JOY.
This is the story of Joy.
In November I really, really wanted to make some Thanksgiving decor. A runner, a pillow, it didn't really matter. I just wanted to make something, you know? Real bad (I'll blame that on Angela). But, tragically, I didn't because I spent my time making Christmas gifts so that I wouldn't be stressed in December...
So come December I had my heart set on making something for Christmas. Thank-goodness we didn't have all the hardware required for those pesky living room curtains on the big, important "must do" list. Phew!
My pillow of Joy was inspired by this "Lovely Little Forest Quilt" and tutorial from the Purl Bee. I followed the easy tutorial for making the trees, which was just delightful, I tell you. Those little trees are so cute, so tiny. Oh my gosh, how perfect would they be as a Christmas card?!?!
Ahem, I enjoyed making the trees.
But, as much as I admire this wall quilt, I'll admit that it's a wee bit too subtle for my house. A leettle too reserved. As I happily grew my little forest of trees, I racked my brain for the right touch of something that would make this pillow stitched in Color.
Pinked patches of fabric and reverse applique nestled in amongst the trees quite nicely. And, as fate would have it, the patches are from 3 of Anna Maria Horner's colorful collections: Garden Party, Good Folks and Innocent Crush. How nice. The hand-stitching flew by all too fast. And, suddenly it was time to sew the zipper, the invisible zipper....
So, of course, I procrastinated.
After all, what is the point of a finished pillow cover if one doesn't have a pillow form? Well folks, the pillow forms arrived early this week. So, last night, it. was. time.
Enter invisible zipper tutorial from Sew Katie Did. I'd like to say that my zipper was installed with absolute joy, but you know that would be a lie, right? In fact, my mind got a little twisted when it came to stitching the zipper on the second side, and so...
By this point I was not happy. But, hey, joy is not about "happiness". Joy is despite the circumstances. So, I persevered. And, you know what?
I conquered the invisible zipper.
If you've been following my adventures in stitches, you may remember that I did sew an invisible zipper before at Skirting Couture with the truly fantabulous Anna Maria Horner and her assistant Alexis. But, well... Alexis held my hand the whole time. 4 months later, I felt like a newbie (but a brave newbie, since the FMQ had gone so well earlier this week). And, yes, there was fear.
So, my genius plan is to sew invisible zippers regularly throughout 2011 in order to free myself from the fear of the invisible zipper. And, guess what, you can to! In fact, I'm cooking up a grand idea. A grand pillow-making idea.
To be continued....
P.S. and the joy warranted ice cream.
In November I really, really wanted to make some Thanksgiving decor. A runner, a pillow, it didn't really matter. I just wanted to make something, you know? Real bad (I'll blame that on Angela). But, tragically, I didn't because I spent my time making Christmas gifts so that I wouldn't be stressed in December...
So come December I had my heart set on making something for Christmas. Thank-goodness we didn't have all the hardware required for those pesky living room curtains on the big, important "must do" list. Phew!
My pillow of Joy was inspired by this "Lovely Little Forest Quilt" and tutorial from the Purl Bee. I followed the easy tutorial for making the trees, which was just delightful, I tell you. Those little trees are so cute, so tiny. Oh my gosh, how perfect would they be as a Christmas card?!?!
Ahem, I enjoyed making the trees.
But, as much as I admire this wall quilt, I'll admit that it's a wee bit too subtle for my house. A leettle too reserved. As I happily grew my little forest of trees, I racked my brain for the right touch of something that would make this pillow stitched in Color.
Pinked patches of fabric and reverse applique nestled in amongst the trees quite nicely. And, as fate would have it, the patches are from 3 of Anna Maria Horner's colorful collections: Garden Party, Good Folks and Innocent Crush. How nice. The hand-stitching flew by all too fast. And, suddenly it was time to sew the zipper, the invisible zipper....
So, of course, I procrastinated.
After all, what is the point of a finished pillow cover if one doesn't have a pillow form? Well folks, the pillow forms arrived early this week. So, last night, it. was. time.
Enter invisible zipper tutorial from Sew Katie Did. I'd like to say that my zipper was installed with absolute joy, but you know that would be a lie, right? In fact, my mind got a little twisted when it came to stitching the zipper on the second side, and so...
By this point I was not happy. But, hey, joy is not about "happiness". Joy is despite the circumstances. So, I persevered. And, you know what?
I conquered the invisible zipper.
If you've been following my adventures in stitches, you may remember that I did sew an invisible zipper before at Skirting Couture with the truly fantabulous Anna Maria Horner and her assistant Alexis. But, well... Alexis held my hand the whole time. 4 months later, I felt like a newbie (but a brave newbie, since the FMQ had gone so well earlier this week). And, yes, there was fear.
So, my genius plan is to sew invisible zippers regularly throughout 2011 in order to free myself from the fear of the invisible zipper. And, guess what, you can to! In fact, I'm cooking up a grand idea. A grand pillow-making idea.
To be continued....
P.S. and the joy warranted ice cream.