Ideas, anyone?

I'd like to pick your brains for ideas for my first UFT. This is the autumn Around the Block - #3 on my list. This project involved several Internet friends from around the Pacific Northwest. We first met on Pat Sloan's list, but soon formed our own group. We meet somewhere the twice a year for a 4 day retreat, and have done quite a few block exchanges, etc. together.

Here's how an Around the Block -a type of round robin - works. Each person makes a starting block and bastes it onto a grid wherever they want it. The project is circulated among the group, with each person responsible for "filling" a certain number of squares in the grid. Blocks are basted on as the project circulates, and each participant must choose from the squares left when deciding what blocks to make. Already made blocks can't be moved, so sometimes one is doing something long and skinny, sometimes a lot of little blocks, but rarely a nice large square block after the first few rounds.

Here is the block I started with. I asked for warm, autumn colors and an autumn theme.

Here is what it looks like after everyone's contribution. Every single one a wonderful addition, but what in heavens name was my one friend thinking about when she used the blue batik background? It's a wonderful fabric and a wonderful contribution, but that blue doesn't "go" at all. Her's was the second addition, so she obviously could tell the color was very different. When I got it back at our retreat last fall she apologetically said "I probably shouldn't have used the blue but it was such a beautiful piece of fabric that I decided to use it anyway." I just smiled and said I agreed - it was a beautiful piece of fabric.

Here is a close-up of her contribution. I wish all the people who added blocks after hers would have recognized the problem and added some bright blue touches, but that didn't happen.

They must all think I need an additional challenge too - you can see three places where I'll need to do a set-in seam. That doesn't bother me, but I've never seen an Around the Block come back to someone that way!

I need to make more additions that contain a similar blue that can be spread throughout the piece to balance out this block. I thought I'd separate the two strips of wonky flying geese and put them in two different places. I can also separate the bear paw blocks and spread them out. Then I can either do some new applique blocks that include the blue, piece more filled blocks that include the blue, or both. This was supposed to be at least a finished top by the next retreat - which is the last weekend of next month. That isn't going to happen!

Ideas anyone?