Thanks Prism99 and peckish, I think I will do the blocks for the background, after reading all the info on appliqué it sound like I would be looking for a lot of trouble if I did try to work with a large piece of fabric.
I haven't done very much appliqué so I am a beginner. Thanks for tell me about starching real heavily.. It will take me a while before I get to that part, as I want to make a king size quilt..Thanks everyone..