A Herringbone QAYG Pillow : :

Last week, after finishing up my Ribbons Diamond Strings pillow - Mother's Day gift, I decided right away that I had to make at least one for us! I had planned to do something colorful and Spring-y for the porch swing, and maybe if I found some extra sewing time, for the pair of rocking chairs on the front porch, as well. Yesterday I kept this pretty pile of fabric and fancy ribbons nearby as motivation to finish up my orders in time to make at least one to share here today!



I could have just stared at these ribbons all day, they are that beautiful! It's impossible to pick a favorite, but the detail on those owls & foxes is pretty spectacular!

Using my Herringbone QAYG method, I quickly pieced together two 8.5" x 16.5" rectangles, adding a 1.5" wide strip of each of the fabrics I selected for my first pillow, added my ribbons, and then joined the two pieces to make a 16" finished pillow cover! Once my pillow top was finished, right away I noticed how perfectly the colors matched this corner of our living room!



To attach the ribbons I simply top stitch, using my straight stitch set at a 2.4 length, sewing close to each ribbon edge, this time using a fun yellow Aurifil 50wt! Adding the ribbons to this QAYG style of pillow, or quilt as you can see here and here, is so easy and it makes such a beautiful, fancy pillow! There's a sheen and amazing detail to them that is really hard to photograph, it's crazy gorgeous!



I finished this pillow with the last of my Canary yellow binding scraps, I love the pop of color!





My camera battery lost it's charge before I could get photos of the back. I used a favorite Sarah Watts print of mine, her Gerbera print in gray quilted with the same yellow Aurifil I used to add the ribbons. I'll be sure to add a photo later. It's so pretty!

Doesn't it look perfect in this corner? I think it has to live here for awhile, which of course means, I have even more pillows to make to now!



I'll be back soon to share those, and then we'll have to have a Renaissance Ribbons Giveaway! See you then!!

♡ Maureen

Ribbons for Mother's Day : :

Last night I added the binding to a new Diamond Strings pillow! It's that same wonderful size as the first one, but this time I used Bonnie Christine's beautiful Winged fabric collection with the addition of her gorgeous Winged Renaissance Ribbons. Butterflies & Flowers, yes please!



I love making these style of quilt blocks, whether I'm making just a few for pillows like this one or many more for a quilt. They're just so much fun and quick to make, I don't think I'll ever be sick of them!



The added ribbons makes this pillow seem extra special. The pretty color palette combined with these gorgeous embroidered, jacquard decorative ribbons adds such a fancy, beautiful layer of detail. So perfect for Mother's Day gift-giving, my plan from the very beginning!



The back is finished in one of my very favorite Winged prints, quilted with an aqua blue Aurifil 50wt, and bound for a nice, neat finish!



After snapping a few photos this morning out on our porch swing, I think this Mama needs one of her very own!



Wishing all of you Mamas the most wonderful of days with those you love!   ♡ Maureen

A Winter Herringbone Quilt { and GIVEAWAY! } : :

Just before sundown last night, when it looked like the wind had lightened just enough to make quilt photographing possible, we went for a quick drive to snap these pictures. It was extremely chilly and as the last bit of light was high on the hilltops the warm colors of my quilt gave a vision so great. It was too beautiful to capture, but I tried!



This is my second Herringbone Quilt, made using the Herringbone quilt-as-you-go Tutorial that I share here, Anna Maria Horner's Dowry & True Colors collections for Free Spirit Fabrics, and Anna's Dowry ribbons collection for Renaissance Ribbons. I'm so happy with how this one turned out that I just might love it even more than my first, which is so encouraging because I plan to make at least three more this year. A Spring Herringbone with lighter and brighter fabrics, a Summer version in voile, and a second using the colors of Autumn that I love so much. 



This panel style of quilt-as-you-go made my idea of adding in ribbons effortless. After each panel was finished I simply edge stitched the ribbons, keeping the same angle as my fabrics, with a matching Aurifil thread directly on top of my work. Just here and there to add an extra bit of color, texture, and shimmer!





For my binding I finished with a Stella Solid in Indigo, the same binding I used to finish my Winter's Garden quilt from earlier in the week.







To create this quilt I used just two Design Rolls of Dowry and one of True Colors. Using the pre-cut 2.5" strips of fabric made my quick quilt pattern, even quicker! I had on hand one yard of each Dowry Ribbon to add to my quilt top. And I'm so very happy to share that these gorgeous ribbons are now available for purchase by the yard right here, at Renaissance Ribbons!






As promised once again, now that I have finished, photographed, and shared this new quilt, I have a gorgeous Design Roll of both the Dowry & True Colors collections that I used to make my quilt, and the entire Dowry ribbons collection to offer today in another special Giveaway!

Enter to win a Dowry & True Colors Design Roll and the Dowry Ribbons collection!

Here's how,   

1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Renaissance Ribbons on Facebook or Instagram! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
3. Follow Free Spirit Fabrics on Facebook! Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. My followers get a third entry! Whether you follow me here, on Facebook, on Instagram, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
5. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by tweet, instagram, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 5 possible entries! Enter now through Thursday, April 3rd. The winner will be chosen by Random and I will announce their name, at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!  
 

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!! From  1,959 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is... 

Comment #451 --   * JoAnne Brown * 

Congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly!   

Quilt & Giveaway Plans : :

I came down with a hard-hitting flu bug yesterday and it completely squashed all of my sewing plans for last night and for this morning, although I am beginning to feel a little better. There's nothing worse than feeling the satisfaction of being back on track only to be immediately derailed again, boo! But don't worry about me, I'll be back on schedule soon enough and so I thought I'd share my plans for when I am. They involve some pretty quilt finishes and giveaways to get excited about!

First up, my Winter's Garden quilt made using Dear Stella's Mercer collection arrived back from Sew Shabby Quilting this past weekend, with the most beautiful quilted roses!



I have a solid indigo planned for my binding which is tops on my to-do list. I think the solid should frame this quilt perfectly!



When I finish, photograph, and share my finished quilt I have a gorgeous fat quarter bundle of Mercer waiting to giveaway!



I've been sharing lots of posts on my Herringbone Dowry, True Colors, & Ribbons Quilt here and on my instagram. This one is also so close to being finished!



For the back and binding I pulled some favorite Anna Maria Horner prints from my stash! All the deep purples and bright aqua blues in her Dowry collection made me reach for more. I can't wait to finish this one too!



For when I do I'll have another amazing giveaway to share for a Design Roll of each Dowry & True Colors collections and the entire Dowry ribbons collection!



Stay tuned...  and stay healthy!  ♥  Maureen

In the Sunshine : :

This morning, after another snow storm, the sun is shining bright and beautifully through the window onto my newest finished quilt top. I couldn't resist taking a few quick shots to share here quickly before I dive into etsy orders!











Happy Sewing!  ♥  Maureen

With Ribbons : :

Yesterday I started a second Herringbone Quilt, this time using just the two Anna Maria Horner collections that didn't arrive in time to be included in my first one, Dowry and True colors! New to this quilt are also these Design Roll precuts that are making this super quick quilt make even quicker!
 


I'm so in love with this quilt already! It was just about midnight last night when I decided that Dowry, combined with True Colors, is my favorite AMH collection to date. A revisit to her Dowry introduction post this morning confirmed that. Yes, this collection is truly a gift to us quilters!

As enthused as I am just to be finally sewing with Anna's Dowry fabrics, I'm extra excited that for this quilt I'll be adding in a layer of her richly colored Dowry jacquard ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons!



I have a full jar of Aurifil waiting to be matched up for ribbon edge-stitching!



I can't wait to add them to my quilt!



How about you, have you used ribbon for added detail and texture to any of your quilts or sewing projects? 

♥  Maureen