I really love the confetti or improv style of blocks I've been seeing on Flickr lately, so I decided to build on that and make a pillow from some of my favorite Anna Maria Horner scraps. Oh, how I heart some of her older fabric collections. Don't get me wrong, I like Innocent Crush a lot too, but I really love the saturated colors she used in Good Folks and Garden Party! This pillow was a lot of fun to put together. It was really cool to put this pillow together in an improv kind of way. I saw a quote on Amanda Jean's blog on Saturday, when I was feeling a little stuck on this pillow, that really just made me want to keep going, and let myself just create for the fun of it.
"Make what you want to make, and make it the way you want to make it." Gwen Marston
That was just the inspiration I needed to finish off this pillow. I think it might be my favorite pillow I've made thus far. I quilted it with a simple stipple, which felt good. I used my new spring-loaded free motion foot, and found it very easy to use, which was a pleasant surprise.
I also finished up the embroidered robot pillow for my munchkin, which I'm happy to say he loves. He's so fickle these days about his things - favorite toys get discarded on a dime around here, but so far Hug-Bot is his new friend, and there are serious tears shed when he can't find him. I really love this fabric I used to sash the robot with, it's from David Walker's Robots collection. I just adore those bright, wonky stripes! The embroidery pattern, by the way, is from Sublime Stitching, which is an awesome treasure trove of all things embroidery.
I also did some bee blocking this weekend. For our first month in the {Sew} Beautiful Bee, Cherie had selected a dresden plate block, using a different ruler than I've used before, so I thought I'd do a practice run, just to be on the safe side. I dug out some favorite Amy Butler fabrics and cut right in. I'm glad I did - when I first showed some of these fabrics to my husband and proposed a quilt for our bed, he was totally against it. But in a pillow? He thinks they're pretty cool. I'm really glad Cherie turned me on to this ruler, I really love the chunky look that it gives, and I fully intend to make another dresden pillow with this Fat Cats ruler
for my mom's birthday next month.
for my mom's birthday next month.
It feels good to finish a few small projects on Betsy 2.0. Gives me some confidence. I'm feeling like I'm getting to know her a lot better. There's still a lot to learn, but I no longer feel like a full-on novice, which is nice.
I'm entering these pillows into the Blogger's Pillow Party contest that Rachel at Stitched in Color is hosting. Check it out!
I'm also linking up this week with Sew & Tell this week! Amy's been off for the holidays, and I'm excited to get back to linking up with her this week.
Did you see that I'm starting a quilt-along?
It's aptly named the Sliced Coins Quilt Along - I'm attempting to work up a button you can add to your blog and hope to have that up by the end of the week along with a list of materials so you can start gathering everything you need for the quilt top. This quilt would also be a great scrapbuster! We'll be getting started with the sewing toward the end of this month. I hope you'll join me, the more, the merrier!
Love it! I haven't gotten the pillow "bug" yet, but I have a feeling it could be hard to get rid of. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the hug bot! My son's room is decorated in robots. So fun!
ReplyDeleteLove all these pillows! They are addicting aren't they? I want to make a whole hst quilt too. Yours is great -modern meadow was prob my fav this year. I love the Dresden plate too, I've been too scared to try it though. I did make a queen size quilt out of Love and hubby likes it. I've learned not to show him the Tabriz beforehand!
ReplyDeleteUgh- I hate auto correct! That's supposed to say "show him the fabrics beforehand "
ReplyDeletePlease don't feel you should stop with the pillows- they are fantastic! I love them all, especially the middle colorful one, and the robot is awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt-along looks fun- I have many scraps, so I may just join in! Not that I don't have 10 quilts on the go at the moment....hey, what's one more?? And this one would help me adhere to my "fabric diet" if I am using up scraps!
p.s. am following now...thought I was all along but I guess I wasn't! Oops!
Love all your pillows! I've been pillow crazy this last week too. The HST pillow is fabulous - I'm definitely making one of those today!
ReplyDeleteLovely pillows, you have made here!
ReplyDeleteI might join in the quilt along... After all, that's all I need, another wip! ;)
I loved that quote from Gwen, too!
ReplyDeleteFabulous pillows :)
Lovely pillows. HST Modern Meadow pillow is lovely! These must make you happy.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your quilt-along requirements. This seems like a perfect fit for a stack I've been hoarding for awhile.
All of these pillows are so fun!
ReplyDeleteI think your amh pillow is one of my favorites that I've seen lately. It reminds me of the ticker tape quilts...I think i see a ticker tape pillow in my future. :)
I have about 10 pillows I've been meaning to make - thanks for the inspiration to get them finished. I really like your HST pillow - it reminds me of the quilt I finished. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be eager to hear more about your Quilt-A-Long soon!
OMG, great pillows! I love them all! Did you know Rachel at Stitched In Color is doing a "Pillow Party" project in 2011? I think there are prizes every month for the best pillow. You should totally enter!
ReplyDeleteHow did you make the confetti pillow? Is that sashing in between the blocks, or are the blocks sewn onto the white background?
Love the scrappy pillow! I have a dog who eats pillows, so I'm afraid they're not high on my list of favorite projects. You're tempting me though....
ReplyDeleteI love all of them! So cute! These are exactly what I would like to do for my own home...but I am still hesitant for some reason! Maybe I will hop on over to the Blogger's Pillow Party for more inspiration and confidence!
ReplyDeleteI love your improv pillow. A quilt or pillow in that style has been on my list for a while. Very cute!
ReplyDeleteIf I can use what I have on hand then I just might join in your quilt-along. I'll be watching for details!
ReplyDeletegorgeous gorgeous pillows, all of them! My favourite is the one with the patches and white borders...
ReplyDeleteAll of your pillows look great!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the stained glass/mosaic pillow. I'm hoping to do a full quilt in a similar pattern.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun to get some "quick hit" projects done! That's what I've been doing since the holidays too. I feel like I've gotten TONS done. Love that you post all of the "quilt along" groups to choose from. Oh and new friends to follow are my FAVorite Friday activity.:)
ReplyDeleteLove the scrappy pillow, so fun! I made my first Dresden as a christmas gift, and I'm totally addicted to them.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know what I like best and how could you choose one for the pillow fight :D. They're all great!
ReplyDeleteI love love love all your pillows!!! So cute!
ReplyDeleteOk, the robot pillow is adorable, but I really, really love the confetti one--I'll have to be researching how to do that sort of block next. SO pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour pillows are all beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHug Robot is the best!!!!! Super cute!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth - these are all great. I love the modern meadow fabric, so that pillow is my favorite. :)
ReplyDeleteAll of your pillows are great! I think my favorite is the HST one...you are right about the versatility of HSTs. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour pillows are beautiful. I have a solution for you---if you have to make more and don't have a place for them you can send some to me. LOL
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing pillows! I don't think you can ever have too many pillows around the house :)
ReplyDeleteThese are all wonderful. I love the wonderful use of small scraps for your Pillow Party (January) pillow. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillows! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCOngrats on being a finalist! I really adore your mod mosaic!
ReplyDeleteThat AMH pillow is utterly gorgeous, congrats on it making the finals!
ReplyDelete