Okay why is it a swoon quilt? Just looks like big stars to me.

I can't really explain the name of the pattern Dotty. It is easy to fall in love with it tho, while making it, especially the way color plays with it. I didn't use FQ's making mine - I used stash yardage. It's got 9 blocks in the basic top (if you make it according to the pattern) and is 80x80...big blocks, they have a pretty awesome visual impact. And I think more so big than smaller.

I'm hoping someone in my family falls in love with this quilt and wants it - that would be awesome.

Modern seems to be the trend right now and as mentioned they are usually easy to piece and quilting is usually kept simple. Have seen beautiful and not so IMO.
An easy to do but looks hard quilt is the Disappearing Nine Patch-Next Generation by Lyn Brown. Discussion and pictures were here on QB a few days ago.

I totally agree with dunster. Go with something from your heart, either from a pattern or a design of your own. Doing so is the best way to represent who you are, and usually brings great pleasure to the creative process. :)

Since you seem to be swamped at work, your quilting should be something that you enjoy 150% or you won't have fun doing it and you NEED to have fun. So spend a little extra time on the Internet and find something that speaks to you. I know you want to do something that might WOW everyone at the show but I think you can WOW them and have fun at the same time.

Personally, if I had the skills to do anytihng, I would go for modern and bright but that's what I like. I also like to see a nice combination of things.

I have shopped at Water Wheel Quilt store several times. Lovely fabric in an old farmhouse. And I love Grace, the golden retriever. It is a 4 hour drive from Rhode Island so not able to go very often, once or twice a year, the most.

So any quilt you go ohhhhhhhh over can be a swoon quilt.

Quilt idea reverse applique quilt from aus. Or cruso crosses. You can do these in individual blocks and quilt at same time before joining witha border. If you run out of time big empty block with fantastic quilting. Only pics so far of my reverse.

I agree with Dunster. Whatever jumps out at you that you really want to do. But the trend around here is Judy Niemeyer's designs. Particularly Desert Sky & the fancier DWR. They seem to be popping up at all the shows & winning ribbons.

I got a book, 1000 different blocks in various sizes, I love it for swapping blocks and making sample quilts because I never get tired of making the same block over and over. I make them all different.

Why not think outside the trends? Create what YOU want - what draws YOU to a pattern. There will be a lot of "trendy" quilts in a quilt show. After a while they all start looking the same. Bring back an old traditional, or a quilt pattern on your "bucket list" that you've always wanted to do, but never had the time to quilt. Start a new trend!