What is "style"? I think that it is the patterns and fabric colors/patterns that YOU like. There are no quilt police so there are no hard and fast ruls as to which style you should choose. Take a clue from the decorating of you house/apt to choose colors and pattern that you like. As fo machine vs hand- no hand for me- too slow!!! If is frustating and pain ful for you then do not do it and choose machine. Also remember that holder hands can develop arthrits so you may not be able to always do hand. I enjoy the piecing process not really the quilting process- but I do it anyway since sending it out to a LAQ is not in my budget. Just choose the one you like doing. As for developing skills- I am a firm believer in taking a basic quilting class form your LQS. You will learn most basic skills so you can use them as a basis doe gtrowing more skills. Choose simpler patterns to start to sharpen you skills and them start doing harder ones. Read the pattern directions and follow them. They are there for a reason and will help you make the quilt easier and also develop new skills. Just remenber that quilting is a process and you should enjoy it(not that we all do not get frustated sometimes). If you do not really like quilting then maybe it is not for you. Also I started quilting about your age and am getting really good at it after 3 yrs (you do the math for my age)) and
I really like it!!! Do not let other influence your "style " of quilting. There are many quilters out there who think that there way is the "bible" and the only way. . It is fun to think out of the box about colors and patterns but not if you will not use the finished item . chose your own "drunkard path" in life. and quilting