I don't have the answer you are looking for, Kiwiquilter... but I will say that if my daughter spent that kind of time on what sounds like a beautiful quilt, I wouldn't mind a few runny colors one bit! I'm serious... not meaning to sound trite... I can only imagine your feelings! But, then, I'm a very global thinker... I can still hear my mother saying, "Oh, don't worry about that... a man goin' by on horseback won't notice."