If the fabric is heavy, I would use a wider seam allowance. You can use large blocks and butt them together, or you could make 4-path (or 9patch) of one material and use a different material as an alternating block. (That is one of my favorite quilts). If you are going green, you can use an old blanket (like an army blanket for batting and back it with something rustic. If it is really heavy, skip the batting and use the blanket as the backing. I would use a broad grosgrain binding. I'm a stitch in the ditch girl, and I think it would help hold it together well.
Hope that helps.