Boo,
Thank you for your kind words. Reflecting, I seem too wordy so please excuse.
Look at the response to Norah regarding the circles and leaves. If you are having trouble with outside curves, your seam allowance may be too wide. Trim it down a bit. Also, carefully slash toward into the seam allowance (like in dressmaking). Not too deep here. This will allow the edge to relax the fabric to make the curve.
One of the methods Karen Kay Buckley taught us was to draw the desired shape with a pigma pen. Yes, a pigma pen, onto the right side of the fabric and then turn on this line. Stroke and stroke until the edge lays flat.
Let me know ho this works.
Suzanne