control issues. DH got me two rotary cutters for my birthday, and the cuts I made with one of them would make you think I'd been hitting the vodka (I wasn't, I swear!). I just couldn't "drive" it. I'm doing better with the second one, but things are still a little imprecise. I think maybe I just need to practice some more.
Thanks to all of you for your responses.