If you want to quilt owls on the quilt, why not just turn your fabric sandwich over and outline your owls on the backing? Personally, I think the owls would get lost in the blocks of the top. This pattern would really look good done SID or X or some other straight line quilting. When the top is colorful like yours, you really don't see the quilting. I would use a light pink thread top and bobbin and I really think that would look great on both sides.