my two cents as a mommy and as a quilter, if you asked the mom for colors then go with her colors. there might be more important reasons why the mom wants the colors and is just giving you one of them. I have just made a crib set for a very close friend who is having a baby and while I like the fabric and colors she choose, I would not ever have picked them myself because they are not my taste. When I make up a crib set I always make a separate baby quilt in a smaller size to use to wrap up the baby in. I do this because most babies are not supposed to use anything in the crib till they are around a year old or even older. (I make the crib quilt so that it will fit a toddler bed (which most cribs nowadays are the size of) this way it will be used longer.) I vote for making one that you like and then the crib one for the mommy. I hope that this helps you.

ditto.... this is what i was thinking also and you can use the print you love......they can choose which side is up on a day to day basis

there is a fabric out that is white background with black 'silloettes (sp)' of children playing, jumping rope, pulling a wagon etc. that might work for the backing also.

Since the original request was, "... to do a black & grey quilt 'so as not to clash with the room'," it seems clashing was the mother's main concern. There are actually many bright colors, which wouldn't clash with pepto-pink.

Oh, I'm having fun, I googled "black white quilt" and oodles of pics come

I thought this one was interesting. I guess the black and white for a baby quilt is not a unique idea
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcl1964/4813996732/

I think a black/gray/white log cabin quilt with colorful center squares, including pepto bismo pink. You asked and feel you should respect her wishes.

What a dilemma! I agree that since you asked the mom, it would be preferable to honor her wishes. Yes, black and grey are not traditional baby colors, but hey, who says there is a law that baby quilts must be traditional colors?

When I was pregnant with my first son, my mom wanted to knit me a blanket. She asked me to choose a color and I chose grey. She then proceeded to knit the blanket, complaining, moaning and whining the entire time because I did not choose a proper "baby color". When it was all said and done, the grey turned out beautiful, the blanket was lovely, the baby adored it (and as a 6 year old still does) and everyone was happy. Would that have been the case had she made it a different color? Most likely yes. But she asked me, and I gave her my request. I was thankful as a silly first-time mom fluttering about decorating her first nursery, that she honored my request.

It is always a challenge to work with colors you don't like. I think you can rise to the challenge and create something beautiful (there is appeal in the versatility of a two-sided quilt). If it were me, I'd rather do colors I don't like and have the blanket used than override mom's opinion, pick my own, and have it end up on a shelf. Regardless of color choice, let's hope the new momma has the grace to accept your gift with thanks and no sign of a snit! :)

Good luck!!

Show the mom the fabric you think would make a nice quilt and ask her opinion on it. She may pick it once she sees it.

Can you use gray and black to sash and border the prints you like?

Another thing, you might find some comic strip or coloring book type fabric that tends to black and gray.

Maybe you could find some black and white kid prints. I recently found some b/w disney prints that were really cute. I also think I would make one side to mom's specs and the other side to mine!

What about a double sided quilt. Do the construction worker design on one side and back it with a black and grey print, so if it is not bring "loved" and carried around it can go with the decor?