This is just spectacular! And thank you for sharing all your info!
The feathers look like trapunto quilting - is there extra stuffing under them, or did you use a special batt to get them so puffy?
The first quilts I made were wholecloth crib blankets, about 20 years ago. They were more like comforters than quilts - certainly nothing as elegant as what you've made here. I've been looking at the stamped wholecloth kits at Heirloom Quilting - do you think that might be a good beginning project?