Swoon * Agony

Following friend Doris's example (see post), I finally settled on a [modified] Swoon quilt as the first-year anniversary quilt for my stepson and bride. I have struggled with this gift since they first announced the wedding, kind of shadow-dancing with "their colors" (which were never clear), hoping the construction of their new house would give me some clues. Tan? Gray? Each seemed to have its advocate, and their final solution was: both? 

As a background, I finally found Peppered Cotton (these solids have different warps and wefts, like oxford cloth) in tobacco brown: rich fawn-brown warp, greenish-gray weft. This seemed to solve the tan vs. gray perplex in a fabric I could enjoy spending time with. 

However, I was not happy with the collection of the first nine blocks. Individual prints from my scrap stash had inspired me to import accents of pink and orange. These clashed. I wished I had chosen bigger, bolder patterns. Finally, I weeded out the four that seemed to disturb harmony the most. These will become a baby quilt some day:

I was left with the blocks that adhered firmly to a gold-and-blue regimen, from aqua to true blue, honey to tan. Back to the store to buy more of those colors, again more "blenders" rather than big, bold prints. The sales lady was shocked that I was combining batiks with printed patterns. But I felt hemmed in by what I'd already chosen.

Two weeks later, the quilt top is done (except for 3 inches of tobacco brown needed around the edge. I like the negative space of the brown. We are seeing them this Sunday, when I will present the finished product.

It is what it is. I hope it provides some "Mediterranean" sunshine (they honeymooned on the French Riviera) into a subdued (gray and tan, now I'm hearing "greens"--?) setting. I have not yet been to their house. They moved in two weeks ago while I was in Ohio. I hear that their bedroom carpet has a touch of blue. I've got my fingers crossed.

Update here