Thank you all for the warm welcome I have received!!! I look forward to chatting with you all on the various aspects of quilting and other topics that encompass our lives!!! I am happy to say that last week I was able to attend a 1 1/2 day workshop with Didi McElroy of "That Perfect Stitch" and Roxanne Thimble!!! I gained a lot of knowledge and confidence!!! Half day was devouted to hand quilting and the full-day to hand applique!!! I like that when I use a machine, I can estimate when a project will be completed -- handquilting and applique is much slower but it does seem to journalize the seconds that I have to indulge myself in striving for that perfect stitch, however, I can't determine when a piece will be completed!!!