I would look at Modern Quilts - there are so many different patterns - I am sure you will find something that works.

i agree w otis. traditional quilts or even fairly modern quilts like chinese coins made w lots of flowers and prints etc etc are "busy". the younger generation seems to really tend toward the strong graphics and colors of designers like weeks randle. here is a search page for modern quilts. i prefer the cleaner faster interface function of zapmeta rather than the slower process of waiting for bing or google to display images. in zapmeta, click on image and a quick drop down menu explains the image, two clicks takes you to the page image found.


http://www.zapmeta.com/?sttname=imag...t+designs+free


another good place for tutorials, patterns and pics of nice graphic unfussy modern quilts is ....


http://themodernquiltguild.wordpress...-larger-quilt/

I love this idea, it is what I do with my daughter when making her a new quilt. (She has too many but says she can never have too many!!!!) She is my best enabler!!!

What about doing a simple log cabin or something equally as simple but with solids? Maybe it's the many prints in most quilts that she doesn't care for so much. Look for some Amish quilts to show her and see if that's it.

Thank you all for your help. There are lots of good ideas. I will be checking them out tomarrow while hubby watches football.

I would get her to choose a pattern. sit down with her and do the Google searches mention above. It too love BQ2 and Warm Wishes. Going to eventually do a twist using an 8.5" focus blocks and leave the rest of the sashing the same.

Instead of assuming what her definition of "busy" is, ask her.
Then using that definition, find some examples that might be acceptable.

Many of the old fashioned traditional quilts could still be made as non-busy (according to my definition!!), just by choosing simplicity of colours/fabrics, and not doing them as scrappy.

Probably the most non-busy quilt would be a "whole-cloth" where it is all one fabric/colour, with just quilting. Some of those are true masterpieces!

Keep in mind, that perhaps maybe she simply does not want a quilt!
And respect her for that.

One of my favorite non-busy ones is called First Light Log Cabin. Let me see if I can find a picture. It is just different enough it may be what you are looking for?

http://www.quiltershomemag.com/conte..._pdf_51311.pdf (This pattern is missing one piece of the instruction, but, if I could figure it out, anyone could.)

Just in case this helps...I did find a picture, but you need to ignore my quilt inspector at the top. Hot Rod simply insists on being in all my quilt pictures. :)

Dina

maybe keep color changes to a minimum or do the same color but in different values. Blues and greens can be calming.

Agree, keep the color intensity down.