Hi and welcome! First off, I have to say your quilt is stunning!! How in the world did you get his face and hands to look so "real"? I am not sure I am getting your question, so forgive me if my answer doesn't help you...Can you start your notes at the piano, and then do a swirl of them up and around to the sky? Or even like a "tornado-y" shape, where you swirl them and maybe have the notes smaller at the piano and get larger as they go up to the heavens?? That way you may not get the backward look, or if they are swirling it won't matter...now I hope I am making sense. I did some searching, and here are a few links to some pics that may be of help:
http://www.lakeviewquiltersguild.org...OldNotesGo.jpg
http://www.overthekitchencounter.com...t-quilted.html
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg
Please post a pic when you do get the quilt finished...it truly is an amazing quilt, and the story behind it makes it even more special!
Regards,
Kif