I am in the middle of this project and it is not quite as I expected!
This was a mystery quilt project and I absolutely love the colours I chose which are a cream with light purple, a pattern and two lovely purple fabrics one light and one dark.
The sections have been going together very well but as it was a very complicated design I got a bit behind so a lot of mine is not yet sewn together into the larger blocks which are then set on point. I am grateful for this! I have just seen the final project and all I can see are.............................. I will leave you to decide!
Now my question is how do I go about working out a new design with the fabrics as they are all cut and some put together? I cannot afford to just 'file' it away as a ufo as the fabrics cost me over $100 canadian! I love the ribbon border but the rest is ........just a bit spooky! lol
Any suggestions on where to start will be most appreciated!

Spooky...lol! I have no advice for you, just wanted to say I see what you mean!

Sorry, all I see are stars. It's a very unique design as is.

I see what you mean as well. Looks like little aliens. If I understand you correctly, you have made the blocks but not pieced them together yet. Place them all on a table, design wall, whatever you have and start turning a few of the blocks around. Rhonda has a great tutorial on turning blocks and you can see how many different looks you get with the same blocks and just turning them around. The ribbon border is great and I am sure you can make this work.

Good advice.

You might cut or fold some of the darker fabrics in circles, squares, etc and place over some portions of the blocks you don't like and applique them.

they are space clowns wearing thier rulers spare crowns. but I love it.

LOL if you look at just the pointy row of blocks look at the single green square it looks like a lady sitting with a cone bra on! I love the border but see what you mean I would try turning that row of blocks in different ways for a different look too.

All I noticed was the fabulous ribbon border until you all got me looking at it again and again! LOL :D
Really nice, though!!!!!!!

I see Gremlins...I think its cute!

How about applique something on to it like flowers or something to tame it down a bit. It is a weird design. I like weird but I can really see what you are saying there. I would almost take it apart and rearrange it before you did anything else. I suspect that if you separated it in to 3 sections and added some more of the background or more of the ribbons, it would be totally different...

i think i would finish the blocks and then law it all out. Color can really play with your head sometimes. I see the little aliens but it may just be because it's green. Little green men and all. You may be surprised at how different the purple's will make it look.

i think i would finish the blocks and then law it all out. Color can really play with your head sometimes. I see the little aliens but it may just be because it's green. Little green men and all. You may be surprised at how different the purple's will make it look.

I see what you mean. I would take the blocks and play with laying them out in different arrangements. I might even turn those triangles on the sides a different way or take them off altogether. Those blocks on the side might even make pretty flowers if you can put a stem where they are joined to the center blocks and turn them a quarter turn. Or I might rearrange the little squares and little triangles in a different color configuration so they look less like a face.

I bet if this was done on a large scale/repeat blocks...It wouldnt be that noticable and might even look pretty kewl. Specially if you name it something like > " They're heeerreee" and make everyone guess why its called that lol
Looks like you've done a lot of sewing on it already...That would break my heart if I didn't like it...My advice probably isn't the best..Because I'd probably do what lindyline suggested...Then after it was completed and if I still didn't like it..I'd most likely take a shiva oil paint stick and darken that little triangle between the little gremlins eyes,so that they no longer looked like eyes, add a little of the same color in subtle touches here and there and call it a day lol

I can see the little aliens, after it was brought to my attention... I bought it looked like wrapped hard candy!! Very pretty!! LOVE the ribbon

you could look at it as if it is hard candy in wrappers, rather than aliens from outspace. Sorry no real suggestions

I love it, especially the ribbon border. Little green aliens, really ??? :) :)

I was giggling at the comments and my husband just had to come over and have a look. I also love the ribbon border, but like everyone says your purple will probably look differently. Work on your design board and wiggle those loose blocks around until you get something more pleasing to your eye. You will certainly have something beautiful when you finish. Good thing that you were behind on your assembly because now you have a chance to modify the work.

what a fabulous ribbon border ! I think if you start playing with the blocks, you will come up with something great. sometimes amazing what turning a few pieces will do. I can see a trailing vine w/flowers going over the piecing in places. It will be a winner when you are done !

I love the border. I'm not sure what I would do but, if you could make more circle blocks instead of faces it would look great.

You have 6 of the thorn blocks and 3 of the square blocks. What if you group 3 of the thorn blocks together, kinda like a nosegay pattern and then you could have one for 2 opposite corners and have a row of square blocks in the centre. The ribbon border is gorgeous of course.

Until I read all the comments, I saw "wrapped candy" or Christmas crackers. Now I can see the aliens -- the power of suggestion???

I really like the ribbon border - good job!

I'm really sorry that your pattern created aliens. It is definately unique! I guess you have two choices. Finish it and love it for being different. It would make a great sample to share at guilds to illustrate how the best design intentions can sometimes just not work. Your second option is to rework those two outside rows. Your centre row is great. Can you make more blocks like the centre or somehow get rid of the triangles that flare out and look like ears? Do you have some quilting buddies to help you on this one? I know my Stitch and Share group would love a challenge like this. Please repost this when you have worked out a solution.

Allie, I just showed your quilt to my hubby and he loves it as is. He said, " oh check it out, It's a 5th Element quilt!" ( he loves that movie)
Then looked at me expectantly..I laughed and said, " You best be calling Allie cause I'm still just a step above making a basic nine patch" lol

Your colors are so pretty and your work is so nice, it is a shame you don't like it, but if you absolutely can't get it to your liking, then why not complete it as planned and sell it? You can bet it will be to someone's liking, and be exactly what they want, aliens and all :)

Not spooky; how about Peace Goddesses. Move forward and complete and you may be suprised. Nice quilt.

I really like this, the ribbon sets it off perfectly!! Nice work!!! :thumbup:

All I see are Aliens ... like ETs. I would add some flower colors and turn them into flowers if you hate it that much....

Thank you all for your advice and comments! I am going to keep the ribbon border as it really is very pretty especially in my purples! but the rest of it is currently undergoing a rework! we have a 'unsewing' (sounds so much more professional than unpicking! lol) party planned for the weekend and I will then get to work with the sections and see what I come up with. I am fortunate that I have left over fabrics so if necessary I can always make a few more pieces. I will be sure to post a photo of the reworked quilt!

(Smile) Glad you worked it out allie (although hubby will so miss that 5th element quilt.::lil laugh:: )

Hope your unsewing party is a success

It's the 'eyes' and 'mouth' being a dark color that give it the 'face' look. If those could be a lighter color - even just the 'eye' triangles, I think it would take away the alien look. Can't wait to see the re-working.

Actually I like it - I see rows. But if it bothers you, try "removing" the center "circle" and replacing it with either a plain block or a di fferentblock. By removing it, you would eliminate the visual rows see the outer blocks.

Can not wait to see what you do with it.

great work, and I hope you can re-work the block settings to your liking, great border!