Bill I love your ideas, yes, I too have this project and all fabric stashed away in it's own container. I was thinking of a scrappy border myself! I may solve my own 'background fabric' problem with doing a graduated background look, first 4 months will the the darker shade, then lighter for the next 4, then the lightest for the last 4 months....so I'll be 'creative' with the background fabric issue!
Everyone, thanks for all the input!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna