I totally understand what you are saying about your friend...my dear MIL was exactly the same way about color/fabric choices. Example: she made a quilt for our son with very attractive duck panels in browns, blues, greens and grey. But she used 4" BRIGHT mustard yellow sashing strips! We all have quilts from her, and we cherish and use them because she made them with love for us, but they aren't on prominent display in our homes.