I love it as it is, much better than the bear. The fabrics say" traditional" to me, not cutsie, so I wouldn't use the bear or sunbonnet sue. I also wouldn't go with an eagle or bell, more masculine than the fabrics. Even a wreath of flowers wouldn't be as right as you have it now, IMHO. The tree idea might be an option to try, but I say its perfect now!

Hadn't thought of primative, that might work.

Love your quilt! I like the vase and flowers and the tree of life is intriguing too. Can't wait to see what you decide on :D

I think it needs the soft touch in the center. I love it just the way it is. A vase of flowers represents a natural and welcoming element in the house.

I think it is great, I love Americana and that is sew perfect

I ordered the EQ6 CD Baltimore Album and the Folk Art one. I've wanted them anyway. ;)

I ought to be able to find something similar that appeals to me. At least the vase and flowers now is one that I like more the more I see it, not like the teddy bear where I liked it less.

You have a good eye for design, you'll know when you see it!

Pam, I like this better than the bear, although the bear was really cute. This quilt is more nostalgic...so needs something different. I'm like you, I like the flowers and vase, but something is not quite right..don't think the eagle or flag will do it either....Keep looking and keep showing it to us..we make it sound sooo easy right??? :lol: :lol:

I like it how it is- the vase is pretty and softens the quilt a bit. I didn't see the teddy bear version, but don't think I would have liked it. (Not a big teddy bear fan.)

My mom has her whole house decorated with Americana stuff and her wallpaper border has a vase similar to this incorporated in it. I think it totally "goes".

Not at all, I love the flowers in the center!!

A few simpler ones. I do like both flowers and still don't like the eagle. :wink:

I think the angular one looks best.

Sorry, but I still like the first one you showed.... :roll:

Lol... actually, looking at all of them again I like the circular shape of the first one too. It seems to center it.

ok, here is my honest opinion. The flowers and vase do match, bc they do look a lot like the ones in your other fabric. so if you like it, it will be fine.
However, I am somewhat of a stuffed animal kind of person...at this stage in my life...gbabies and all, and I loved the teddy bear with the patriotic theme. Have a book with one, and always planned on doing something like it.

What about a liberty bell? A peace sign came to mind, but that's probablhy a little out there for most...

I agree.

I KNOW there is a cow in there somewhere!
Cows are good <g>

I still like the first one best too. I just love the way the vase and flowers soften the quilt. Can't wait to see it finished!

We are practically neighbors too.. I am in Fairfield. :)

I think I still like the first one best.

OK if I had to pick one of those 3 I'd go for the first but I still think the the softer lines of the vase jar with the geometricity of the outer blocks - sorry Pam! I showed it to Hans and it was he who put it like that, it was what I felt when I first saw it but didn't express it very well! I think, but I'm not sure that your eagle is actually a dove with the olive branch in his beak? LOL Hans suggested a stylised eagle built up of triangles and squares - I don't really see it, to me it's too contemporary and I think you want a more trad feel - but I pass on his suggestion anyway! Gosh, I bet you wish you never asked! LOL

Actually there is a TINY, TINY sheep in the fabric. :lol:

I ordered the red as the border.

never mind the teddy bear, I will do one of those, but let's get on with your choices.
I just looked at your pic with first vase...again this morning...was looking last night. I think some flowers in a vase would be really nice, but to me, this is not quite the right one, for some reason.
It's got to do with the stars...they are bold, and I think these flowers are thin-ish. I like the idea of some rounder curves in center, but don't care for the droopi-ness of the two outer flowers. You need a picture, that says, hey, look at me, without, taking completely over.
honest opinion, none of these are IT. they're ok, to go with something else, but those stars need...I don't get a lot of good color with this monitor either, so maybe i'm off track.
now, i'm really curious to see what you pick! :roll:

You've heard of a Turtle Dove? Well, this is an Eagle Dove. Top secret genetic experiment and my quilt is going to blow the whole thing wide open and expose it to the world!! :lol:

Yeah, I know what you mean about the curves of the vase versus the angular blocks. That's one reason I like it but, on the other hand it's a reason that it doesn't quite go.

I agree 100% with mammabird! Your quilt is lovely ,

How about this then? Adds the stars to the flowers and it's angular.

[quote=pittsburgpam]How about this then? Adds the stars to the flowers and it's angular.

[/quote

hey, I like that, Pam!

Nah, I still like the first one best.... :roll:

you know what, joyce, your right! I copied and pasted the one above, and went back to page 1 to compare...I was thinking of a different pic, when I said, too droopy. Ok, here we go again...like the first one.
yup, that's it. and that's my final offer...till next time, lol! :wink:

Could you copy the two birds on the trees in the red border fabric? That might look nice. Or the house with the two trees next to it (also in the red border fabric).

Oh, I think that looks wonderful!!!! ETA: the first one that is.

I like the first one best. The quilt is pretty traditonal as is the Baltimore Album block in the middle. The vase is fine. When you look at the vases on BA quilts you may find one you think works better.

I still love the first one and really don't see how you could improve on it. Go for it Pam.

I just had another thought. What about Uncle Sam or his hat in the center?

I love teddy bears; but the flowers win out with this one.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Pam if you like it, go for it! If YOU like it, it 'goes'!!! :D

I do prefer it to the star flower one - that's just not pretty enough somehow to be the centrepiece.

This is my first '2 cents' for this WONDERFUL quilt design. The 'softness' (i can't think of any other way to describe what I'm thinking) of the flower vase center is so completely different from the angles in the rest of the quilt that it doesn't look like it 'belongs' to me. I love it, especially with the 'star' flowers, so maybe you could add the non-angle soft element somewhere else to tie everything together.

I like the idea of the vase and the flowers. The stars and strips indicate the strenght of the men of our country, while the flowers symbolize the softer side of the women.

Pam, if the vase is an issue for you. This site has a baltimore album quilt with many vases of flowers, maybe this will give you an idea. I think it is beautiful as is.
http://www.artbma.org/educators/atg/pdf/ATG_2-08.pdf

I think the flowers add a great elegance and interest Pam. It makes the quilt have a true heritage feel. Di

Thanks for the link. I kind of like the one in the second row down, second from the left. It's flowers but more casual in a bunch. Also brings to mind a bunch of wheat stalks. But I like the flowers better.

I ordered two companion CDs for EQ... Classic Applique-Folk Art Blocks and Baltimore Album Blocks. It's a total of 360 block patterns so there ought to be the perfect one in there.

I went scrolling through quilt patterns trying to find an example of one that has square/triangle piecing with a center medalion of non-square to see how it looks.

I found this one, top left, called Heritage Bouquet. I swear I have never seen anything like this before!!! There is nothing new under the sun, is there?
http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/...61&Parent_Ids=

And this one
http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/...50&Parent_Ids=

And OMG... this one. Dang. And I thought I came up with something a little unique! At least I am not in bad company. :wink:
http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/...84&Parent_Ids=

I am going to do the flowers because I like it. Might not be the exact one as my first choice after I get the CDs. I was limited in choices to the few in EQ when I chose that so I will see what else there is.