An Issue of Contrast

I thought I might have problems using a dark background for my POD quilt, and I was right!  My first cauldron block was a failure because there was not enough contrast between my background and the brown/gold fabric I chose for the body of the pot.

 

By doing some careful ripping, I was able to reuse the top of the block. I found some blotchy brown fabric in my stash that worked for the body.  This one is much better, I think!

 

 

Just for comparison, here's the cauldron I made for my first POD quilt.

 

 

My second block is one I didn't like very much, so I didn't include it in Kathryn's POD quilt.  This time I redrafted the open book and added Aberforth's eye. Aberforth's eye took me a good 4 hours to piece and remove the paper.  I like the eye over the open book.   

 

 

 I saw this idea in someone else's quilt, but I've looked all over and can't find it again to include a link.

 

The DMC soluble canvas is still on this block.  I'm having fun trying to make Amanda's quilt a little bit different than Kathryn's.