Sunday, September 25, 2011

We all fall down!

On Saturday I woke up with big plans to finish my Little Apples quilt. Then I rolled over and went back to sleep. Eventually I got my act together and started quilting. I was going to do a simple zig-zag pattern, but no matter what I did the fabric kept smooshing and shifting, and I found myself picking stitches out until my fingers hurt. This had happened on my past two quilts (Bliss and Sherbet Pips) but I fought through it. I was using my walking foot, and thought it might be my machine so I switched to my old one, but had the same problem. Then it hit me what the problem was - my walking foot was not walking. It was functioning as a regular presser foot and making my quilts a ferlipping mess! Any issues aren't terribly evident on the other 2 quilts, but there was no way I could continue to make this one without it looking absolutely horrid. I tried to repair it, but I believe I lost a spring along the way. So I promptly ordered a new one and am very excited for it to get here. I don't know if I'm more excited for the new foot or the quilting guide it comes with - no more taping out my lines or winging it - woot!!!

I was really in the mood for something bright and fallish and fun, so I used the "now what do I make?" time as an opportunity to knock out a project I had on my list for my mumsy. I enjoyed every single step of making this - and it really didn't take very long. Pretty much an afternoon project (an early lunch-late dinner longer sort of afternoon, but an afternoon nonetheless). Here it is:


Would you believe I've never made a pillow before? I am so in love with how this turned out. I traced everything onto sewable Heat n' Bond, cut, fused and did some stitching. It was really so simple I kind of want to applique a lot of other things.... I stitched the trunk and branches of the tree to give it a little bit of texture - it makes it look more like a real tree:



I did some decorative stitches on the leaves - they look a little like the real veins (?) on leaves. I used brown thread to tone down the colors - they were a little too bright. I like too bright, but my mom likes more muted tones. The stitching took care of it (I think --you can tell me if I'm wrong. It won't hurt my feelings).



The background is a plain unbleached muslin. I had bought it for something, but I couldn't remember what it was. I had a little saying I wanted to stitch on it, and the muslin was nice and sturdy for it.



I need for you to know :) that I can stitch much better than that. I was actually going to do it in cursive, but when I asked my mother what she wanted she said "crooked print." My favorite part is the leaves that have fallen -


I'm excited I finally got a fall project done. Hopefully I'll have a quilt to show you next week. I've also got some hooker adventures coming up (the crochet kind. Naughty :)  Now all we need is for the humidity to leave so that it actually feels like fall. Anybody else slightly in shock that it is almost October? Also--I didn't forget about the giveaway I mentioned...I just need to find some time to gather some goodies. Have a good week, lovelies!

Linking up here:

Stitched In Color - Celebrate Color *** Skip to My Lou *** Sumo's Sweet Stuff *** Pinkapotamus *** Ask Anna *** Sew Can Do *** Craftomaniac *** Homemaker on a Dime *** C.R.A.F.T. *** Running With  Glitter *** Sarahndipities *** Sugar Bee Crafts *** All Thingz Related *** Creative Itch Boutique *** Funky Polkadot Giraffe *** Chef in Training *** Tip Junkie *** My Girlish Whims *** Sew Much Ado *** Blue Cricket Design *** Free Pretty Things for You *** Tea Rose Home *** Someday Crafts *** Somewhat Simple *** Fireflies and Jellybeans *** Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom *** Today's Creative Blog *** Happy Hour Projects *** Creation Corner *** Momma's Kinda Crafty *** The Shabby Nest *** While He Was Napping *** Tatertots and Jello *** Be Different Act Normal *** To Sew With Love

23 comments:

  1. Love!!Love!!!Love!!!Pure Love!!! I have nothing more to say!!! I love every single detail of it Bethany!!! I'm pretty sure you mom has fallen in love too.... You did such a fantastic job with the decorative stitching of the tree trunk and of the leaves!!!
    You're so right about the October thing... I mean where did September go???? :(
    Hope you have a great Monday and week!!!!
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxoxo

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  2. Awww, what a cute little pillow! You should know how much I love pillows!

    And I totally know what you mean about staying in bed a little too long. I had one of those mornings this morning. And I'm not ready for October, that's when all the many birthday/craziness season starts.

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  3. Aww, that's such a cute pillow! That must've been a lot of work.
    Have a great week, Esther.

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  4. I can't believe you managed to sew all the lovely leaves and trunks. I love it. I've always wanted to applique a tree but the amount of work involved always puts me off.

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  5. Very cute! Sorry about the demise of the walking foot - I'm waiting for a whole new sewing machine in an 'on the edge of my seat' sort of a way, can't wait for it to get here!

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  6. what a sweet creation! i love pillows... but pillows with trees are even better :)

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  7. Love the pillow... it's so sweet.

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  8. That is adorable - and the quote just finishes it off so perfectly. I love the way the stitching adds to the effect, and it turned out really nice.

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  9. I can't believe you have never made a pillow before! You'd never know it by looking at that adorable one! Good job!!! Visiting from Sugar Bee Crafts.

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  10. That is beautiful! I think I may have to make one too!!

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  11. This is fantastic - it's perfect. Great job!

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  12. Very, very cute. And, agree - applique is so easy it's something that I like to do a whole lot!

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  13. I am in love with this pillow. I have to pin it. I saw you at Sew Can Do's blog hop, and I'm a new follower.

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  14. love it! Love the colors, love the saying, love the...everything! So cute. I started a link party at my blog and I'd love for you to link this up. If you're interested it's http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com/ Have a lovely day, Maria

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  15. ooh, I love this. It's really intricate with all the detailed stitching! Popping over via Of Pinks and Fairy

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  16. This is a darling pillow...and sewn with so much love for your mama. I'm sure she'll love it.

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  17. O my gosh this is so pretty! I need to make one :)

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  18. wow! this pillow is beautiful! Thanks so much for linking up to Tuesday Talent Show! I would love to have you stop by and link up again tomorrow with more great projects!
    -Nikki
    http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

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  19. I just so so so love this pillow! so we are featuring it in the blog today! have a lovely weekend, Bethany!


    hugs,
    Lelanie

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  20. congratulations on making it to the finals of TSWL's finest october 2011!

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  21. The votation for he final round starts today!
    http://www.to-sew-with-love.com/2011/10/crafty-saturday-on-sunday-party-no-44.html

    ^^) TSWL Ladies

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