I have a little viewer gadget that multiplies a square when you look thru it -- probably cost a dollar at a show. I think your block would look good in the earth tones you have chosen

I love the way it looks - it's subtle and lets the fabrics speak to each other.

This is a fun block. Made a quilt with this block while my son was deployed. Agree with others needs some contrast.

ok, here is what i think. looking at the bottom row, the square in the middle seems to be the one that i would change. the others seem to work together.

I'd go for one of the bold prints for the center block

I would have used the paisley as the center focus fabric of the star --

I love to make potholders out of practice blocks. I use them for little gifts!

Thank you everyone for your input. I completed the block as a practice block the way it was (except I fixed the upside down piece). But I am going to replace one of the paisleys and add something in a gold tone and use maybe for the star. I guess I will have to continue to play with the fabrics. I definitely want to make a quilt using this block. Also I am going to purchase after Christmas sale... the EQ7 I think that will help alot because then as it has been suggested I can scan my fabrics and play with the design on the computer. Friendly hugs everyone.. Thanks so much for your help and guidance :)

I really like the colors. I would suggest using a solid black on the sides where the black paisley is.

I think the large paisley doesn't have enough contrast with the surrounding pieces. It would be great as the border, though.

I too like the colors. But, I do think the lighter paisley is too large. Maybe a smaller print

I would change out one of the two paisleys.

Helpful tip: Don't use gold for stars if it's for military. I don't use all red either. Gold is for the fallen and red, of course, is communism (and, California's bear flag--lol).

What wonderful idea's and thoughtful answers. I like the block. I never knew that yellow is for fallen in military quilts. The only thing I know is that in the log cabin yellow means light and red means love in the home. Is it yellow star means fallen or yellow anything means fallen?

Picture it with narrow black sashing strips?

copy it x s 4 and put those together too and see what you secondary blks will look like.... sometimes that is a factor too.
ConnieF

But I likt the colors you have there....will make the stars pop for they are the lightest ones or parts of the blks.

Also the quilting will make a big diff too as to waht pops

Beautiful fabric. Try flipping the four corner blocks and see what happens. Good luck.

And the old RED, white and blue????

The flags you see in windows with stars are blue star for someone who is serving in the military. Gold stars for someone who was killed. My grandmother was a "gold star mother".

What if you made the dark paisley the background for the star, switched the gray background to the star points, and replaced the dark paisley around the sides with the brown that is in the star points right now? Please share your finished block with us.

I agree. I like the black cream paisley print for the center and cream for star points then use the rest as you need. Gail

The first thing that hit me was not so much the colors, but the intensities - they're too much alike, so the pattern sort of runs together, instead of being well-defined. And there might be a bit too much going on in some of those prints. A couple of them are attention hogs. But the pattern is really pretty. Thanks for the link.

I like it, but for contrast you might try adding sashing strips.

I agree, your colors are wonderful, but you need more contrast in value and design of fabric. Looks like you got off to a good start by using a focal fabric for your color scheme. But you ended up with two relatively large paisley prints and two prints that are nearly the same color and value. A geometric print in place of the darker paisley would give you more variation in design. Contrast in value can be determined with a value finder or a black and white photocopy of the fabric.
Anxious to see your results.
Happy stitching and Happy New Year

I LOVE IT!!! The colors are fabulous and will work up well when it is sewn. Just change the star point and go girl!!!

try a sample with a little plain plain gold in it, it will make the other colours pop.

I agree it needs more contrast

I too, think you don't have enough contrast. Many are of a middle value. You need a much lighter and a much darker value print. Do you have a ' value finder'? It's a red plastic sheet, in a cardboard frame. You hold it over your fabric and it will show you the value of your fabric choices before you cut and sew them together. You can easily see if you've enough contrast between your fabrics.

I have never heard of a value finder..will research and check that out :) Thanks