Thanks everyone for the advice and kindness!:thumbup:
I did put it together yesterday and went with the first version, because that was my first instinct and am quite happy with it, considering this is my first quilt I made alone (apart from the very first years ago with a class), and of course with help from my quilt-mom! It is basted and ready to go, and once I figure out how to best quilt on the Janome and what pattern to quilt it, it's on it's way.
Basted and waiting to be quilted
[ATTACH=CONFIG]8466[/ATTACH]
Backing - the green is brighter IRL
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9846[/ATTACH]