Redo your bedroom with Renaissance style

Paisley motifs are one of those classic favorites, and designer Terry Albers let the paisley print in our Lauren collection take center stage in her new quilt, "Renaissance Medallion." This quilt, featured in Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine, showcases 3 different blocks in a unique layout that gives the impression of being on point. 

(Hint: From a construction perspective, most of it isn't!) 

Keep reading to learn more about Terry's beautiful design.

"Renaissance Medallion" by Terry Albers; machine quilted by Mary Klein;
featured in  Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting March/April 2015

Q. What attracted you to the Lauren collection?

Terry: I just can't seem to resist a beautiful paisley! The Lauren line has such beautiful colors, making it easy to pull colors for blocks and accents. I find the combination both vibrant and peaceful.

Q. Do you have a favorite print in the collection?

Terry: It was the paisley that first grabbed my attention. It is beautifully detailed.

Q. Can you talk about your design?

Terry:   I created a medallion design for some friends by starting with a square and adding the pieced corners. It turned out really well so I added the layout to my sketchbook. I created my version of these blocks for a special quilt when my grandson was born. This design was the perfect opportunity for me to feature them again. The layout of these blocks gives the impression of being on-point for a little different look.

Q. And what about your fabric placement?

Terry: I used the companion fabrics to accent different parts of the blocks, trying to balance them for color interest and scale. The red was an easy choice for the pop of color, as pulling the red and rose from the paisley to give more life to the quilt. The first paisley border emphasizes the medallion look of the center and allowed me to use the paisley again.

Q. What do you like best about this quilt?

Terry:  I love the fabrics and the whole design seems to float (thanks to the first border). The end result is a bit unexpected and I like that. The unusual setting adds more interest.

Q. Any advice for someone making this design?

Terry:  It's just blocks and segments...one step at a time. I found it extremely helpful to mark all the parts as I cut. I pin a bit of paper with the block name on each part so that I could sort them into stacks for each block type.

Don't use tape or stickers because they tend to fall off or stick to something else.

Q. Tell us about the machine quilting.

Terry: My quilter is such an accomplished artist that I give her free rein. She used a combination of medallions to highlight some of the squares and rows of feathers in the borders. I am fortunate to have Mary Klein working on my quilts. Her long-arm skills enhance the beauty of the fabrics and the designs I create.

Q. What do you envision it being used for?

Terry: I plan to use the quilt in my guest bedroom. It is going to look stunning on my antique bed and complete feeling of a restful retreat in that room. If I had higher ceilings, I would be tempted to hang it on the wall above the bed, too.

Q. Anything else to share?

Terry: Fabri-Quilt has been coming out with a new paisley line almost every season and I've worked with most of them. I plan to keep my eyes open for the next one, too. The fabric has a beautiful hand and (for me) irresistible colors. No two are the same and each one inspires a different design

See the entire Lauren collection here.

Find out more about Terry and her designs here.

Buy the kit for the Renaissance Medallion quilt here.

Buy the digital version of this pattern here.

Find Love of Quilting magazine here.