I love hand applique! I am finishing a black quilt with multicolored blocks appliqued down. I have had the good fortune to study under Pat Campbell, Dixie McBride, and Mary Sorensen--all good teachers, but Pat Campbell was tops. If you have access to one of her books, you can learn to make those points sharp and clean. I'll keep watching here to see what develops. Crafty Bear, with 65 posts, you hit a nerve! Looks like lots of folks would like to learn how to applique better.