thank you So Much, everyone, for your input. And I apologize for the colors being "off" on your monitors. (The brown did show as Brown on mine.)

Here's the score:

brown tonal: 18
rose etched: 29

My decision: The brown tonal makes the body of the quilt Float; however, it is a bit stark. Although the keen suggestions that beautiful quilting would balance that starkness are spot on.

The rose-etched fabric is beautiful to the eye, but does offer competition for the body of the quilt.

The squares which read as White are actually a pale yellow moda fabric. Except for the outer blocks, they are all written on with fabric pens, as this is a signature quilt for my mom's 80th birthday in October.

If this quilt was destined to be Displayed or used on a bed, I would go with the dark brown fabric. But it will be a large lap quilt seen in close-up by mom snuggled underneath (it's Cold where she lives), or folded into a basket by her chair in the summertime. For that reason only, I am going with the gold-etched roses, as up-close it will be more visually interesting for her.

Thank you All for your help with this! I'm so glad I took the plunge and posted these photos. I'll be posting this again when it's completed (and I'll use our Real camera!!!)

This was fun!

Gold roses!!! The other fabric is too "heavy".

I just feel the tonal frames the blocks better, IMHO.

maybe I am not seeing the color right, but the white, solid blocks (which I see you now say are pale yellow) are just too stark for the rest of the printed fabric. that's where your eye will go--straight to the outer edge of the design. just my opinion, you have to go with your gut feeling.

I love them both but I'd go with the solid for a more subtle background for the busy center. Good luck.

They look purple to me too. I think the roses add a lot more "kick" than the solid. Richer-looking.

definitely the roses.

Roses.

I like the one with the gold tones.

Tonal :-D