I think Grandma had a natural talent for selecting fabrics that go excellent together and have plenty of contrast. They are just quiet and soothing-peaceful to her maybe? It will be beautiful when you are done and she will cherish it, coming from a special lady in her life!!

I don't quite understand why you took her to pick out HER CHOICES . . . and now you want to change the overall look of them. Seems if she wanted a "pop" or dark fabric in there, she'd have chosen one. To change anything, says you don't value her judgement. I'm sure she'll be gracious about whatever you choose to do, but if I were your gran, my feelings would be very hurt, for being "second guessed."

If she chooses the fabric, you should make it as she wants. Maybe she would prefer a calming quilt for sleep rather than one with ooomph?????

Love the colours just as they are...all you need to add is plain white. Huge value changes are definitely not necessary to make a beautiful quilt.

She picked out fabric colors and designs she liked, each piece as a whole. When used in a quilt, home decorating, clothing, it takes accessorizing to make the colors be just what the person wanted but didn't know they wanted. I would certainly add a med contrast to the mix.

You are making it as a gift for her, she picked out the fabric, paid for it, and if that is the colors she wants and she is 88 yrs old, why not give her what she wants instead of putting what you think it needs.

I use photoshop for situations like this. Here's a jpeg of options for five different colors. I like the forest green and the burgundy.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]335697[/ATTACH]

i was with her when we bought the fabrics, and we talked about maybe needing to add something or other. i told her we wouldn't worry about it right then because i hadn't even conceived of a pattern and i thought maybe i could use some of the fabrics i already had at home if i needed them.

to be honest we stopped at the fabric shop just to pick up some safety pins for another quilt i was basting. it was a very spontaneous event, and we bought what we liked and thought might work. i think she has been waiting for me to make her one, and basting yet another one at her house for someone else was one step too far! you'd have to know my gran to know why i haven't done this for her yet, but to say that growing up she had these gorgeous white chenille bedspreads that jackie o had chosen for the white house and currently sleeps under a crisp white duvet with inset eyelet lace and white satin ribbon, about as classy and clean as you can get. not so much the scrappy american quilting tradition i love and work in, though i had considered a whole cloth quilt for her a few times but my stitching is simply too slow. it would be a memorial quilt for sure if i ventured down that road.

i don't imagine she will be hurt or at all surprised to find that i have added a fabric or two. i know that all quilts don't have to be eye-poppers or striking, and i've even made two cool and cozy quilts. i guess what i was worried about was bland as opposed to warm, boring as opposed to comforting.

thanks again for your thoughts and opinions. they really helped a lot!

aileen

I think it looks like she likes green. Maybe pick a couple of darker/brighter greens to go with it? I know you'll make it work!

I like to colors. If you want to add an "oomph" color how about a pretty yellow for the little stars. I just love blue and yellow together. It's the love that's important. Good luck