Hi. I usually applique before sandwiching and quilt afterwards. Sometimes the applique requires a little quilting too. Either way is right, depending on your personal choices and the project.

I do both..which ever works best with the project. You're right about the fusible.

I thought the same as you Barbie but I've seen it done afterwards very successfully. Perhaps if you are fusing applique on then it may dip into the quilted lines.
I quilt the background after the applique which does mean a lot of stopping and starting and you need to concentrate to get continuity of lines across the quilt if you are doing things like floating waves across the sky passing behind branches.
Of course I have to try doing it afterwards now you've brought the topic up

I think some people do the quilting before adding the applique, while others add the applique before doing the quilting. I, personally, have always applied the applique to the quilt top before creating the sandwich and doing the quilting. Sue Bleiweiss, however, sandwiches the backing, batting and background fabric and does the background quilting, then fuses on the appliques and uses the quilting to hold them down. With this technique, as you mention, you will see the applique quilting overlapping the background quilting on the back. I don't think Sue worries about this and she does win awards. I think you can do it whichever way appeals to you.

When I see all the beautifully quilted designs in the background, have they been quilted first, then appliques attached after. If this is the case, how do you attach applique without it showing on the back of the quilt.