stop showing them a block!!! what seems busy in a block (because it's a small area with a lot going on) may not be so busy as a whole quilt, you can have busy blocks with a solid, or marbled sashing/border pulling it together that does not look busy at all. i have people who do not like (busy) at all...i have never had a person not like the finished quilt. you really can not get a true idea how a quilt will look by just a block (unless you are making and exact copy of a quilt...like a kit)