Another hello from Kentucky.
I think your quilt is fabulous! I can't believe it's your first.
I love raw edge applique myself because I'm too lazy to turn under the edges.
When things don't go as planned, I always fudge to make it fit or just change it to make it work.
I use the term "wabi sabi folk" for what I do. (Wabi Sabi is, as I understand it, Japanese for, basically, the art of not being perfect.)