Contrast makes life interesting.
Your quilts may have been more subdued, but if they are appropriate for who/what you made them for - that is more imprtant than having the one with the most pop.
You put something in a show - I think that is brave - especially if this was your first show.
Now that you've looked at the other quilts - did/do like them well enogh to make something similar?
Or are you okay with what you have been doing?