just a few things

How was your weekend?  I think it was a good one for sewing!  I did my chores with the garden rake and enjoyed time with the family, and yet somehow managed to make several finishes on my sewing list.  Odd how time seems to s-t-r-e-t-c-h some weekends and entirely disappear to nothing on others.  Hope you had the stretchy good kind of weekend!

I have a few things to share with you today, and it goes like this:  fabric + Pillow + FABRIC!



First up is the Fabric Refund Giveaway going on at Sew Fresh Fabrics.  They're literally up to their ears in fabulous, designer fabric scraps and have generously decided to give them away.  And did you know that when fabric stores thinks "scrap" they mean large expanses of fabric like fat quarters and pretty much any length of fabric shy of 18"?  Really!  So, although I'm threatening my own chances at this fabric surprise, I thought you ought to know about it.

Pieced with Cluck. Cluck. Sew Template!

Now comes the pillow part.  I made this for my mama.  If you know me at all, you probably guessed it wasn't for me...

My mom is a serious thrifter with mad skills and maybe a tad bent towards keeping too much stuff too long.  Admittedly, this time it paid off.  All of these fabrics were repurposed or picked up for pennies!  I was pretty skeptical of my abilities when she gave me silks, quilting cotton, home decorators weight and upholstery weight fabrics to combine in one pillow.  But, I did my best!

repurposed upholstery siding

As you can see, this circular pillow has a 6" rise with one plain side and one pieced "sprocket" side.  I used the upholstery fabrics on the side and back and mixed the remaining types of fabrics in the sprockets.

thrifted upholstery backing

This one was my favorite. Texture!

Sprocket Pillow {for my Mom}

The sprockets were made by adapting the template in Cluck. Cluck. Sew's tutorial.  For assembly, I opted to install an invisible zipper along the curvy seam of the upholstery fabrics.  Didn't know if it would come out, but it totally did!  The process was the same as my tutorial here.  And now the pillow cover can be removed and washed.  Love you, Mom!

Ok, time for more fabric.

I want to make sure you saw Anna Maria Horner's sneak peak of her new collection!


Anna says it'll be in stores by late May and includes 30 quilting cottons, 6 voiles, and 4 laminates.  I'm already in love with that large floral print on cream at center.  I think it might be just right for mod podging onto the side of my new Stitched in Color chest of drawers (still under construction).  Also adoring the floral design with butterflies and hydrangeas. 

Me thinks a quilt of my very own is in order...