Look What I Made

Yep.  I made a pillow.  And I love it!  I just wish it was for me.  It isn't.  I couldn't end the school year without making something for S's Grade 2 teacher.  She is beyond wonderful.  And it didn't seem fair to make something for the principal and E's Grade 3 teacher and leave her out.   Just couldn't do it.

I am not sure if she will like it but if she doesn't, she can always just leave it in the classroom.  Unless the classroom gets lice THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR like they did this year.  Then she will have to burn it.  Let's hope that doesn't happen - and not just for the pillow's sake.

I took my inspiration from a pillow I saw on flickr.  Super easy to do.  It is a 19.5" pillow with a 20" pillow form because I like overstuffed pillows, yes I do.

If I didn't have piles of work to do today, I would be making another one of these pillows.  I plan on making a lot of them.  Have a birthday?  You are getting a pillow.  A baby?  A pillow.  Anniversary?  A pillow ... you get where I am going?

One of the things I noticed when I was putting together the fabric for the pillow (I cut a lot of extra - see above for pillow making factory reason) is that I have almost no red or purple in my stash.  And it isn't easy finding red or purple that I like either.  

Strange, but true.

L xo

PS - I also made a skirt this weekend.  You will never ever see it.  Ever.  Not good.  Not good at all.  I don't think I am cut out for clothes making.  Unless it is pj's.  I am pretty good at those.

On A Roll ...

I finished my Pillow Talk Swap pillow just in the nick of time.  I am 2 for 2, in case you were counting. This is the only picture I have since the pillow is off to its new home.  This pillow is BIG - a whole 24".  I machine quilted the centre and the chandelier-ly things in the border.  I hand quilted the bird outline in the centre and did colonial knots (big thanks to Deirdre for teaching me) for some of the turquoise and pink dots.  The back is more of the Echino fabric.  I can't wait to see what it looks like when it is washed and crinkly (I made it super sturdy so that it could be washed easily because, in my house at least, a pillow this size will be sat on the floor in no time).  I really liked this project even though these are not my go to colours (I didn't even know what a "jewel tone" was, really.  Ask my friend, Greta.  I had to ask her to tell me what she thought they were.)

I think on a go forward basis, I am going to do less bees and more swaps - more of a pick and choose kind of thing.  Lisa at Vintage Modern Quilts wrote a good blog post about bees and the like.  

I think I will follow her lead.

L xo

PS - I went to my embroidery class yesterday.  Have lots of catch up but think I am really going to learn a lot.

PPS - One of my clients just wrote me a very nice email about my leaving work.  Was the first time since I gave notice that I [almost] cried.  I think I keep forgetting what a big change this is.  Not that I regret my decision for one second.  I can't tell you how excited and grateful I am to have the opportunity to spend more time with my wonderful children.  It is just a big change, is all.

PPPS - Melanie at Texas Freckles won this week's Spoonflower challenge with her cheater fabric.  It is gorgeous.  Greta and I are going to split a yard.  It will go towards our hexes obsession.  I'll post soon about that.  I even have a picture of when it all started for me.  

PPPS - Hello, my name is Leanne and I am addicted to making hexes.

I Am in Awe

Let's take a minute to look at this pillow, shall we?  It is my pillow.  Not made by me (I doubt I could ever do such a good job) but for me! Made by my Pillow Swap 3 pal, Val.  

Can you believe it?  

I am in love with this pillow.  It is beyond gorgeous and made so well.  As this was a blind swap, I really lucked out, didn't I?

This pillow has made my day.  Really.

L xo

PS - If there is a Pillow Swap 4, I am signing up and crossing my fingers I get Val again.  Hint Hint.