RE: bright tropical colors? sewing patterns?
The Company Store has bright crib skirts and coverlets, but I don't recall any bright "prints". Occasionally Lands End will have a kids pattern in a bright print, but usually in toddler and older kid bed sizes, not crib sizes.
All the major pattern companies have patterns available for crib bedding. Butterick, Vogue, McCalls, etc. Check the pattern books at your local JoAnn's (or whatever you have). BUT the problem I think you will run into is with fabric choices. Most of the fabric that I have seen in JoAnn's type places for "babies" is also pastel (but I haven't been in there recently). You best bet for bright juvenile fabrics may be a store that specializes in quilting fabrics. There are some GORGEOUS bright print juvenile fabrics available in quilter's cottons. These are NOT cheap fabric, they are usually $8 - $12 a yard. If you go this route, be sure to pre-shrink your fabric, since these fabrics (despite their price) sometimes shrink considerably and also occasionally have dyes that run.
Another option is to just buy bright solids from TCS or LE and then use other "bright" accessories in the nursery. This is what we did. My MIL (former art teacher) did a gorgeous mural of fantastical flowers and rainbow in the nursery. I bought solid bedding and made a bright quilt, bought a funky bright clock (cheap at Target), bright trash can (Container Store) and just accessorized away! This may end up being much less expensive. :-)
HTH,
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)