Please help with choices
 

My aunt [in-law actually] is 89 and no longer quilts or embroiders. She gave me a box of partially finished redwork for my DGD's baby quilt. In the box, I found this antique friendship block. I think the names may have been friends of her mother. The background is paper-thin linen. The embroidery stitching looks like it used to be green and has faded. The entire block seemed washed out and hard to see. I decided to quilt the background with beige to make the leaves stand out. That part seemed to work. I'm thinking, though, that I might outline a single line of dark green along the embroidery to make that stand out. I'm really on the fence about that. If not green, it probably needs the beige outline as the quilting makes the leaves and stems pucker out. My second dilemma is the binding. I pinned the backing around to show the color of that. I think that would be a good binding color, but not sure. I swore to only use my stash and prefer brown binding, but have none of the right color in my stash. All opinions gratefully accepted. TIA
ps, this is the WIP with the mitered border fabric, my first miters. The pattern is perfect for my aunt as she always had a beautiful English garden.

i think either green or beige would work great, just whatever your opinion is when you see the beauty of it through your eyes. i like the binding you have chosen, it goes perfect with some of the little flowers and gives it the perfect frame. what a fantastic find! the names on it are priceless, and you will treasure this always!! please post a pic when it's finally all compeleted, i'd love to see it!

I really like the binding you have pinned on. Great shade of green.

I too like the green you have pinned on.

It looks great just the way it is, at least in the picture.

I also believe you should place the green on the quilt just the way you have it in the pic. Please post when your finished. I'm sure your aunt-in-law will be happy that you finished this quilt for her. :-) :-D

I like the red binding next to the green. The border fabric is lovely. You aunt will appreciate this so much.

Beautiful

no red border. Looks good the way it is without the red.

What a find!

thanks to everyone

That is such a treasure and beautiful too.
Mary

Lovely as it is. Just beautiful.

Could you ask Aunt In-Law more about the names? Dates and places? Putting that somewhere on this would really allow that to be a real heirloom.

As for it being paper thin and delicate, perhaps you could put some thin backing on it to stabilize it.

If my opinion is of any importance. I would use the green you pinned on to show the contrast. I thought it brought out the green on the leaves. Accented the flowers.
But not everyone is comfortable with green. Choose a color you will enjoy looking at. As it will be there always once completed.
I liked what you have already done with it so far.
Please show pictures when you have it completed.

This is just beautiful. I would not embellish any more -- it is great right now. Your aunt will just love it.

thanks to all...