A Quick Finish!

I started this pillow cover during my trip to Norway.  Tildas World generously provided all the fabric for this folded star project.  Tula, the designer was very sweet.  The pillow cover is 18" square.

For the blue strip on the pillow back, I used the burrito pillowcase method; I feel very clever!

I'm glad to be able to check this off my list.  Now, I think I'm ready to start a new project!

May your bobbins always be full,

The Secrets are Ready!

First, I added a border, all the way around each block, making each block 18 inches square.  I forgot to take a photo!  Then I cut an 18-inch square from the front and back of each of Bob's shirts.

Before I went to NYC, I asked around and found someone who was willing to do some machine embroidery for me.  She did a wonderful job.  

After stitching the embroidered patches below the pockets of each shirt front, the front became the pillow cover back.

I love using shirt fronts for pillow cover backs.  I used 18-inch pillow forms, and they look overstuffed, just the way I wanted them.  I sure hope my girls love these.

Not a great photo, but it shows Bob wearing one of these shirts last year on our cruise.

May your bobbins always be full,

Secrets

I'm building a secret gift for my daughters.  This is the first part, making blocks for the front of two pillow covers to give them for their July birthdays.  I'm pretty sure they don't read my blogs, I think the secret is safe, here.  My youngest will be out of the country for her birthday, so I'm rushing to get the gifts done for when she comes here on Wednesday for Bob's birthday.  We're going to the cemetery and then lunch to celebrate him.

I'll post updates or the finished project, time permitting.  This block is called Double Windmill and I used some Sweetwater for the prints.

May your bobbins always be full,

Pillows, pillows

I've been scrap busting, again.  The amazing thing is I never seem to really make a dent in the ol' scrap pile.

I also used scraps to make the backs of these pillow covers.

These are the five new pillow covers I've made for the living room, this year.  They're going to get a lot of use; we don't do much that's only for "show", around here.

In a month we're leaving on an extended vacation, I think I'm going to concentrated on more small projects before we leave.  Plus, I have three quilts waiting for binding that I picked up from my long-arm quilter.  I don't feel a sense of urgency about completing them, because I'll be closing my etsy shop for 6 weeks while we're gone.  Two of the quilts are for the shop and one for a gift.

May your bobbins always be full,

Some Lush sewing

I recently fell in love with Lush Uptown by Erin Michael.  I was kinda late to the game but I managed to purchase some yardage, there wasn't a great selection available.  I wanted to spruce up the throw pillows on our leather sofa.  I really like the way they turned out.

Some close ups of each pillow cover.

I used my newly acquired mitering skills on this one.

I also managed to score a Fat Eighth Bundle of Lush, and I'm thinking of a quilt.  I used one of the fat eights for the above center panel.

Imagine that!

May your bobbins always be full,

Pumpkin Fun

I explained last week about how I received these great blocks, the post is here. 

I played with them a bit, and decided to make a small wall hanging for my front door, and a matching pillow cover.

I did my usual with the back of the pillow cover.  I used the front of a man's shirt.  This one had 3 pockets!

I used the last three to make a table runner.  This is going to be a gift.  I took inside and outside photos of the table runner; I don't think either photo does the colors justice.  But, I think you get the idea.

May your bobbins always be full,

Disappearing Nine Patch Pillow Cover top

I finished putting together the final pillow cover top for Kimberly.  I had so many ideas in my head, but decide on a disappearing nine patch pattern.

I really like the ease of using a man's shirt front for the pillow cover back.  I've been to Goodwill and got 5 men's shirts to use.  I've already cut into one, so there's only four in my photo.

BTW, if you're a reader, today is the last day to enter my book give away at Loves Books and Tea.  I'm giving away the winners choice of all the books I read in March.  Only one person has entered and she's a no-reply blogger!

May your bobbins always be full,

Lovin' these Granny Squares.

This is the fourth of five pillow cover tops, I've made for Kimberly.  I really love the granny squares.  I think my 1/4" seams aren't "scant" enough, because these turned out a wee bit small; so I added a small border around the outside.  If I made a granny square quilt, I think I'd use the strip-piecing method that Katy showed on I'm a ginger monkey.

Now I need to decide what design to use for the fifth pillow cover.

May your bobbins always be full,

Another Pillow Cover

I decided on some Japanese X & + blocks for Kimberly's third pillow cover.

Because I wanted to stick to her colors of Aqua and Red, I didn't make them very scrappy.

I added in some different grays to have some contrast.

I also needed the make the blocks larger, 9.5", instead of the 8" blocks that 

the tutorial produced.

I really pleased with these four blocks.

Thanks to Amy of Badskirt for the great tutorial.

May your bobbins always be full,

Collecting

I'm a collector, at heart.  I collect fabric, books, of course, and sports autographs.  I try to keep my collecting to a minimum, because when we retired, we downsized.  Bob and I have two wonderful daughters, no parent could be prouder of their children.  In the past few years I've been collecting more daughters.  Wonderful women who are young and have become friends of mine.  When one of them ask for something, I say sure; just as if Carrie or Sharon had asked for something.

Kimberly, is one of these great young women.  She's relocating from SoCal to Iowa, and asked me to make some pillow-covers to use on screened porch at her new house.  She decided on the number, 5, and the colors, Red and Aqua with White, and the rest is up to me.

This quilt, that I gave to her son and his bride was her inspiration.  I get to decide what the pillows will look like.  So, exciting.  I know I'm a nerd, but Oh, Well.

These are my Red and Aqua fabrics I have in my stash; I think I'll be able to come up with 5 fantastic pillows, from these fabrics.

May your bobbins always be full,

Bookshelf wall-hanging and pillow-cover

I finally finished the bookshelf wall-hanging and pillow cover.

For the pillow backing, I used the front of an old shirt, I even left the pocket in place.

I thought I might make a good "hiding place".

I used the back of the same shirt for the wall-hanging backing.

May your bobbins always be full,