On the Sew and tell thread I posted that I have a partially pieced mini quilt that is in danger of going into the trash. By now I have a little over half of the blocks pieced and sewn together and the triangles cut and sewn into pairs for the remainder of it.

The colors are double split complements(violet, blue green, yellow, and red orange) with two values of each. These were supposed to play nicely together but I'm REALLY not liking the look as I sew them together. Don't know if I chose the wrong fabrics as representatives of the different colors or if I just don't like the combination. Or maybe I just don't like the design?

So why the heck did I start it in the first place you might ask. Good question. Must have been one of those brain f-art things.

Anyway, here's the EQ drawing using scans of the actual fabrics.

I just now drew this newer version with different borders. Does this look better? Any suggestions for other border options?

The trash can is still looking tempting to me.

Martha, You do beautiful work. I think we are always are own worst critic. I like both, but prefer the second version. I think the alternet boarders help tone down the colors so the play a little better together.

I like both. The first one reads to me "Hot Mama". The second one "Cool Siesta". Guess it just depends which you prefer. As the owner of two of your minis, I could easily be happy with one or both. I love your work.

Susan

I like them.

Just my thoughts...

The first one screams - "Look at Me" while the second one give a "I'm cool and Calm" sorta of feeling. I'm really liking #2!

I vote for the second option also. The first one is nice, certainly not ugly, but I found I could sit & admire the second one for longer. You want the potential buyer to stop & stare so they can see how nice it is & want to own it. Just my opinion. I also can not imagine you making any mini that was ugly.

Susan, I am in awe of your ability to come up with names so quickly! I may have to finish it using the first version just so I can call it Hot Mama.

I've made a couple more blocks ..........

I really appreciate the help with the thought process. I was in a real rut looking at it, disliking it, not wanting to give up on it if it is salvageable.

The second one is definitely calmer to my eyes. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with! Glad that you entertained us by posting pictures, as I couldn't imagine any of your minis as ugly.

.. another 2cents worth ... I think the 2nd one has a focus there in the middle .. not all scattered feeling. Like the rest .. cannot imagine anything UGLY coming from your hands or machine .. but i do prefer the 2nd one. Regardless where you go with it .. someone is going to love it.

I like Hot Mama (quilt and the name). To me it looks like neurons firing and misfiring...maybe a little of what the Alzheimer patient experiences. I just saw an article on an autistic child's version of how her body makes her feel. Like chili pepper in the brain.

I think they both resemble a Southwest indian blanket. Love them both, but lean towards #2

Going with the "hot" theme with quilt #1 It reminds me of me with my hot flashes!!!
I like quilt #2 a bit better, more restful to my eyes. Like the names too. Agree with the others I've never seen one of your quilts that didn't wow me. They are all so beautiful. don't give up on this one.

You beat me to the suggestion to try another border design. I like that second version. First one is just "too much".

It's so interesting to read all of your different observations! I hadn't thought about the neurons firing angle. Looking at the first one does give me a "jangled" feeling. I can see the southwestern native American colors in there. One of these days I should read up on the various designs of the region and see if I can come up with a mini design that deserves the name. I imagine there must be some traditional ones of those that aren't covered by copyright. Would have to check out that aspect.

I've been playing (in EQ) with different color placements in the simpler borders. Also tried a couple with even simpler borders. Such as

or

That last one looks perfect to me.

I do not see the ugly part yet... the darker looks warm and cozy.. you just to fantastic work love these

I still like the 2nd one.

Wanda

There is not a darn thing wrong with either one of them.I find the very 1st one kinda' of exciting and the 2nd a little so-so..Like the description from Nancy20.....All of them are lovely,not a bad one in the bunch.

• • • I don't know, that orange just seems to jump out at me and is very distracting. Don't get me wrong, I like orange and I love red, but for some reason it just doesn't fit (for me). I do like the second border over the first and the last two work for me too.

Please don't trash it, even though you are frustrated, someone will gladly take if off your hands. It's a very worth while cause and every little bit helps. Keep up the good work!

I think I like the last one the best. To be honest, I didn't even notice the lavender/periwinkle in the other options.

I wouldn't trash it. I'm pretty sure it will bring some money in for AAQI no matter what YOU think of it!

Even though there is a lot going on in it, I like the first one. Without the red in the piano key border, the red in the center stands out to me.

I like the design and I don't think you could go too far wrong with any of them.

I like piano key borders but maybe w/ the T-blocks it's too busy. I like the light purple wider border, so either the 2nd, 3rd or 4th in my opinion. And definitely DON'T THROW AWAY. Anyone on the message board would welcome it as a project to finish. You know we don't have enough WIPS.
Good Luck

I like them all! Those colors would be cool in a twister mini!

You could never make anything that was ugly-silly woman! All your work is fantastic!

Pam

Martha, thanks for the compliment.

#3: Grand Tetons (never been there, name just popped into my head).

#4: Purple Majesty (eh, so so name....have to look at it more).

Susan

PS: I keep returning to #1. If you have not cut pcs for piano keys; how about making the quilt really really hot and put the dark red orange in the corners instead of the dark blue? Just a thought.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ~~Tx~~ Wildflower,

My two cents..the lavendar border turns the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan..its soothing

Sewlove2quilt, got your PM and replied.

I'm just about finished with the blocks now so one way or another I'll finish rather than trash it. Still undecided about the border. Jill's comment about the red/orange in the border helping to make the center stand out a little less prompted me to try using it as one of multiple borders. Maybe a little less busy this way?

Or like this

I really like it accenting the blue better than the purple. I'm usually not a big fan of blue, but I think it pops!

have you finished this one yet? I was thinking that having just three borders would be nice, the tan frame, then a skinny color, the next color a double size, and finish with the skinny dark.

You are doing nice work on this.

I do like that little bit of red thrown back in there. I think if I had to choose, I'd add the blues over the purples. It looks nice either way, so I think you won't go wrong either way!

Some of these really are a labor of love, aren't they?

Still dithering, LOL

I have the center finished (except for one more seam that needs to be partially unsewn/resewn).

Here are a couple more border options using quilting wifey's suggestion.

Both are s w e e t !

Martha, if you do not use the first or the second border options shown. I vote for #5 with the strips of each color ending in the dark blue. I like it because it uses the turquoise and the red orange strips too. That way you could still call it "Hot Mama" or "Red Hot Mama" if you wanted to....lol....

Susan

I like the overall visual weight of the last two shown. Either one looks good, but I do think the blue strikes me better and I really like purple!

I think I am ready to go play with my own fabric now, thanks for the boost.

I'm glad you are keeping it because none of the suggestions or what you show in the first picture are wrong.

To me, those four pieces on the ends (the navy blue) really stand out. I wonder how it would look with a navy blue skinny border, then a bigger gold border and whatever color binding, lol! Or a gold skinny border, then a bigger navy blue border and end with a red binding. This could go on forever, lol!!

I'm sure what you do it will look perfect!

I love both of the last two options — although I think they are all wonderful. Of the last two, I'm leaning toward the purple, or away from the green. What a surprise, right?

Whatever you decide, someone is going to absolutely love this.

The first was and always will be my favorite. LOVE IT...LOVE IT.....LOVE IT!!!

From the last 2 pics - the blue border (and watch, while I am writing this, you put upmore pics!!! !!) But I am with Karen!! I love the 'Hot Mamma'one too!! then again, I like bright so........ I do like the piano key border, they are fun to make and I like them on a project!!

But like has been said, your work is wounderful, do what feels right to you!!!

Eventually I got tired of dithering and decided to go with the piano key border. So here's "Mama", or at least her top. Not sure I have the whatchamacallits to actually send in a quilt called Red Hot Mama........... Maybe.

Bozie, the final quilt looks so pretty, much better that just the EQ sketch.

Yes, you do!!! Send it in with her 'proper' name attached!!!

I like it!! It looks great!!!!!

I like the second one and if you hate it why not raffle it for QWL or the wounded soldier project or something like that?

It sizzles! Love it! Somebody's Mama surely used to ba a red hot one and they miss her....go for it, you can dooooooooo it!!!

Well, that was my favorite all along! It looks really good. And, I LOVE the name! Great job!!!

Looks great! Better "in person" than EQ in my opinion.
The name is perfect & I think you should use it!

quote:

and if you hate it why not raffle it for QWL or the wounded soldier project or something like that?

Actually I was asking if it seemed to others as bad as it did to me as well as asking for suggestions on how to make it better. I really appreciate all the input folks have given!

Have to admit I don't think much of the practice of donating less than desirable stuff to any cause. I wouldn't "gift" junk to QWL or whichever wounded soldier project you are referring to any more than I would to the cause for which this little quilt is indended.

Angela, you are the second person to mention that the photo looks better than the EQ picture. I have to agree but can't figure out why that should be. The EQ ones are from scans of the fabrics actually used - and EQ gets the seams to match better than I do!