MY GARDEN HAS A MOAT, DOES YOURS?

I'm not always pleased with some of my quilts after they are finished.  Here are the stories of a couple of them, both made from the same two blocks.  I'll start with the first one I made in 2004 called "Garden Maze".

Story #1

If ever there was a quilt that needed a do-over, this is it!  In the beginning, I thought the concept was o.k.; but my fabric choices fell short.  Because there was a time restraint, I had the top machine quilted.  It was sent off to my publisher for photography and inclusion in my Traditional Two Block Quilts book.  The quilt photographed even darker than it was in person, but was still to be included in the book.  Just before publication, I was notified that the book was too long for their outline; and one quilt was to be deleted.  I asked to delete Garden Maze.  They said that the book was already formatted alphabetically; and the last quilt (Zephyr - Wind of the West), would be deleted.  I had lost control because of the bottom line - that's business. 

Story #2

If you know me, you know that I appreciate and enjoy nature; but I don't want to commune with it -- it is hot, cold, windy, snowy, rainy, humid, buggy, and dirty out there.  Now, don't laugh as I have been that way since childhood.  My parents finally gave up with trying to get me to play outside, and built me a playhouse just outside the kitchen door.  That way, I could step out and go play under cover!!  Win, win for Mother and me.  As a child I also didn't enjoy going for a Sunday drive; but now I do like a good ride through the mountains or around town to look at the blooming trees, etc.

This is my way of gardening -- make a new quilt, another stab at the "Garden Maze" two blocks.  I tried this time for a more representational quilt with floral fabric, green hedges, blue ponds and moat, and white paths. 

The two blocks that produce the design.

A bird or two are hidden.

The Stats:  Garden Paths, 2021, 27"x27", Machine pieced, machine quilted.

I'm still not totally satisfied with Garden Maze #2 ("Garden Paths" AKA "My garden has a moat, does yours?") and its different fabrics and layout.  Does it redeem the first quilt?  I may have to admit to myself that this is just a bad design.

A couple of pictures that are examples of my lifestyle.  You can laugh now!

The last time I played in the dirt - 1940.
Mother said I quickly ran to her fussing
about my dirty hands.

That's me at the age of 6 forced 
outside to have my picture taken
on the backside of my playhouse.  Not happy.