Appliques are nice & give you about any theme you want for it. I'm getting better, but started my FMQ with meandering because it just looked like puzzle pieces to me. I sometime find a design I like, print it out the size I want for the space & either tape the copies together and pin to quilt after which I just sew right over the lines on the paper, making sure to remove the pins as I go. After a while, you can do that design without papers I find. :-) At least it gives you options...