Dilemma
 

My best friend got married back in December and her husband made this backdrop to go behind them when they said their vows:
http://rarelypins.com/2013/02/diy-we...s/#rssowlmlink
It is her second marriage and she has 3 kids, he has 2 and they have blended their family.

It has basically a love letter to her written on it. My problem is that she has asked me to make "something" out of it for her. I don't want to lose much of the writing. She wants a couple of pillows, and I thought I could make one with a pic of her and her husband and one with a pic of them and all the kids, and use the written part for the backing (her cousin was her photographer, so I have access to any of the pics I want). But that still leaves a LOT of this backdrop unused. I'm at a loss. I'd like to make a lap quilt of what's left, and she isn't as worried about losing words as I am, LOL, but still, it would be nice to have as much as I can visible in the quilt. Any ideas of patterns? Colors? The fabric was a good quality white muslin and black Sharpie permanent marker. All I come up with is snowball pattern, but that's not really getting me excited. :-/ Suggestions gladly accepted. TIA

The first pattern that comes to mind ~ Warm Wishes ~ http://www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/d...html?idx=5185_
Another one that comes to mind ~ Just Can't Cut It ~ http://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/detail/6432

I wouldn't want to cut it up too much either...I think I'd use a big portion as a center panel and maybe do blocks around it fo front and back, this will be an interesting project...keep us up dated, I for one would love to see the results!!!!

How about using the what is left over from the backing, to cut out specific words and piece them into pillow or throw in a more modern or freeform pattern with/without some pictures. Maybe choose the colors they used in their wedding as a starting point.

Attic window

Is there enough to make a bedrunner and some small accent pillows? Maybe use the fabric in one piece and applique on it.

I'd make it a whole cloth! What a beautiful momento. Please show us what you end up doing!

1. A set of pretty bed pillows out of the original, and
2. Is there some way that the writing can be computerized and reduced to embroider it onto a regular size quilt?

I may be way off base...I just figure with all the technology...they can put photographs on cakes...they must be able to digitize something like this so it can be replicated in embroidery...???

I think I would sew the two "pages" together left side, right side like a book, and make it the back of a large quilt, with additional fabric if needed to fill it to the right size. make your pics on the front with lovely colors and any pattern your heart desires. Oh, an I like the idea of photo copying, or having him re write the whole thing on paper (bet he has the original text somewhere) and doing machine embroidery (or even hand tracing embroidery if you have the patients).

Definitely a whole cloth using half of it as the front and the other the backing. What a beautiful keepsake!
There is no way that I could cut that up.

I would use the whole back drop -- minus the part on the floor, Add borders in blacks and grays, then hand tie so that
the words can still be clear. Please show us what you end up doing! Kathy

I don't think I would or could cut it up. No pillows for sure. I would find the spot closest to the length of a lap quilt that is in between the writing and make one cut across the piece. Or near where a phrase or sentence ends (or not). I would put the beginning part of the letter on the front of a quilt top made around it and put the other piece on the back. By adding borders and pieced blocks around it you can build the top and back to be the same size. The letter would not be lost to separation. I think this is an absolutely wonderful way to say I love you. peace

Great idea. The only drawback I see is the Sharpie markers. On my package it says: Not for use on fabric. I wonder how it would hold up in the wash?

I would cut out some of the words and make a modern quilt. I know that some folks say, don't cut it. But if she keeps that huge roll it will just end up stuffed in the attic or basement somewhere, possibly get ruined, and she never really got to enjoy it. So if she is OK with cutting it, go for it. Then she will see it every day and be reminded of the special day.
I hope that she has some sort of copy of the whole thing, would be really cool to have a sort of scroll she could hang.

Thanks, everyone! You've given me some great suggestions. :-)

I agree with Jennie and me. Whole cloth half on front and half on back. Border could be blocks made with wedding colors and maybe some reproduced photos from wedding. What a treasure.

What a beautiful backdrop to have as a memory of the wedding day! If it's not possible to just keep it as is and add borders that coordinate with their colours, then I would do an Attic Windows with some romantic dark floral batiks as the outer border. Definitely keep us posted.

I agree with Linda 8450 and ube quilting, I would not cut it. I would use it for backing if necessary. You could make a quilt that needs 2 or 3 widths and use it for the backing. It would be a shame to loose the thoughts and words. I personally would want to keep them. If it can't be washed, it can be a wall hanging that covers almost a whole wall. Just thinking.
Sue

I would love to see a big hunk of it used as sort of a "cheater quilt"....uncut. Quilt over the words in a blending fabric either the same words or trace the words. I think that would be beautiful! Wouldn't that be lovely on a bed all quilted up with the pillows you spoke of being maybe, black and white photos of the couple or their family? you could do an accent border with a little color in it too or maybe put a print on the backing.

The link isn't working for me but I would think using it as the back of a quilt would be great - then do the front in whatever pattern and colors you think appropriate.