Can't figure out what's wrong with this picture!
 

I decided to take a break from the seminole border I am working on... all the little squares were making my head spin. I fell in love with the pink and green floral and thought the arrowhead blocks would look great with it, but they don't look right and I can't figure out why. Is the white messing it up since there is none in the floral.. too much contrast, not enough contrast? Maybe I need a different block? or a block with just the pink and green? Any opinion is welcome!

Looks good to me! Very pretty fabric.

I love the contrast. It looks great.

Are these fabrics and these blocks all you have of the quilt so far? If there's more, can you post a pic?

The way these blocks are currently designed, the white is very dominant. Also the values are all mediums, little contrast is seen. Perhaps pushing the colors more to the dark, even if they are not technically "in" the floral print, and adding some very light values of the colors (very soft sweet peach, much paler green, a pale, pale blueberry/violet) might help you like the look better.

Sometimes I make a color copy of the block then color it a new way with color pencils; lay that on the quilt and see if it's better.

You have the color families of red (the coral/peach), green, and hints of blue evident. Perhaps adding a pale yellow (the 4th "primary" color) rather than white would help soften the starkness of the white.

Jan in VA

I agree with Jan...I am thinking you want to use the floral for sure...so maybe change the white in the blocks.

This is all I have so far. I started making "sample" blocks after I made an enitre quilt with fabric I "loved" and ended up not liking the quilt. Now I try things out first. Thanks .

Holy Moly, Jan! I wish I knew what you know!
Joan

I think the white is too stark.

I love the pattern of the blocks but I agree that the white is too stark. I think I would either put the pink and green together or use the floral for sashing or you could use the floral in place of the white.

I agree that the white is too stark. Maybe use an off white or a cream instead?

I like the crispnes of the white in your blocks....but agree that this is the wrong context. You've recieved some excellent advise!

I think the white in the blocks looks great, but when you add the floral pattern it does look odd. What if you added a light purple, similar to what is at the center of the flowers? You could use that instead of the white.

That's what I was thinking! Also wish I had perfect color vision - which I don't. Still, I manage.

Well, uh........how do I (should I?) respond to that?! :rolleyes::D

I've been in this field for over 30 years, during which time I've been blessed to meet, learn from, rub shoulders with some of the most well known names and skilled quilters.

I find I don't do things part way, just for fun, laid back and easy; nooooo, I have to go at them 150%, sometimes to the point of ridiculousness! It's either a passion or it's out of here for me. During the couple of times I've abandoned quilting for some other interest, I went at those with the same total immersion, and I consequently burned out. Quilting is the ONE thing I always have returned to. It feeds my soul, and because of that, I don't often do things I don't *want* to do now, because I don't want it to become a "got to". Got to's are no fun any more at my age! :rolleyes:

Really, all that to say, Thank you, Joan!

Jan in VA

My first thought was "I love the blocks!", but after reading what Jan said, I can really see a soft yellow in place of the white.

Another reason why a soft yellow might work is because there is yellow in both the peach and green. Or it would be three neighboring colors on a color wheel - orange, yellow, green.

I can kind of see the floral being used as a sashing with the white in the blocks - the blocks do look clean and crisp - but I agree with you - they don't seem quite right with that floral.

Bear
I think the blocks are blending in with the floral. Maybe you could add a small white border to each block to seperate the floral from the blocks. You need to stop the eye between the blocks and sashing. When you have the same color in any amt in both sashing and block they will appear to bleed from one to the other.

I don't think changing the white is the problem at all. I like the white. Tho you know me I would have used a small tiny print in place of the white. LOL

Jan I think I would try just changing the borders to both and making them floral then put an other colour as the joining sashing . The floral needs to move from the sashing area.

this was my first thought

I know exactly about that one!! I have enough fabric to make another quilt because I did the same thing!!

I agree, the white is too stark - I like the suggestion of a pale yellow, creamier white to soften things up.

So those two blocks don't go to 'waste' you could use a set of Crayons on that white. Some soft strokes in the colors suggested by others with gently curving shapes. Then iron the block with paper in between to soak off the wax and make into two throw pillow for accents around the room or bed. (Experiment first on you leftover white scraps of course--then those experiments go in your next scrap Q.......lol Nothing wasted.)

I agree with Jan that using a yellow in place of the white would be great. I love the combination. But I'm a pastel/medium kind of gal.

Upon first looking at the picture, my eyes went right to the white, Maybe softening up with maybe a creamy ivory or off white would work. Otherwise I like the block.
Pat

I never use stark white in a quilt...Kona Snow is my favorite...just off white enough

Well, not voting on the color issue, but love the execution in the blocks. So precise and beautiful. Whatever you end up doing, will look great.

I agree about the white. I would use the floral in the block and use both or one of the solids for the sashing and leave the white out.

Ditto here also. I am not a fan of white in my quilts. The white often creates "holes" in the design. Perhaps you could consider a mottle fabric that would soften the blocks and blend with your other fabrics.

I think the combination looks great!!!!!

As always you will have many thoughts from all of us so it just comes down to what you decide. I personally like the white.

I agree with Jan, but I can also see the blocks you have by framing them with a dark green sashing and then separating the body of the quilt from the border with the same dark green narrow (1") border.

My first thought was use the floral in place of the white. I would love to see a block this way. Love that we can learn from Jan. BrendaK

I like it!!!!!!!!

Personally I love white in a quilt although I have never used it in one - go figure??? Anyhow, I am a little confused Jan, how is white considered a medium value? I am still trying to absorb all of this.

I think they look great as is. I'm by no means an expert but, all the traditional quilts had a background of white or white was used somewhere in almost if not all of them.

I like the white I would change the floral.

This was going to be my suggestion as well, just a little ¼" flange of white around those solid colour outside block border pieces & I think it would look stunning.

Another option would be to put a lighter green in the green and lighter pink in the pink, so it looks a little more shaded as in the print.

I think the white is too stark, use a much softer pink and softer green or use the floral instead of the white.

I agree that the white is too prominent. What if you made another block to go between them or use a stronger color some where that would offset the white? Someone suggested off white. That might work. I also like the idea of the floral instead of the white. Maybe white sashing? I am new at quilting. I just started to teach myself to quilt a few months ago so take my advise w/ a grain of salt. ;)

I think the the would be great if you put a border of white around each block. That way the green and pink would float inside the blocks and the floral would tie them all together. I'm a huge fan of white though and I use it in every quilt I make.