I too have a project like this. I recently ordered a pattern called Earth Wind and Fire from the Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. It is a horse applique and I want to make it for may daughter. It looks way more complicated than anything I have ever done before but more than anything I want to make it for my daughter for Christmas as she was really there for me during a recent hospitalization and through my recuperation which all in all took 3 months. She loves horses and I want to show her how much I appreciated everything she did for me. I tried applique for the first time on a baby quilt (which is in with the rest of my UFO`s right now but I am hoping that by taking this one step at a time, I will be able to accomplish this pattern and I am sure that you will too. The one thing I know about applique is that patience is a virtue as eventually you will get the piece in the right spot. Good luck to you.