I agree Judy. One more thing to learn would make my little brain explode. And that would be very messy, indeed.

Eewww, duck pate comes to mind - please don't do that Ducky.

Kathy, don't hold out on us, we need pics!

I have loads of them now - does anyone feel the need to try practising a scroll yet? I am still not sure if you want to see finished blocks yet, or what, because of the start date being so far away, but I am keeping them all ready for when we do start. I have been putting some of them on my PDA if you want sneak peeks at them.

No plans on that in the near future.

Lesley, I believe you are doing your scrolls by hand. How many strands of floss are you using? I am working on a scroll right now. I bought a bunch of different floss and tried the variegated ones and didn't like any of them. So now I'm working with a really pale yellow and think that will work pretty good for me. I tried a metallic thread and didn't like working with it and didn't like the feel of it on the fabric.

I'm going searching for your pictures. I want to see what you've done.

Ah, I am doing the hand embroidery with two strands of DMC stranded embroidery floss, shade 742, but the scrolls I meant was the applique scrolls, as that is the third main shape you will need to practice for this quilt if you haven't had much experience, but want to needleturn.

For lists of where my pics are for this quilt, click on my blue name above my avatar, and scroll down right to the bottom. I hope I have managed to list where to find them all, but I might have missed off one or two.

Lesley, I was wondering, while using DMC floss, if a strand of blending filament would add a bit of sheen to it.

My book is on its way from Amazon ....I need another project like a HIH [hole in head] but.... lookin forward to it!!
Lesley - I have to ask if you know any Sheridans up there? My dear dear friend 'Uncle Father John V. Sheridan' just passed here a few months ago. I could swear he said his family came from area where Yeats was - I know he was a terrific Yeats fan as was Mary Campbell. Names sound familiar??

btw - I see many of you referring by 1st name - mine's Monica

what is blending filament??

Actually, it's a pain in the tail feathers, but it adds a different look. For example, I am working on a counted cross stitch garden fairy, and most of her wing area is Kreinik blending filament, which makes it look iridescent.

This is what Kreinik says about it:

Use Kreinik Blending Filament, by itself or combined with other yarns, to create random highlighting effect in all hand embroidery like cross stitch and needlepoint, plus machine embroidery, crochet, and knitting. Available on 50 meter (55 yard) spools.

I expect it would Ducky - or perhaps you could substitute Rayon instead? I know that mine don't have a shine or twinkle to them, but the colour seems to do the trick for me.

I tried paler yellows, but settled on quite strong gold colour (742) Another one that is very similar is 972 (both DMC, for Anchor equivalent, you would have to find a comparison chart). I am happy with my blocks this way, and I haven't had any problems with thread shredding, or difficulties with threading the needle, plus I know that it has lasting qualities.