I'm a new quilter and did practically all my FMQ practice on actual quilts. (I find sandwiches too boring.) I am getting better, AND I find that after I wash the quilt it always looks much better than I thought before. :)
I don't use gloves anymore, instead I grip the quilt and steer it with my forearms flat down. I also use the Supreme Slider, a teflon mat that makes sliding the quilt around so much easier on the muscles.
And yes for your future quilts... I agree with other posters above, stippling isn't the easiest FMQ out there. Anything with natural stopping points tends to be easier - for instance, loops are good for stopping where the threads cross. The hooked feathers a lot of us on here do looked scary difficult to me, but once I tried I realised they are also easier! at least for me.
I hope this helps. Keep at it and have fun! You're on the right way. :D