CHRISTMAS PILLOWS

Some new Christmas pillows got finished here last month.  The first one was on a panel I received from a friend a few years ago.  I did not know what to do with it - make a quilt?  I got it out this year and found a lovely dark green batik that matched it perfectly.  When I measured the wreath, it was 24" and that gave me the idea of doing a pillow.  I had purchased a 26" pillow form at a yard sale at our guild meeting in October.  The grand kids love to grab a large pillow for back support while sitting on the floor ☺. 

There were also 6 hexagon shaped motifs on the panel so I made them into coasters for the coffee table.

I did quite a bit of free motion quilting around the motifs which was good practice again.  There were subtle stripes in the background, so I just echoed those a bit.

My daughter in law just refinished my coffee table for me, so these will be great to protect the new table!

 

I used the covered zipper tutorial from s.o.t.a.k. which can be found here to add the zipper on the back. 

The newly refinished coffee table

 

In October, Jaybird Quilts hosted a free stitch along for her letter blocks.  There will be a sew along in January for her book on letters.  My friend was over from Holland in October so we sewed up the JOY blocks together.  She made them into little hangings to decorate her livingroom at home and I turned mine into 16" pillows.  It was a lot of fun rooting around in the Christmas scraps and doing this project together.

JOY pillows

I used leftover winter fox fabric that I had used on the back of a Christmas lap quilt I made a few years ago and also inserted the covered zippers.

 

Antique embroidered quilt and pillow sham

 I was going through pictures and realized I'd taken these pictures in September and forgot to upload them to my blog!  This quilt has been finished for quite awhile.  I actually bought the top in a box lot at an auction.  We had just arrived at the auction and sat down and I wasn't paying much attention yet and all of a sudden I hear the auctioneer holler, "No one wants four boxes of fabric for $2.00"??? Of course that woke me up and my hand shot up.  And a guy bids $3!!!  Of course then I really had to have it, but had no idea what was in those boxes.  I got the boxes for $4.00.  There were two boxes of brown 60's type calicos which I end up using in 2007 to make quilts for my Mom, Dad and mother in law. Another box had a bunch of large pieces of terry cloth fabric which I used to make towels.  And, the last box had some beautiful hand embroidered blocks with birds (I'm still intending to make a quilt with those someday!) and also a complete top all embroidered in greens and reds.  I can't remember when I actually got this out to finish it, but I just added a simple red border around it and gave it to Julie Cassidy to quilt for me.  She did some custom quilting on it and it turned out gorgeous.  There was also a pillow sham or dresser scarf with it.  I decided to make a custom pillow insert and make it into a pillow.  Here is the finished quilt (click on the photo for a larger view).

Julie's beautiful quilting

The embroidery was very well done!

On my antique bed

The pillow sham

The colour is off on this backing...it's a darker green with a shiny polka dot, but here you can see the lovely custom quilting.

 

Journey2Nebula

 I've been participating in a stitch along with Jaybird quilts called "Journey2Nebula".  It's supposed to be practice for doing the Nebula quilt, which I will likely not be doing as I still have too many ufo's.  But, I had a bunch of the patterns she was going to work with plus a few half started and half finished projects, so I decided to jump onboard and get a few of these projects finished.  The first one was easy as I already had the top completed ☺.  I quilted it and gifted it for someone's cottage.  I just completed the pillow with the Lucky Charm pattern today. 

Finished runner

I used the leftovers of the fabrics for the back

Quilted with simple straight lines

Lucky Charm was the the next pattern and I made this with a charm pack called Farm Fresh

I made this one into a pillow

I found this apple print in my stash which works perfectly for the back and added a covered zipper closure as per the S.O.T.A.K. website instructions.  I love the professional look it adds to my pillows ☺.

I used up all the rest of the charm squares to make this little table topper.  There was just enough apple fabric to piece for the backing.  It is quilted in diagonal lines with turquoise thread.

 

Squirrel pillows

Before Christmas I made a squirrel wallhanging for my friend out of a panel.  There were two panels in there that were perfect for making a couple of pillows for Christmas for my son and daughter in law.  Eric always says, "Go nuts" so that one needed to go to him.  And, the "Head up" panel was perfect for Becky ☺.  The back of Eric's pillow got a train print since he collects model railroads and Becky got a print called, "full moon" featuring cats.

Pillow fronts

Pillow backs with zippers

Pillows

A few gifts and donation items were needed in the past few weeks and these Canada panels worked great.  There are so many lovely Canadian themed fabrics available since Canada celebrated its 150th birthday and new ones keep coming!  Nice to keep the patriotism going :-). 

This pillow was for my nephew's fiance who is getting married in November.  Her living room is done in greys, beiges and a little touch of light blue so I added a blue zipper in the back.

Front of Ashley's pillow which was quilted with straight lines 1/2" apart.

This pillow is the same colour as the one above but taken during the day with lots of light.  It was also quilted with 1/2" straight lines across it and was for a silent auction at a fundraiser for a couple of friends who are heading to Kenya in March on a Missions trip.  Amazingly it raised $150.00 for the cause!

Back of the pillow with a little extra Canadian touch.  It had a red zipper in the back.

This black pillow was done with wavy lines and was for a gift for a couple that got married in BC recently and had a reception last night for Ontario friends.

The Canadian poppies fit with Remembrance day as well as a patriotic Canadian touch.

John and Allison's wedding quilt

We had two weddings on the same weekend in September.  John and Allison were married on a Friday night and I also missed the shower for her wedding which was held in August.  So, I made a pillow to match the wedding quilt for her and gifted it with the quilt.   I found some quilt blocks in a drawer which I had started a few years ago and never had occasion to finish.  So another UFO was completed :-).  It's so long ago I started this quilt I have no idea where I found the pattern....I think in a magazine.  So I cannot credit the pattern.  But, I used this tutorial once again for putting the zipper into the back of the pillow.

Back of pillow

Front of pillow quilted with wavy lines and stuffed with the 16" x 26" IKEA pillow form.

Finished quilt

I quilted it all over with a King Tut variegated thread and large funky flowers.

Elgin Piecemaker's Pillow challenge

The Elgin Piecemaker's guild does a challenge every year.  This year Julie and Joanne were in charge and they came up with a very appropriate challenge for Canada's 150th anniversary.  We were all given a 20" pillow form and a 10" piece of Kimono Maple Leaf fabric.  The challenge was to come up with a pillow cover that represents what Canada means to us.  We had to use the complete square of the maple leaf fabric.  

I had an idea almost right away as I was inspired by the neutral backgrounds with applique over it.  I could piece together a background with symbols and words that represent Canada and thought of appliqueing a maple leaf and a tulip on the front to reflect my Dutch heritage.  With three friends, I took part in the 401 Quilt Run shop hop in October 2016 in Eastern Ontario.  Visiting the 14 shops on the shop hop gave me ample opportunity to find appropriate fabrics.  Many of the fabrics represented my Mother's love of sewing and had sayings reflecting her values, love of family and gift of hospitality.  I even found a fabric with rings on it symbolizing my parents engagement by mail in January 1954.  My Dad had immigrated to Canada already with his whole family and my Mom followed about a year later.  We still have the envelope that the ring was sent in by registered mail :-).  

When I actually started the pillow, I ran stuck on the applique because I had to use the whole square of maple leaf fabric and could not think how to cut a tulip and a maple leaf out it!  So, I cut out a maple leaf and appliqued it on the back and put the frame on the front and then I added some tulips to the back as well.  I used up every mm of that maple leaf fabric LOL.

Last night, we had the grand reveal and Cynthia from Cherished Pieces and Jesse, one of our former members, were the judges.  They sure had their work cut out for them. The pillows were amazing!  Many of the backs were as nice as the front and the stories behind the quilts were very moving!  It was a great exercise in stopping and pondering this great country of Canada and what we appreciate about it. (Click on the photos to enlarge them for a better view.)

the Kimono challenge fabric

result of shopping excursion :-)

my pillow front

the back of the pillow

The group with all the pillows

This is the write up that accompanied my pillow:

My Canada

“My Canada” is inseparably linked to my parents’ immigration from Holland to Canada.  I chose neutral fabrics with symbols and words, each representing an aspect of Canada or a memory of my parents to whom I am grateful for my Canadian citizenship.   Word fabrics were chosen to describe my Mom’s life rules and talents and her love of sewing and hospitality. 

 

The iconic Canadian maple leaf was cut from the Kimono Maple leaf fabric and appliqued to the back of the pillow on tulip and bicycle fabric representing my roots in Holland. The remaining maple leaf frame was sewn on the front to create another silhouette of this great Canadian Symbol.  From front to back, I can rest comfortably in this great country Canada, which is my own.  This pillow will be proudly displayed in my home for Canada’s 150^th celebration.

Christmas table runner and pillow

A couple of days before my friend Els went back to Holland, we visited Cherished Pieces in Tillsonburg together.  It is one of our favourite quilt shops in this area :-).  Els bought a charm pack of winter fabrics featuring cardinals.  We rooted around on the internet to find a pattern for them. We came across sotak. (the same site where the instructions for zippered pillows comes from).  She had a free tutorial for a modern table runner using 2" squares.  We cut the charm pack in half twice to make 2 1/2" squares and adapted the background size to fit.  

That triggered a memory that I had some Christmas mini charm packs (candy) in my stash somewhere.  I found them and had two packs (you need 52 or so squares).  There was also a lovely Christmas tree print which worked great for the back. I searched around in my solids and found this lovely Pepper Cory shot cotton in a shimmery grey. (click on the photos to enlarge them for a better view)

The finished runner

Close up of the fabrics and quilting lines (the white trees on red in the lower left is also the backing fabric). I quilted it 1/2" apart.  The pattern said 1/4", but since this was larger, I think 1/2" was perfect.

Binding was also done in the red and white trees.

The completed runner on the design wall

I had auditioned a white with red snowmen fabric for the background of the table runner, but figured it would be a little busy.  But, the leftover squares were still on it and I needed a handmade gift for a Ladies Conference I attended last weekend.  And, I really did want to try quilting 1/4" lines as I love the texture.  I had just enough little squares left to make a 20" pillow.

Love the way the pillow turned out with the 1/4" lines.  It was a lot of sewing, but worth it.

I used a turqouise Aurafil thread from a little thread set given to me by my friend Lynn last year for Christmas.

I found these Basic grey snowmen in my stash which went perfectly.  Of course it got a zippered closure as well :-).

More Pillows for Holland.....

Before going to Holland, I also made three Selvage Star Pillows for my two cousins and for one of my husband's cousins.  We stayed at each of these homes for part of our trip to Holland.  While I was at it, I also sorted out all my selvages by colours.  That really helped to make these pillows.  This is one of the patterns from Cut Loose Press. 

Here is the process of some of the selvage sorting :-)

I had three of these baskets...once you start stirring them they fluff up big time!

Grey pillow went to Jake's cousin, Martijn and Wilma

This one went to my cousin Corine and Bert

This one went to my other cousin Liane and Henk

Interestingly, everyone in Holland has these cute little chairs and each pillow fit perfectly with their decor and into their chairs!

Elephant baby quilt and pillows

We went to Holland for three weeks for vacation this year.  We had a great time exploring the countryside, enjoying the delicious Dutch food, riding their wonderful bikes and checking out the beautiful Churches and buildings in their historic towns.  We stayed with relatives and a friend, so before we left, I stitched up some gifts to take along for our hosts.  (Click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view.)

Baby quilt for my cousin's son's baby.  Jesley visited us in Canada 15 years ago so I thought Jumbo would be an appropriate gift for them :-)

A friend suggested quilting straight lines to make the elephant's skin look wrinkly

It was fun practicing free motion quilting on this quilt

The back featuring all kinds of Canadian animals

Close up of the animals

 Here are a couple of photos of the baby in Holland who received this quilt :-).
 

Baby Evie sitting on my lap, my cousin Liane to the right, her husband Henk beside Jake.  Baby's father Jesley on right with his sister Chantal behind him and baby's Mom, Mariska on the far left.  So fun visiting them in Jesley and Mariska's home in Holland!

Jake and I with baby Evie

We stayed with a friend of mine the first week we were in Holland.  She has four granddaughters so I made these four pillow covers for them.  Checked out the IKEA site in Holland for sizes for the pillow inserts and made them to fit.  Bought the pillow inserts in Holland so I didn't have all that bulk in the suitcase...worked great!  The elephant patterns are from Sew Fresh and the Fox is Elizabeth Hartman's pattern.  I used the Canadian Stonehenge line of fabrics.