Originally Posted by starshine
Originally Posted by oma66
I finished this lap quilt top today and when I studied it I felt disappointment. I can't put my finger on it -
I wanted to convey sunshine and flowers. I used a 9.5 in. pinwheel to show the floral fabric off, but maybe I cut it up too much.
Let me know what you think. I value your opinions.
If you were trying to convey sunshine I think it is the brown and green that give it a muted feel. If you used a brighter green and maybe a brighter color than the brown it would seem to convey sunshine. To me sunshine is brightness. That being said some times a darker contrast will make a light or bright color seem brighter. So the brown with a brighter green might be a good mix. Or keep the green and use a brighter color than the brown, like a yellow or orange, or peach- something in the warm area. Maybe using a flower print with the warmer colors in a bright hue to replace the brown in the brown pinwheel and keep the green you have to counter balance and brighten it.
I think starshine has given the reason for your disappointment. You wanted brighter and the green/brown mutes the brightness.
Personally, I like the 'muteness'...it adds to the the beauty of the quilt.
Try laying strips of the blue over the yellow border, leaving just a narrow inner strip of yellow and see if you like that better. You could also test the floral and blue in random strips for a border again covering the yellow leaving just an inner narrow yellow border.
If all else fails, send it to me. I've got a guest bedroom done in green and gold and your quilt would look beautiful draped over the bottom of the bed!!
ranger