help with perspective

Upon the death of her mother, my friend sorted and dispersed all of those things that fill up the corners of our lives. She passed to me a small box of fabric bits and pieces. There is a comfort in knowing the things deemed important by those we love, will in turned be used and enjoyed and she knew I loved to sew. In the box were two embroidered remnants. Two little girls in faded dresses outlined in black blanket stitching. I knew as soon as I saw them that they would go back to my friend.

I decided to make a small wall quilt or doll quilt and after pressing and squaring up the block, I bordered it generously with black fabric. My first thought, had been to add a narrow black border and a wide off white border with silhouettes of children and animals marching round the center block, but I was afraid the charm of the little girl would be overshadowed.
I also wanted to somehow say something about my friend and so I decided to applique grape vine prunings and grapes around the border. My friend now lives surrounded by vineyards.

I was pretty happy with it at this point, but of course, after stitching everything down, I suddenly realized that wool applique would have been so much better.  I could have echoed the black blanket stitch and lent a rustic air to the quilt at the same time. I would have only needed very simple quilting, perhaps a tendril pattern.
Too bad my vision didn't clear until after I had sandwiched and quilted it within an inch of it's life.
I am feeling a little dejected but in a few days, when I look at it again with new eyes, I will likely have a fresh resolve to finish it. Sometimes a little time and distance help with perspective.