Is it your stitching that you're not happy with or the quilting design you've chosen that you're not happy with? Your stitching is definitely getting better! That just takes practice as you've seen. Sometimes it's really difficult to pick a quilting design. In my opinion, especially with a quilt like yours. If you want the quilt itself to do all the 'talking' I'd probably do as you're doing, using the same color thread as each piece that you're quilting. That way the quilting itself is not as noticeable. If you want the quilting to be more noticeable maybe a more meandering, all-over design in a somewhat neutral color. I'm having the same issue with a similar quilt. It's a pp'd New York Beauty block. It's been a WIP for a couple of years now because I can't figure out how I want to quilt it! To say nothing of the bazillion seams in that thing.