This happened to me when I was clipping all the new threads that showed up after I washed the quilt. It was a bardello of blues, representing water and right smack in the middle was a seam that had pulled open!!!! So, it being water and all I found a dragon fly, bound it with a backing for strenth, and appliqued the body to the quilt, leaving the wings free. Any applique that might relate to the recipient or to the theme of the quilt would do. After a couple of years I asked my neice how it was holding up (admitting what had happened) and she said "Fine". She even went to look at it and told me it was just fine. She couldn't see the problem that had been there at all.
It's a good excuse to add a personal touch!