Pillow Covers

I showed the pillow covers in the previous post but thought 

I would talk a little about them and show some close up photos too.

I was struggling with what exactly to make.  

I happened to find some amazing trim that was in the clearance section of JAF and thought it would be fun to use that on a gray background.  

I happened to have some sparkly linen that was the perfect background for this!

I did stitching in-between each row of trim and just stitched the trim down.  

Pretty basic.

The next one I found this amazing sheer, rosette fabric.  

I knew as soon as I saw it that it would make a great pillow cover, again without a lot of work.  

I did put it on a lining of plain gray fabric prior to making the pillow cover.  

I used fabric for the back that said "Made with love". 

 I really like how it turned out.

I bought half a yard of the rosette fabric and it was actually enough to get 2 pillow covers out of.  

I have not made the second one yet, but plan to do that and keep it for myself!

This gives you an idea of the size.  If I remember this one was 20".

The other one (that she is holding upside down) is 24"

Then I new that I had to make some that were a little more complex.  

I was thinking that they wanted me to stick with their gray and white theme but she kept showing me pillow covers with lots of teal so I determined that I would add some teal to the next one.  

I love the circle of geese pattern and since I have been honing my FPP skills, 

this pattern now goes MUCH more quickly.

 I didn't think to take process photos so this is the closest I come to those.  

I wanted the geese to be in a gradient and I think it is pretty well a gradient look.

It needed something additional to make it over the top.  

I decided to get some pearl cotton and hand quilt around the geese and then around the whole thing.  

I am not a fast hand quilter.  

This little pillow took me over 3 hours!  

That was using these chunky stitches too.

I have to say that I love the look of it though.  

This is the sandwiched top when I was finished quilting it, before I pressed it.

Here is the whole pillow cover all finished and ready to be stuffed.  This finished at 18".

I had been working on an embroidery for some time off and on.  

I was not sure what I would actually do with it once done except knew it would go to my daughter, the fisheries biologist.  

I scrambled to get it finished and make it into a pillow cover. 

 This is the finished embroidery prior to doing anything else with it.  

I LOVE this so much!!

Next up was to find some fabric to border the embroidery with.  

I had this cool raindrop fabric in my stash and it was perfect.  

This is actually the back of the cover too (in this photo)

I struggled to decide how to quilt the top but settled on circles.  

It's like when a drop falls into water it makes rings.  

I decided I would use that theme for the pillow cover too.  

I then added some hand quilting around the embroidery to help it stand out.  

I used a variegated floss for this.  

This is a photo of the finished  pillow cover front.

It was my favorite of all 4 of the pillows.  This also finished at 18".

Side by side finished covers.

I think she loved this.  Look at her friend, Amy's face in this photo.  I love that girl too.

They seemed pretty pleased with these.

Now I flew down to NC so how to get the pillow forms there?  

I was not certain I could buy the sizes I wanted while there so I went on the JAF website and ordered the sizes I needed and had them sent to her house with my name on the box.  

I told her not to open the box.  

When I arrived I put the covers on the pillows.

I had bought some blue fish fabric and wanted to make one more cover, but feared I was out of time.  As it turned out, I packed more quickly than I thought I would and had a bit of time. 

 I decided to whip up the last cover (the night before I was flying out), 

sadly it would not have a pillow form.

I used a light gray stripe for front and back then the fish fabric for the bow.  

I have to send a form there this week so they can fill the cover with a pillow.

All and all I am super happy with how all of these came out.  

I might do a few things differently in the future of pillow cover making but I really like all of these.

~XOP~

Weekend Shenanigans

It was a very slow sewing weekend.

I did finish binding a baby quilt but I can't share it just yet.

I started on this circle of geese and I have to say I forgot how fun this pattern is.

I have half finished.

I did this in a swap a LONG time ago and it took me so much longer to make then.

I guess my paper piecing is improving!

Since there is not much sewing, I will just share cats.  

Cole was hanging out next to me last night and I snapped this pic of him.  

Hallie sits on her "tuffet" on our deck quite a lot.  I'm not sure what the attraction of this is for her.

She has also claimed the dog house I put out for the stray cats.

Oh Hallie!

So my daughter gave us this plastic ball on a string on a stick for the cats.  

Cole has embraced this as his personal toy. 

 He cries and cries until I play with him. 

 He is quite the acrobat, actually. 

We play and play until he finally catches it. 

 I have to drop the stick and then he trots off with the entire thing and drops it. 

 Then he cries again until I go get it and we start all over again.  

You can watch him here.

I hope you all had a good weekend. 

 We were out at the farm with hubby getting the camper ready to go out, hopefully soon!  

My daughter had Stan and Artemis out of the barn. 

 I got to play "Chase" with Stan. 

You run and he chases you.  It is so cute! 

 If you stamp your foot like you do sometimes when you play with a dog, he leaps into the air. 

So funny! 

 I think my daughter might have gotten video of us playing and if so 

I will see if I can upload it here later.  

(If anyone wants to see this game!)

Hoping to get some sewing done this week, but since I am "helping" hubby get ready to go away to Canada for the week, this is doubtful. 

 I have SO much to do but I also have so much outside work to do! 

 Decisions, decisions.  

Which would you choose?

~XOP~

AAMQG Meeting And Pin Cushion Swap

We had our monthly meeting last night and our pin cushion swap. 

 If you remember I made a circle of geese as my swap pin cushion.

I loved this so much that I am making another one to keep for myself!

Then you all saw the bra block that I made for my friend at the DAMQG in my last post. 

 I decided to see if I could make a teeny, tiny one into a pin cushion for her.  

I think it came out pretty cute too. 

 It took me about 2 hours from start to finish.  

Not too bad!

We did our pin cushion Yankee swap style so there was stealing! 

There were so many beautiful ones it was difficult not to want them all!!

Of course the "Marie" cat one was my absolute favorite.  

You all know how nuts I am about my cats!

We have five of our own!!  

That mouse was pretty darned cute as well!

My friend Vicky made this amazing doggie one. 

 If you remember, she made me a similar one but with a little cat figurine on top of it.

Apparently I was not the only one that thought "Marie" was stunning.

  She was stolen 2 times before it was my turn.  

If I stole her she would stay with me as 3 steals are all that were allowed. 

 She was with another avid cat lover but I just could not resist her!!  

(Sorry Emily) 

 So now Marie (made by Marie) is now living with me!!!

Seriously could she be any cuter???

This is one super talented group of women. 

 I am so happy to be a part of all this positive, creative energy!!!

When I got home I was babbling on and on to hubby about her.  

He has been gone most of the week and he was like "whatever" but I felt like I won gold!!

Of course you know it was not long before the "inspector" was over to check her out.

 "It's ok, mom.  She can stay."  

Thanks for the approval Aiden!

I so look forward to these monthly meetings!  

I also got to talk with my friend Kathy that is long arming my next Color Inspirations Quilt.  

Can't wait to see it! 

 I actually gave some suggestions for the quilting on this and she totally expanded on them.  

It should be incredible!!

How was your night?

~XOP~