I love to hand quilt- In actuality, the reverse of the design on the back of the quilt gives it a great look! I use stencils to make designs in the center of large blocks. I have found a very inexpensive place to order these:
http://quiltingstencils.com/viewallblocks.aspx You can also find them in your fabric stores, but not the large selection available on line. I use the Americana thread that is available in Joanne's for 99 cents. I tried many of the more "designer" threads and was not happy with them. I also run the thread through Thread Heaven which is a thread conditioner. Enjoy the process!! I find it very relaxing