You can't let other people put you down. Remember the Sticks and Stones saying?? I quilted professionally for almost 10 year and I didn't learn to stipple until more than half way thru my professional career. I still don't care for the look of a quilt with small or large stippling but that is just my opinion and I'll keep it to myself. I want to do the best that I can do for a quilt, even if it is going for a charitable cause.