Just a little update for anyone else reading this thread! I ended up buying size 12 schmetz metallica needles - they are working well! I am using a bronze colored glitter with a dark honey colored cotton in the bobbin. That combination so far seems to be working out and I had to fiddle with tension for a bit but somewhere around 6 (which is much higher tension than I thought I'd need) I don't see either thread on either side of the fabric.
One thing to note - it doesn't seem to like it when I backtrack over other stitching. If I'm quilting on fresh new unquilted fabric its' fine, but it continually broke on me when I tried to stitch over some feathers.