• simple strip piecing
• rough-edge applique
• fixing using iron-on fabric adhesive.

My fabric stash consists of as wide a range of colours as I can accumulate, with my preference being for richly-coloured, non-solid, finely-patterned cottons. I do not usually need to use many pieces of the same fabric in any one design - so a quarter yard of fabric will last for a long, long time. I am also fortunate in that I am often given 'remnants' by other quilters: if it is bigger than a postage stamp - I can probably use it!

Strip Piecing
I do all my sewing on an antique Singer treadle machine. When people visit my workroom they are sometimes surprised to see the old black Singer - the kind that every family seems to have either gathering dust in the attic or being decorative in a hallway. I have sometimes considered getting a new, "intelligent" machine but I enjoy the simplicity and limitations of the Singer: it goes forward ..... and that's it! As with the applique, I very rarely use pieces wider than three-quarters of an inch wide (18mm) apart from on borders.

Applique
The fabric pieces I use for applique are seldom bigger than three-quarters of an inch square (18mm) and I do not try to hide the edges of the pieces as I like the extra texture that the lightly frayed edges give and, as my work is made to be framed, I have no reason to worry about it fraying too much due to handling. I usually use transparent thread for applique with metallic thread for outlines or highlights.

Adhesive
When using iron-on fabric adhesive I don't sew the pieces down - the adhesive is enough. I sometimes use the sewing machine to quilt over the glued pieces or to outline parts of the work. I do get a little carried away using this technique - the pieces of fabric get smaller, and smaller until I have to use tweezers to pick up and position them.