Lisa ~ You did a wonderful job on your bow tie. Just love your scrappy piano key boarder!!
You didn't mention how you are quilting it . . stitch in the ditch, cross hatch (x ing the whole quilt), shadow/echo (1/4 or so away from the bows), meandering (which does take some practice and then some).
Starting in the middle?? Okay that's like to wash or not to wash fabric. The BIGGEST key is to baste you quilt sandwich GOOD. If pins are used, you can use your fist as your measurer (is that a word). That puts them 3 - 4" apart. Spraying? IMHO if it is sandwich properly I start where I want.
Bringing the bobbin thread up. Take one stitch (and only one), pull your top (needle) thread towards you. Your bobbin thread will be looped over the needle thread. Pull them both to the back of you machine. Take a few small stitches in place, this will lock the threads. Start quilting, snip off thread later.
Good luck