Using it as a building point, I pulled out some fabric strips still on hand in those colors, trying to work them into the design on the green background. I tried tons of arrangements and nothing spoke to me. On one hand, I considered that perhaps I was overthinking it and should just do it. On the other hand, I was thinking about the advice Tim Gunn gives on Project Runway, “edit”. So I opted to keep it simple, and the off-center placement of the ribbon echoes a bookmark I made for my husband with the same pale green ribbon incorporated. I had just been looking at that bookmark the day before and perhaps it informed my decision making.
But boy did I love all those fabrics I pulled and they looked so good together. So, how about a border? At that point I decided to just do it and I think I like the outcome. The green ground fabric is actually a monochromatic print and I keyed off the print to do quilting in a boxed pattern of parallel lines. The real surprise for me came when I finished and turned to the back. The way the prints blend and the quilting overlays them reminded me of one of Fassett’s designs in a garden-themed book of a coordinated floral nine-patch. I’ve always wanted to sew one of those and that may move up on the list.