Beautiful work and it should be preserved. Your thoughts about sewing them into a nice piece for your neighbor is so sweet. If you were to place same size blocks between these pieces in a very soft pastel or lacey pale print, it would make a very nice couch piece or lap quilt. However, I would not want to use it where it is handled frequently. What about a wide bed runner. You could find out what the colors are in her spare room and make the piece into the runner to compliment her color scheme. Good luck. I can't wait to see the finished product. Another thought would be to make a centerpiece for the table using two (if you have enough) for your neighbor and her children/grandchildren.