Yep, everyone's got it covered.
I hand-quilt without a hoop and same goes for hand applique. I won't explain my quilting technique as it has evolved rather strangely due to arthritis (but it works for me). When appliqueing match the thread colour to the piece you are appliqueing not the background, the tinier the stiches the better.
Don't be too hard on yourself in the beginning....like everything else practice makes perfect....so keep at it. Handwork is amazingly therapeutic, so hop in and give it a try.....don't let it become a lost art.