help needed with a design dilemma please
 

I was given 9 of these blocks to use for a Linus quilt. Someone went to a lot of bother to make them so I want to make something nice with them but they look like shadows against any other color I've tried so far. All my fabrics are bright - well mostly - and yellows, ginger, green, white...all make the blocks look grey.
Any suggestions from people with a better eye for color or design would be much appreciated.:)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]343981[/ATTACH]

I would pull a green from the block, a medium value I think.

Anastasia leans towards yellow...or perhaps mauve.
These blocks, both in color and style, are as opposite to my usual style as you can get.

Yes, maybe the green I tried was too strong

QuiltinPeg do you have any suggestions for style? should I just insert plain blocks or try to mirror these in some way?

Acually my first thought was navy blue, but I think that would be too strong.

IMHO, absolutely green! with pink corner stones!

I would sash the blocks at about 1/4 of the width, kind of a lattice look. They look like the could be climbing a trellis.

Maybe a soft yellow or peach?

I like the cornerstone in pink idea.

I like the lattice idea

I was thinking use white but make snow ball blacks of same size using what looks like peach in the block as the other color in the snow ball block. Maybe using thes lights will make the blocks you were given stand out, and yet will create a secondary design making them all merge.

I'll go off and make up a few samples - thanks very much

I would sash them in a very soft creamy ivory with peach cornerstones.

I'm thinking along the same lines as Dunster. Peach or soft yellow or light pink. Try to pick up the colors in the flowers. The green would brighten the quilt. I think it would be very pretty with all soft pastels and they would accent the gray in the blocks.
Sue

I would take the blocks to a fabric store and lay them out on a fabric to see what they would look like. Don't think you only have to use a solid color, many blenders and like fabrics might look nice too. I tried to find border fabric for one of my quilts, and kept buying what I thought would look good with it. I didn't like anything until I tried the blenders with the blocks.

That's a good idea KSellers. I'll do that.

That what I'd do tho I think I'd go for a peach or other warm color that goes with the colors in the blocks. They're beautiful blocks & will make a fabulous quilt for some little person. Please post when you decide how to use these little gems.

i would use a very pretty yellow, believe it would make it pop. joyce j

I'd take the blocks to the store to find blenders to go with them. I'd keep the soft, blendy look too and I'd probably do a triple sashing with 9 patch cornerstones.

Sort of like this,

[ATTACH=CONFIG]344045[/ATTACH]

The colors are soft - but pretty.

Not all quilts have to POP POP POP!!!!

Calm and soothing is also good.

I agree with sashing... and a medium green, with perhaps blue cornerstones... they truly are pretty blocks...

I would take a block to the fabric store and hold it in front of myself and let it pick the color from a wall of bolts! I have very good luck in doing that sometimes. I think I'd lean toward the coral color, but a bit brighter than what is in the center block's flowers.

I would keep that quilt is soft, comforting colors - soft peach or very soft green - match the colors in the blocks with blenders.

The triple sashing with nine patch cornerstones quilt which was posted is gorgeous! That would look great with your blocks in soft (very light and a bit darker) colors.

I think a green pulled from any of the flower leaves or stems. And I might go with a solid, or something that reads solid. I do think a peach or pink cornerstone would be lovely.

If you use a darker color, the blocks will pop. G

I agree with HelenS. I did this recently with a baby quilt I was making. I couldn't find anything in my stash to make a sashing strip. I finally took the whole quilt top shopping and let it choose one. And I came up with a winner.

Peachy pink and a medium green pulled from the picture. I wouldn't use blue

You could even just sew the blocks together as is & then put maybe two framing boarders around them. The first one a thin border & the second much wider.

I would try a light pink, or whatever that light color is on the roses.

green set on point

Yes, like others I would use a medium green and use it as a sashing/lattice around each block, thinking that would pull it all together poping the other pastel colors, then a pink as a border/binding.

I would say a pastel: either pink or green. The cornerstone idea would be good, but definitely stay with softer colors.

[QUOTE=Suzan88;5309200]I was given 9 of these blocks to use for a Linus quilt. Someone went to a lot of bother to make them so I want to make something nice with them but they look like shadows against any other color I've tried so far. All my fabrics are bright - well mostly - and yellows, ginger, green, white...all make the blocks look grey.
Any suggestions from people with a better eye for color or design would be much appreciated.:)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]343981[/ATTACH][/QUOTE

Suzanne My thoughts would be perhaps a soft mint green or peach. Use either color and the other for a cornerstone. I would just frame each block with sashing and use both colors for the binding. What are you planning for the backing? You could make a reversible bindind, using both colors that you decide on the sashing. Reversibles are easy and quick with no mitering for corners.If you should be interested in the reversible binding pm me and I will give you directions for doing this. I learned to do this method from Sharon Pederson's "Reversible Quilts Two at a Time" I love it. I just finished the Hope's Rose Garden" quilt king size that you can view in the quilt picture section, and I used this method for the binding on her quilt. I plan to use it a lot from now on. It lays very good with the seam it has. Beautiful blocks, good luck. If you choose not to go with sashing between the blocks, and just sew them together as they are you will develop another pattern that will go with the blocks. This would really be coo, then add borders in the colors of the blocks. I am always trying to make different patterns in my quilts when I put my blocks together. I love that challenge. Gerbie

whatever you decide please post a picture so we can see......

If all else fails use a soft cream my work. I often use it as my fall back and have NEVER been disappointed. I know one should never say NEVER, but to date I have not regretted my use of cream in these kind of touchy can't decide situations.

This would be my choice. Very nice blocks!! Please show us when completed!

UI'd like a medium green.

I like the pink, peach and the light to medium green idea, to pull out the pastel colors in the blocks.