Today I decided to leave my 5"-square-comfort zone. Its about time to challenge myself. Hopefully I can swallow this bite.

This block I made today as a test block. The pattern is from one of my fav. books, "Quilts from the Heart II" by Karin Renaud. The pattern calls for scraps in blue and lavender, mixed with cream. My quilt will be lavender, pink and a bit of burgandy. As I'm waiting for my order with the cream kona cotton, I replaced the cream fabric by white with a small lavender and pink pattern. What do you think, does this make it too busy? Instead of different coloured squares in the center, I used just one batik fabric to try to calm it down a little.
Your honest opinions please! Too busy or do you like it the way it is?

It's pretty.

I'm trying to visualize/imagine the secondary patterns that will emerge when you put the blocks together.

I'm thinking that perhaps the blocks might be easier to lay out if you alternated the colors in the corners so they would be on opposite corners instead of "on the same side" - that it would be easier to lay out - one could get a "diagonal" pattern going then

I like it a lot!! Very nice!

The only question I have is - from 5in squares to a complex block like this - seems a bit of a leap - although this one looks fine and you seem well able for it!!!

Keep going!

You did a great job on this block, and glad to see you taking a leap :D:D:D

I don't think it is too busy, and it was a great idea to use the batik :D Can't wait to see the quilt!

All bigger blocks are just smaller blocks all put together :wink:

The burgandy blocks upper left and top bother me. If you did the 2 hst's top & bottom burgandy, when sewn to the next block would form a hourglass block. As they are they seem out of place. The rest of the square is very nice and welldone. JMHO

I love your color choices, and you did a fantastic job

Beautiful block!

I think you did a great job with this. The colors go well together. :)

Becca, thank you for your nice comment!
Don't worry, the instructions in the book are for "dummies", so I managed at least this block, although it took me like forever (=one day)incl. some ripping. The other good thing is the size of this block, it's a finished size of 16". I plan on sewing 12 of these blocks and adding a nice scrappy border.

Tony Marie, this seems to be a very good idea to make all of the flying geese in burgandy. Thanks bunches!
Maybe the burgandy blocks appear bothering b/c of the bad light?! The solid burgandy is exactly one of the colours in the center batik squares. Anyway, I like your recommendation enough to rip out the flying geese and replace them.
Again thank you!

A suggestion: make six to nine copies of the picture of the block and lay them together - watch for the secondary pattern/design - and then make your color choices

I just did that -

One needs to factor in the fact that the photo has some shading that probably is not in the block.

Ignore my suggestion for changing the arrangement of the colors in your block.

I think it takes about 9 squares/repeats to get a fairly good idea of what it might look like.

I don't have EQ - so I have to improvise

WOW, bearisgrey, this looks so good! Thank you, what a great idea, I have to "bookmark! this in my mind.

I love it!!!

I'm impressed! As a new quilter, I've been sticking to 9-Patch, Three rail, Disappearing 4 & 9 patch. You've made a pretty complex block that really looks good. Congratulations.

i like your block think it will make an delightfull quilt i really like your color com.

I think it will look great thanks to bearisgray.

Very nice! I love the colors.

I like it, a lot!

I agree!

love the colors and the blocks!! Great ideas!

Very pretty, fabulous colors.

Good morning from my neck of the woods, it's 10:18 a.m. CET and I could hardly sleep :roll: . Can't get the quilt and the pattern out of my mind. Somewhere over here on the board I read: Quilting forever, housework whenever - oh so true, esp. today :-D .

Last not least, THANK YOU for your encouragement and your opinions! Today I'm going to decide whether I'll go scrappy or make 12 identical blocks. Either way I'll stick to the "busy" white with lavender and pink background fabric. Kinda like it now, yesterday I wasn't sure about it yet.

Have a wonderful fall day and thanks again,
Anne