Mockup Mardi - Crossings edition

Monday was supposed to be the second edition of Mockup Mondays, but I missed it, so how about Mockup Mardi instead?  Mardi is Tuesday in French, and it keeps the alliteration going, so I'm going with it!

CROSSINGS

I made Crossings last year, though looking through blog posts I see I forgot to share this quilt as well.  I'm seeing a pattern here.  In any case, I've been plotting a second version of the quilt since I made the first.  Of course plotting meant a little trip (or many little trips) down the EQ rabbit hole and I came up for air with options.  Lots of options.

Here's the original.  

Crossings by Canuck Quilter Designs
Made with fabrics by Northcott (Bliss, Crackle),
Robert Kaufman (Chalk and Charcoal) and Benartex (Wave Texture) 

When I wrote the pattern I listed different elements separately, even if I used the same fabric in my sample quilt, to make it easier for quilters to play with fabric choices.  For example, in my sample the pieced thinner border matches the square behind the dark stars, but it could be a different fabric, so I listed fabrics requirements and cutting instructions for these elements separately.  

Look at what happens when I switch the border fabric to match the background.

Crossings by Canuck Quilter Designs
Colored in Winter Wonders batiks from Island Batik.

That pieced border pops now!

How about lightening the squares behind the red stars to blend more with the background?

Crossings by Canuck Quilter Designs
Colored in Winter Wonders batiks from Island Batik.

Now the red stars create a sort of lattice effect around the green stars.

Let's try a dark background.

Crossings by Canuck Quilter Designs
Colored in Winter Wonders batiks from Island Batik.

I think this completely changes the look of the quilt.  With the first two quilts, my eye is drawn to both kinds of stars equally.  With the third, I see the green sawtooth stars first. In this green one, The Ohio star variation in gold holds my eye.  Because there is less contrast between the background and the sawtooth star, the sawtooth star recedes to the background.  It's still there adding a little texture to the background, but it is much more subtle.

I can switch out fabric styles too.  How about a little bit of elegant floral?  That's usually not my thing, but I could be persuaded for the right design and fabric combo.

Crossing by Canuck Quilter Designs
Colored in Chateau d'Avignon by Connecting Threads

This one also places the focus on the Ohio star variation, but the backing squares blends in with sawtooth stars.  The result is that I notice the lattice formed as the stars touch.  Unlike in the third quilt, where the sawtooth stars were still the focus along with the lattice effect, in this last quilt, the light Ohio Star /lattice are the focus.

Am I any closer to choosing a version to make a new sample?  I'm leaning to the green one, because it is most dramatically different from the original.  I won't get to it right away though, so there's still time to change my mind :)

Which version would you make?

Happy Quilting,

Joanne

You can find the Crossings pattern in my Etsy shop or ask for a printed version at your favourite quilt shop.  Shops, wholesale enquiries are welcome or visit distributors Checker, Brewer or EE Schenck.