Thank you all again for your wonderful suggestions! I knew that I would get expert suggestions from this wonderful board.
Now that I think I know how to post a picture, I will certainly keep you posted on my progress.
to answer tinker's question, I saw a wallhanging something like this somewhere on the internet, contacted the designer for the pattern, and sadly, she doesn't have one. She has a pattern for a similar wallhanging, and suggested I use it for guidance in making this one. So basically, I made up my own pattern. Believe me, it actually took me months, and several trial (and mostly error) cuts of the fabric before I finally got it right. I can probably make another one with all the "error" pieces I cut. Thank goodness I have enough material!! I way overestimated how much material I needed, and for once I am glad I did as it was hard to find.