Thanks everyone :-) The encouragement gives me more incentive to keep going and get it done. I'm also trying to quickly finish up another quilt that has been hanging around for a long time. It makes me feel guilty to work on another one when the first one is sitting there... starting at me... accusingly. Just one block to sew (by hand) and I have parts of the border cut out. Sounds simple but there are 32 1" wide pieces, 12 6" wide pieces, and then the final border has mitered and mirrored fabric pattern corners.
I am looking at applique products. I haven't done a ton of it, not small pieces, though I have done things like applique Dresden Plates onto background squares. I've read articles and chosen a very light weight fusible. I like the idea of that rather than other techniques like needle turn and freezer paper. I'm anxious to do something towards it like printing the exact shapes but I'll wait until the top is together. I won't know what size I want the leaves and flowers until I see it in person.
I did see one Dahlia here that was really nice.