Thanks everyone. I have been thinking on this one for so long, that I just could not decide if my idea was great or totally crazy. I think I will look for a tone on tone for the white and perhaps a slightly mottled black or very dark charcoal for the black.
I found a great book called 60 Pieced Quilt Borders by Judy Laquidara and I am hoping to make the border as unique as the quilt. I had hoped to get this finished and to the LAQ so that I could present the finished product to DH at Christmas. Don't think I will quite make that deadline but maybe Valentine's day would be better anyway.