If that bottom fabric of the 'lights' is a bit darker than the others, more a medium, I'd urge you to use it anyway, in BOTH sides of the block. YEP!

I "teach" here so often with this quilt, but here it is again to demonstrate how both sides of the block have some medium, and how cozy it looks. In this case it's the lighter blue on the 'dark' side, and the tan and the blue on the 'light' side.

Jan in VA (wish the picture were clearer)

Thank you so much, everyone, for your help. The gold for the center is more gold, less yellow and that's the one fabric the person definitely wants me to use! I wasn't sure about the bottom fabric of the lights either, but Jan, your quilt and your ideas are brilliant! I'll make some test blocks and see how the Kona solids look. I'm concerned about them playing well with others, but the colors are so yummy!!

Is the gold more muted than it looks. Looks kind of bright. Sometimes color is different when posted and computers love playing color tricks.

Log cabins are addicting to me!

I use solids and I use prints - I also like to throw in a few batiks also.. I love the traditional log cabin. I have done it in browns and it is very rich looking - I can see one polka dot, but not two- they look alike. I also know that a yellow center represents the light in the window and the red center represents the warmth of the home. I have always used red regardless of what color the block is done in. Also, I always put (when I am makiing a sampler, which is my favorite quilt of all) the Log Cabin in the center of the quilt. You can explain to the person that that is the most important block because it represents the home and that is the center of all. I have two quilts in the works and one has the Log cabin and that quilt is done in pinks and blues, yellows and greens - all pastel. It is not easy to find a dark pastel. The next quilt I do will be a Pinwheel, but the center will be the Log Cabin matching blues and tans. So, thata's what I do. I do like the choice of the yellow or red center and I think the yellow with your colors will be beautiful. Be sure and tell the person what the yellow stands for. That's what makes the quilt the quilt. I always write a little book with it and tell what each block means and how it pertains to the person I am making the quilt for. Then they feel like it is totally personalized, which it is. Edie

I think there are four "lights" in there that I would question. I made one like that, and found I didn't like the "dark lights" I had used.

The gold for centers is going to be beautiful.

Good mix..I might rethink the bottom one in the light pile...

A lot simpler method to see color "value" is to simply squint at the picture until it's all blurry. Then you can clearly see lights and darks. Yes, that bottom one looks like it might need to jump over into the darks pile, unless it's actually lighter than it photographed.

I LOVE the yellow for the centers and see nothing wrong with using solids and prints together. Love your fabrics.

I'm not sure the border will go with the others. I have a tendency to stay with same sized prints.

I think you have a good selection of light and dark fabrics and using yellow as the center square shows the light from within the home. If you want to use solids, go ahead, it's your quilt. I agree with some of the other comments that the bottom fabric in the lights might be too dark, however, I would go ahead and make a block and see how it looks in the block. You do have a great selection of dark fabrics.