Fabric Flair

My Project Monday ~ Better than plain pillows

When I began making my great room pillows, I had intended just to make a few with printed fabric but no other embellishment, nothing fancy, just plain pillow covers.  I quickly decided that would be boring and the ideas starting flying through my head like a ball in a racketball court.  Here's one idea I came up with.

I love this Alexander Henry fabric and I didn't want to add anything to distract or take away from at least one pillow cover made from it.  So instead, I decided to use a little more of the fabric to add some texture. 

• I cut a 16.5" square of my fabric for the front of the pillow (the pillow form is 16", plus 1/2 inch for the seam allowance).

• Then I cut long strips of fabric the same length as my pillow.  I didn't plan ahead how thick I wanted the strips to be, so I would imagine making them thicker or thinner is just a personal preference.  I decided to do 3 because I wanted to add just a touch of texture to the middle.  More would have been nice, but I got tired of fraying!

• I carefully frayed the edges by pulling individual threads on both sides of the strips.  Again, how frayed you want the edges to be is up to you.  Pull more threads for a more tattered look, or less for a cleaner look.

• Pin the strips in place. 

• First I stitched down the strips, close to the edges.  Then I stitched down 2 more times, weaving back and forth over the strip.  I liked the random look of the stitching, rather than trying to tediously keep the rows straight.

• Then I proceeded with the construction of the pillow cover (see tutorial here).

As you can see, from a distance the embellishment is not strong, and actually may not be very noticeable.  However, it gives just enough interest and texture close up to stray from the plain, flat pillow cover.

Tutorial Tuesday ~ Stenciled Envelope Pillow

Okay, so if you've figured it out by now, this past week I've decided to become alliterative with my blog posts.  I'm not sure if the titles will stick, but they're cutesy enough for now!

Since I gave you a peek at some pillows I've been working on yesterday, I decided to go in search of a simple envelope pillow cover tutorial.  Envelope pillow covers are really the simplest, most-cost effective and storage-effective pillows you can make.  Easy to change when the mood strikes, pillow covers fold neatly in a linen closet rather than wasting space with full size pillows.

A quick search turned up this tutorial from the DIY Dish, where twin sisters Kim and Kris share their creative inspiration in short video tutorials for all kinds of great projects.  If you've never made an envelope-style pillow cover, this video will show you just how easy it is!

 

My Project Monday ~ a plethora of pillows

In effort to make a few changes in my great room, that is, trying to make it feel a little more youthful,  creative, and contemporary, I recently began remaking all of my pillows.  I would say that I wanted to add a handmade touch, but actually all of my previous pillows were made by me.  There just wasn't much creativity involved.  The fabrics were heavy and predictable french/italian country style, with yellow and gold damasks, stripes, and brocades as the dominant theme.  I wanted something more quirky, maybe even a bit whimsical.

I decided upon a few Alexander Henry fabrics and then just simply set to work.  None of the pillows were planned out.  I just sort of made up the rules as I went.  The unique combination and crafty style has created one of those "I think my husband is humoring me" moments, as I'm having trouble discerning if he really likes them or not!  But I told him not to worry, I still have all the boring, traditional style pillow covers, so I can always throw them back on if need be!

I'll share how I made a few of them on a later post, I just wanted to give you a peek at my latest sewing frenzy and whim!

My favorite one to make was the pillow with the chrysanthemum petals.  I'm not sure if my applique process is going to hold, but the unexpected mix of prints and the desparately random layout made it an intruguing puzzle.  Especially for the perfectionist in me!

 

Oh, and I apologize because my greatroom lighting is horrific, very dark as shadowy as it is positioned in the middle of our house and does not have any natural light of its own.  If only I could move the sofa next to a window to take photos!

Featured Fabric Friday ~ Sweet Divinity by The Quilted Fish

Even though the Sweet Divinity fabric collection by The Quilted Fish for Riley Blake was released last fall, I am still as enchanted with it today as the day it arrived.

Enchanted. That's the perfect word.  Or maybe divine but since that's in the title, it's a given.  The photos online are pretty, but you really do not get an appreciation of the detail and beauty of this fabric until you see it in person. 

The intricate details and so sweet colors are just waiting to be made into a something for the little girl in your life!  Just take a look! 
Soft Blocks from Lovin' Ewe

 

    

Pillowcase Dress by Lovin' Ewe             Patchwork Blanket by Made by Mum

 

   

Bonnet by Little Betty Designs               Pinwheel Quilt by Love the Baby

 

  

Pleated Wristlet by Cathy's Totes          Reversible Headband by Little Birds Boutique

 

Pillowcase Dress by ThreeSisterz    Burp Cloth Set by Mom N Mia Quilts

 

I have a selection of Sweet Divinity prints in blue and pink in the shop, so stop by and take a look if you haven't yet!

 

 

Window Shopping ~ Spring Bedroom

I'm longing to go shopping and redecorate something.  Anything.  I miss the days B.C. (before Conner) that even if I wasn't going to buy anything, I could spend all afternoon going from store to store, gathering ideas and putting rooms together in my mind.  But seeing as those days seem long past...well...I guess until he goes to kindergarten in a couple years...I decided to window shop my favorite home decor store.

Potterybarn.  Does that make me a sell out?

I remember an episode of Friends when Phoebe was giving Rachel a hard time because she felt buying any mass produced furniture or decor from a box store lacked creativity and individuality, and that everything needed to have a "story" behind it.  But I guess by the end of the episode even she had been won over, lol!

So here's my fresh bedroom makeover.  These things would actually look great with my bedroom furniture.  I love the warm browns with the light airy creams and yellows.  I've always been a sucker for textures and rustic, worn, found-looking items.  Here's hoping this satisfies my craving!

Tuscan Urns and Cachepot

Adeline Baskets

Florian Palampore Organic Duvet

Rustic Arched Mirror

Kingsley Lantern

 

Free Soul Blossoms quilt patterns

I really love seeing the very creative patterns that fabric designers create when their new fabric lines are released.  Amy Butler's website has 2 quilt patterns available designed to use her Soul Blossoms collection.  The Bloom quilt is my favorite, but I'd certainly enjoy a little Sunshine as well!  Whether you use them to sew those exact quilts or just use them as inspiration, they certainly sweet eye candy!

 

Pretty bedding pattern from Poppy Patterns

Have you seen that Poppy Patterns has a free downloadable PDF pattern for the Poppy Bedding that we've drooled over for months?  This so very pretty bedding set pattern features instructions for making a king or queen duvet and euro shams. 

Some of the Poppy collection prints work well with the new Magnolia Lane collection.  I particularly like the olive paired with it.  It would be so pretty to mix and match the prints from both collections for this pretty bedding!  Now I'm longing to redecorate my bedroom....or maybe my guest bedroom!

 

My Magnolia Lane Bag

Magnolia Lane by Laura Gunn was on my shelves but a few hours before it began calling my name to use for a project.  After much consideration, I decided to use it to make a sturdy tote bag.  I've made basic tote bags without interfacing, but I wanted something with strength that could possibly stand on its own.

I love the Magnolia Branches print the most, so that was an easy choice for the outside of the bag.  The Painter's Canvas in brown seemed like a perfect compliment for the bottom and handles.  I used the Scattered Buds for the lining, and while I sort of wish I had made a different choice, it's like finding sunshine inside the bag each time I open it!

 

Okay, so the shadows in my photo do not make it look overly sunshiney, but trust me, it is!

When I cut the panels for the outside, I sewed heavyweight stabilizer to them before stitching them together to form the shell.  I also sandwhiched the stabilizer in the handles, which makes it a little stiff, but still, I like the strength of it.

 

Now I just need to find a project to make with the Blooming Tulips.  It's such a fresh, cheerful, sunny print and so pretty that it, too, is calling my name.  I had better decide on a project before it sells out, as it has been the most popular fabric in the collection so far!