I think colors can sometimes make a bigger impact than pattern. I did a simple log cabin for a baby girl a few years ago. I did it in hot pinks and lime greens. There were some hoity toity relatives at the shower and they were oohing and aahing over the quilt, saying it looked like some well known designer of little girls clothes (I can't remember the name now though).
Having said that though, I love some of the ideas people have mentioned so far.