At first I thought the first one was a little busy too, but I still think it is the best color and I don't think red would work at all.
I have a question that I've been wondering about for quite a while. I'm just starting to quilt and am still on basic square patch things. But, I have a pillow my mother made using this pattern and would like to make a quilt sometime using it. I was never sure how to assemble it. Are the "plates" sewn onto squares or a full size backing? It didn't look pieced (other than the "plate").