I like your quilt--colors are great and overall it looks fine. However, I do encourage you to try to basting spray--I have used it since it first came out and love how it holds things together. (A word of caution--it doesn't take much spray to hold the fabrics together--I learned that the hard way.)
I am sure you will like the walking foot--it makes such a difference in how the fabrics stay together.
If you have a "joining" stitch on your sewing machine (It takes a stitch to the left and the next one to the right of the center) it really makes a nice finish and it is more forgiving if you get off the seam line a bit here and there. You are off to a great start. Keep up the good work. If you want to visit in more depth, feel free to send me a message.