I don't think this is a hint, but my tip would be have no fear, jump right in and do whatever catches your eye. My first quilt was a Red Hat applique and I had never even threaded a machine never mind done machine applique :) :) Then I finished it by stippling it. Probably not as good as an experienced quilter could have done but I was certainly proud of myself. That quilt still looks good to me when I see it. I gifted it to my mother.