Do you have a copy of Heirloom Machine Quilting by Harriet Hargrave? I took a class with her last month. She talked about how she uses invisible nylon thread on the top of the quilt (YLI .004) which provides the texture and doesn't leave a jarring line like a colored cotton thread would - it gives a sense of the hand quilting, though does not look like hand quilting.
She also talked a lot about batting choices in class - but I can't remember off hand which is her favorite batting for reproduction quilts. Personally, I would not use the Quilter's Dream Green - I have some and have played around with it, it will not hold shape and stretches very easily. It is nice and hot. On the other side, I wouldn't use Warm and Natural for this project either - it is great for craft items that you want to be fairly stiff - but does not have a nice drape. A cotton/wool blend might be nice.