I tend to agree with the OP. - not 100%, but it does seem that way.
But the same is with sewing patterns--"fast and easy" is the way to go. The same with cooking, "done in a flash"--"spend 10 min. or less in the kitchen and have dinner on the table (slight exaggeration)."
But what can we expect? I've seen bloggers who had never sewn until there years ago and now they are selling quilt patterns with a blog of their own. Theirs aren't going to be the technically proficient patterns out there--it just isn't possible. Some skills take years to learn--not 1-2 from start to complete proficiency.
It seems like that it is often the case that modern quilters go with "minimalist" designs--translating into "easy peasy", quick, and not high proficiency required.
I think it is a shame that more of our 60 year old+ highly skilled quilters don't have more computer skills. We could benefit from their blogs. Sigh. Instead we have more quilts with lots of white with bright colors quilts (which I also like, but are quite easy to make).
It's like seeing minimalists homes (as seen in magazines)--they have the feel of an office or a hotel--not a home. Lately they've remodeled our McDonalds and taken away any "warmth" in it--it now feels all plastic chairs and stainless steel--and not a place you actually want to stay--which may be their point, I realize.
But I don't consider 3-D, geometrics, or labyrynths, or like the one that racerh posted so "modern". I love those--and I know that designs like that are not easy--either colorwise, or skill wise.
I wish that more people like Polly at
http://threemennonitequiltingsisters...ys-quilts.html
would do blogs and show us their work and sell patterns! That is an amazing quilt!
But in the end, if modern quilters will buy fabric, keep the quilt shops alive and fabric manufacturers in business, we'll all be better off. And as, they mature in their skills, they will also mature in what they post on their blogs. So, we all benefit.
But I still can't quite wrap my mind around one I read that really looked just like quilt backs I make--literally, there was no design, but the blogger was quite happy with her quilt and her new direction.
But really, to call zigzags, chevron strips, polka dots, new, is beyond crazy. These are not "new"--they may be "popular again" but they aren't new.