At Paducah 2014, Thelma Childers displayed her quilt "Evening Bloom". Thelma learned hand applique and finished about one block a month. The quilt was quilted on a longarm by Judi Madsen. Judi use many designs to enhance the applique.
Be sure to move all around the quilt to see the different styles of quilting. Will some of these approaches work for your quilt?