Attended my first batmitzvah and was quite moved by the young people sharing a lesson. The girl we were there fore-- Jenny-- wore purple and spoke about her love of the color.

I was moved to make a quilt for her-- something that combined purple as well as her faith.

I found the first image. I liked it because it subtly communicates the star of David without being an overtly Jewish design.

Then I went through my stash and pulled out all my purples, and I started making the pieced diamonds. The second photo is my design wall with the diamonds put up.

I really really dislike the results. It's clear that at least for this design, prints-- or at least the prints I had on hand-- do not do as well as batiks and other abstract prints.

Any advice? Suggestions for something else to do with these diamonds.

Or more likely: anyone want these pieces and the uncut fabric that goes with them? I know I'm not going to finish this particular quilt.

sent PM

I think you are right that the colors don't quite capture the jewel-like quality of the sample. The calicos/florals don't have the same impact.

Does the image on the screen match your real fabrics? They seem muted and maybe even washed out on my computer screen...

A design like that needs really bold, bright jewel tones. I think your actual fabric colors are too washed out for the design. But the design itself is beautiful!

My photo is definitely washed out; the colors are much richer, but no where near as rich as the jewel tones of the first image. Sigh.
Another lesson learned.

I don't see a PM from you.

I like it. Sure it's different than the original, but it has it's own appeal, try to put the bright on out of your mind and think softer!

Yeahhhhhh...very good effort but I think there's not enough of a focus. Does it want to be a blue tone quilt? Does it want to be a purple quilt? Does it want to be a red quilt?

The example is AMAZING with the jewel tones, but I think you could pull it off with a more subdued palette. You just need to narrow the field of color, and maybe play with the tone instead?

I think you should finish it and just donate it. Its not as bright as the sample but it is still going to be really nice. someone will love it. I know i do.

Add some solid diamonds to the design and finish it and donate it to a charity of your choice. Someone will definitely appreciate it.

Things to think about: Jenny has never seen the pattern you are working from. Jenny doesn't quilt. She just might love it to death because it is her favorite color and you made it just for her. I've read a lot of posts on this board from people who hated the quilt until it was done - then discovered that it did become one of their favorites.

Whenever I try something and it doesn't work (and it happens often), I always go back to the original inspiration to figure out why that one DID work. And then go from there.

I think in this case it's a value issue (but then I always do ;-) )

The values in the jewel tone are pretty much the same, with a bit of a pop here and there, so the eye is trying to find a pattern - and I immediately see the Stars popping out. Of course, that could be because I'm genetically predisposed to see it. ;-)

That design, should Jenny actually see it, would resonate, especially considering the occasion.

On your rendition, the values are all over the place. You do have clearly distinct dark and lights. And so since you didn't really work to place them so they create that star pattern, it looks.....well, the eye is trying to identify a pattern or rhythm, and can't find it.

That said, I don't think I would like it with the pattern so easily defined in lights and darks. That's what make the jewel one so special.

MTS, you're right on.

As for those suggesting I just finish it anyway and donate it, here's the thing: I can find absolutely NO inspiration or motivation to work on something that I really dislike. The only time I come close to being able to do that is if I've gone so far (as in my Lone Star Gone Wrong quilt) that I can't bear NOT to finish it. But I'm not far enough along on this one. I can use the remaining fabric for other things, but I don't know what to do with the diamonds already pieced. I'm setting them aside for now.

I still may do this design-- it's a very easy quilt to make-- but actually do something I rarely do: SELECT fabrics for it ahead of time... And that means it's going to have to wait because I have no $$ for new fabric right now (despite my periodic forays into ebay and the classifieds board here...)

Thanks for listening, everyone. I appreciate ALL comments and suggestions, even the ones I don't intend to take. ;-)

-- Jillaine

Yikes. My bad. I didn't even realize that you were the OP.

And I totally understand about not being inspired.

Someone posted last week (?) that they wanted to put up their unfinished projects for adoption. I think they had takers on all the projects.
I, too, am thinking of going that route. Because now they're just in a box taunting me.

Huh? What's an OP?

original poster or original post. ;-)
I usually capitalize if it's the person I'm referring to but I'm don't know if that's the "official" rule.

So why "my bad"? Your input was particularly helpful; in particular:

a) go back to the original inspiration and compare
b) check values

not sure what was "bad"?

Or are you referring to some other protocol that escapes me? ;-)

I wonder how it would look as a 6 point star. I do a lot of hand quilting and I love stars. I would try to save them. Sometimes ideas will come to you later. Lots of good ideas here.Fayz

Fayz, I'll play with that idea. Thanks.

Fayz beat me to it! I would try laying them out with the points together to see what that would look like. the stripes will form a hexagon. Might be interesting...

I think the stripe effect of these fabrics detracts from the star design. If you substitute something for those striped pieces, I think it will be great.