Finally back to sewing

I finally got back into the sewing room tonight. We just had our downstairs bathroom ( our main bathroom), totally gutted and redone. I have to say, the guys did a great job. They got it done in 9 days (well, my vanity isn't in, but that isn't their fault..still waiting on it to come in). Now, that might not sound so hot, but you have to understand my house is no ordinary house. The structure is from the late 1800's. Half of it was a stable, the other half was an apple drying house. It is made out of poured concrete and has every huge rock in the area imbedded in it. My walls are all 1 1/2 to 2 feet thick. Hub's grandparents converted into a house back in the 40's. EVERYTHING that gets done to it takes twice the normal time and energy. So, these guys get huge kudos from me for doing it so fast...and so wonderfully. Anywho, the reason I brought this up is that you know what happens when you work on your house...dust....TONS of dust...especially when they have to cut into concrete walls. I have done nothing but dust the past few days, and I think I finally got it under control. I have also had a ton of canning to do and I am hosting a wedding shower for my niece here at my house this Sunday. So, little time to play!!
Tonight, though, I did get most of the Trees of Life wallhanging top done. Now I have to applique some designs on it. This terrifies me! I do NOT applique. That was one of my goals for the new year, though. I don't know how to applique and I really love this wallhanging so I hope I don't mess it up. That's the beauty of the internet, though. I am sure I can find some nice tutorials out there to help me out. In the meantime, feel free to leave me any and all tips or sites that will help me out with this...PLEASE!
Here is a pic of the wallhanging without applique:





Before I get to the applique, I have one project that I have to do. Way back in April, I posted about 2 quilt tops that my sister in gave me that she found when she was cleaning out her father in laws house after he passed away. They were made by his second wife. She did a beautiful job hand piecing them. She told me to finish them and I could keep them or gift them out. I just decided on something better...I am going to quilt the white top and give it to my niece at her shower...from her Grandpa and Grandma. She is a sentimental girl and this is going to mean the world to her. So, that is my next project. Will post pics!!

Hmmm...the fabric that is on the outside of this top has more print and texture in real life than it shows here. I am not sure I like the distinction between the two background prints, though. The applique might help that, but I am not sure. Maybe I should remove the outside fabric and replace it with the one from the tree blocks so they are all the same. What do you think?