Ah, I was talking more about American traditional whole cloths. They look so "fine" and elegant with the wreaths and feathers, etc.
I don't see the Welsh quilts like that at all. And that's what I prefer about them, and the designs. Show me a whole quilt of spirals and I'm in heaven! ;-) Also, the fact that the cloths were made from these fabulous colors.
It's like the difference between the elaborately painted silk kimono in Japan from 100+ years ago and the hand woven kasuri kimono of the same era. I personally prefer the kasuri.
I think what I meant by earthy was more rustic, more of the common man, more utilitarian. Not so fancy.
I gotta pull out that book again and make something. ;-)