Five Custom Pillows + One Quilt

Hello Friends!  I have been sewing like a MAD woman, and wanted to share the finished goods with you!  A little over a month a go I went fabric shopping with my boyfriend (no worries, we left still a couple!).  :)  The mission at hand was to pick "manly" fabrics for new custom pillows for his couches.  I found Betz White's Stitch Organic print and used that as the base for all of the pillows.  We methodically selected a handful of fabrics that coordinated with the Stitch Organic print and were soon enough on our merry way!  I made a total of five pillows, with only two using the same pattern.  All pillows are 18" square, and I machine quilted each pillow on my BabyLock.

I made another Tallahassee paper pieced pillow, just like I did for the Pillow Talk Swap!  This time I used the same fabric for the background and flower middles, and really like how it turned out!

I used the Stitch Organic print for the backing of each pillow, and hid the zipper with a coordinating print.

For this pillow, I modified the Coming Home quilt pattern in Camille Roskelley's Simplify book, to make an 18" square pillow.

It's no secret to my family and friends that I have fallen in LOVE with triangle pillows.  I made two this go around, and really thought about keeping one for myself (shhh...don't tell my boyfriend!).  :)

This is the second triangle pillow.  They both coordinate, yet they're so different.

Last but not least, I modified the A Bunch of Crosses pillow pattern from the Pillow Pop book, to fit an 18" pillow form.  You might remember that I made him a Simply Color Cross Quilt for Christmas last year; I love that this pillow echoes the same pattern.

All of the pillows lined up, and ready for their debut on his couch!

I had some leftover fabric and a little time (more fabric than time), and opted to make a quick fat quarter friendly quilt (Fantastic-O Fat Quarter Quilt, by my friend Gina Halladay).

 

 

I also added a little hand embroidery (I couldn't pass up the opportunity!).

The Pillow That Started It All!!!

It's official, this is where my love of triangle pillows started.  I whipped this colorful pillow up in a day's time for a friend's birthday.  I used the gray flower print as my base fabric and pulled colorful coordinating scraps.

The triangles are 4" equilateral triangles; each pillow requires a total of 50 triangles (10/row and 5 rows/pillow).  Each pillow is roughly 18" square.  

I did some simple straight line quilting on the pillow, using the triangles as my guide.

I used the Gray Flower print for the backing of the pillow, and hid the zipper with a coordinating print.

Swoon - Blocks #6 - #9

It's been a while since I've last posted anything regarding the Bestie QAL!  I'm picking up my Bestie quilt from my quilter's house tonight after work (eeks- I'm SO excited!!!).  So, in anticipation of seeing the finished quilt, I thought I should share blocks #6 - #9 with you!  :)
   

 It's my personal opinion, that you can never go wrong with the pink and gray color combo! (Have I ever mentioned that gray is my new favorite color!?!)

 At first glance I thought that this color combo was a bit bold, but thankfully it fit in nicely with the other eight blocks.

I'm a bit obsessed with polka dots, any kind, size, and/or color!!!

 

I think this block is one of my favorites!  I love the gray and green color combo, and I especially love the green eyelet print!

Speaking of Besties and quilting, I get to spend this coming Friday afternoon with Jana- woo hoo!  I'm not exactly sure what we'll be doing, but I'm sure it will involve eating, laughing, fabric buying, and maybe (just maybe) a little bit of dancing!

Bloglovin', Adios Google Reader!

I'm sure you've heard the {sad} news, as Google Reader is being retired as of 7/1/13.  Please do not fret, as Made With Love has joined Bloglovin', which should make following my blog an easy transition.  If you do not already have a Bloglovin' account, make sure to hop on over to the website and sign-up for free.  Bloglovin' will give you the option of tranfering all of your Google Reader subscriptions over, with the click of one button - easy peasy!

If you're already on Bloglovin' click the button below to follow my blog!  :)

Pillow Talk Swap #10

In addition to the Pretty Little Pouch Swap #7, I also signed up for the Pillow Talk Swap #10 on Flickr.  I really had a wonderful time participating in this swap.  Just like the Pretty Little Pouch Swap #7, the swap was kicked off with each participant posting an inspiration mosaic, so that their secret partner can pull colors and ideas for their own creation.  This was my mosaic...bright geometric patterns (stars, triangles, chevrons, pluses).

1. Pillow Talk Swap 7 - Finished 2. Not available 3. Not available 4. Not available 5. Not available 6. Not available 7. PTS5 Done! 8. Scrappy Applique Pillow - 2 9. PTS7 all finished! 10. PST4 11. Finished Pillow Talk Swap Round 9 Pillow 12. Cathedral Windows

I can't show you my partner's mosaic, however this is what I created for her!  I used the Quilter's Cache template to create a 9 block paper pieced Tallahassee pillow!  This is the first time I ever paper pieced, and although there was a bit of a learning curve, I am SO glad I challenged myself, as I love how the pillow turned out.

I used a happy mixture of  Rilley Blake fabrics (Sugar and Spice, Delighted, and Apple of My Eye), as well as some Simply Style, and Architextures for the background.  Here is a close up of the quilting.  I opted to only quilt the squares of the background and flower centers, that way I wouldn't take away from the colorful flower petals.

The back is just as happy as the front!  I used a blue and gray chevron stripe print from Paula Prass, and opted for the polka dots from the center flower to hide the zipper.  The pillow is binded with the Gray Eyelets from Flea Market Fancy.  I had a really hard time letting this pillow go, but hope that it will bring my partner joy!

This is the sweet zippered pouch and goodies I received from my partner in the Pretty Little Pouch Swap #7!  :)

Madhuri Mini Churn Dash Quilt - Tutorial

I have a very special tutorial to share with you today, as I have a new love for Mini Quilts (instant gratification!) and hope that you will have a blast making a Madhui Mini Churn Dash Quilt of your own.  Scraps work best for this quilt, however if you want to use fresh fabric, I've included yardage requirements in the Materials list.  Let's get started...

Materials:
Madhuri Main Orange= 1/8 yard
Madhuri Diamond Blue= 1/8 yard
Madhuri Stripe Blue= 1/8 yard
Madhuri Elephant Orange= 1/8 yard (only need enough to fussy cut one 3" elephant)
Solid White= 1/8 yard
Solid Hot Pink= 1/8 yard
Backing= 1/2 yard
Binding= 1/4 yard
Quilt Batting= 18"x18"

Instructions:

1.  From the Madhuri Main Orange, cut the following:

• (4) 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide
• (2) 1 3/4" high x 5 1/2" wide
• (2) 1 3/4" high x 4" wide
• (1) 3" square

    From the Madhuri Diamond Blue, cut the following:

• (4) 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide
• (2) 1 3/4" high x 5 1/2" wide
• (2) 1 3/4" high x 4" wide
• (1) 3" square

    From the Madhuri Stripe Blue, cut the following:

• (4) 2 3/4" square
• (4) 1 1/8" high x 2 3/4" wide

    From the Madhuri Elephant Orange, fussy cut the following:

• (1) 2 3/4" square

    From the Solid White, cut the following:

• (4) 2 3/4" squares
• (8) 1 1/8" high x 2 3/4" wide

    From the Solid Hot Pink, cut the following:

• (2) 3" square
• (4) 4" high x 1 3/4" wide
• (4) 1 3/4" high x 2 3/4" wide

2.  We'll start off with sewing the Churn Dash block together.  Take the 3" squares (Main Orange; Diamond Blue; Solid Hot Pink), with right sides together, draw a diagonal line from one end to the other and sew 1/4" on both side of the line.  Cut across the line and press.  You've just created four Half Square Triangles (HST).

3.  With right sides together, sew one of the 1 1/8" high x 2 3/4" wide Madhuri Stripe Blue to the 1 3/4" high x 2 3/4" wide Solid Hot Pink.  Press seam, and repeat for a total of four.

4.  Sew two of the pieces you made in Step #3 to each side of the fussy cut Madhuri Elephant Orange.  Press seams and set aside.

 

5.  Sew one of the HST Madhuri Diamond Blue to the left side of one of the pieces you made in Step #3.  Press seams and repeat, sewing a HST Madhuri Diamond Blue to the left side.  Sew one of the HST Madhuri Main Orange to the remaining side.  Press seams and repeat.  You now should have two pieces, alternating HST on both sides, with the piece you made in Step #3 in the middle.

6.  Sew one of the pieces you made in Step #5 to the middle piece made in Step #4, right sides together, with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Press and sew the second piece you made in Step #5 to the bottom.  Press and set aside.

7.  Sew one of the 1 1/8" high x 2 3/4" wide Solid White pieces to the right side of the Madhuri Striped Blue 2 3/4" square.  Press and sew a second 1 1/8" high x 2 3/4" wide Solid White pieces to the remaining side.  Press and repeat until you have a total of four pieces.

8.  Sew one of the 4" high x 1 3/4" wide Solid Hot Pink pieces to the right side of the piece you made in Step #7.  Press and repeat until you have a total of four pieces.

 

 

9.  Sew one of the 1 3/4" high x 4" wide Madhuri Diamond Blue pieces to the piece you made in Step #4.  Press and repeat for a total of two.

10. Sew one of the 1 3/4" high x 4" wide Madhuri Main Orange to the alternating side of piece you made in Step #9.  Press and repeat for a total of two.

 11. Sew one of the pieces you made in Step #10 to the Churn Dash block you made in Step #6.  Sew the remaining piece you made in Step #10 to the other side.  Now the middle row of your Mini Quilt is complete.  Press and set aside.

12. Sew one of the 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide Madhuri Diamond Blue pieces to the 3" square Solid White piece.  Press and sew a second 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide Madhuri Diamond Blue piece to the opposite side.  Repeat until you have a total of two pieces.

13. Sew one of the 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide Madhuri Main Orange pieces to the 3" square Solid White piece. Press and sew a second 2 3/4" high x 1 3/4" wide Madhuri Main Orange piece to the opposite side. Repeat until you have a total of two pieces.

 

14. Sew one of the pieces you made in Step #12 to one of the pieces you made in Step #7.  Now repeat, sewing one of the pieces you made in Step #13 to the opposite side.  Repeat until you have two rows.

15.  Sew one of the rows you made in Step #14 to the middle row of your Mini Quilt, made in Step #11.  Repeat with the second row you made in Step #14, on the opposite side of the middle row.  Press and set aside.

16.  For the last two rows, sew one of the 1 3/4" high x 5 1/2" wide Madhuri Diamond Blue to the 4" high x 1 3/4" wide Solid Hot Pink, and sew one of the 1 3/4" high x 5 1/2" wide Madhuri Main Orange on the opposite side.  Press and repeat.

17.  Sew one of the rows you made in Step #16 to the piece you made in Step #15.  Repeat with the second row you made in Step #16, on the opposite side.  Press and you're done!

18. Quilt and Bind as desired.

If you decide to make a Madhuri Mini Churn Dash Quilt, please post a photo to my Flickr Group, as I would love to see any and all variations!

Also make sure to hop on over to the other Creative Consultant's blogs, to check out their Madhuri Mini Tutorials:

Brooke - Silly Mama

Jackie - Jackie's Art Quilts

Jana - Adventures of a Cross Stitch Drama Queen

Stephanie - Peas in a Pod

Sally - Sally's Angelworks

Madhuri, by The Quilted Fish

I'm so bad at keeping secrets, but I was able to keep this sweet Mini under wraps until after Quilt Market- go me!!!  A couple weeks before Quilt Market, sweet Amanda of The Quilted Fish sent the Creative Team some of her new Madhuri fabric to play with.  We all made "Modern Mini Quilts", which were hung in Amanda's booth at Quilt Market.

This is the front of my Madhuri Mini.  I love the fussy cut elephant and the traditional Churn Dash block.

 

I pieced the back and quilted (for the the very first time!!!) this Mini with straight line stitches.  I love the simplity of the quliting, however am still bummed that the pink eleephant seam is wonky - you live and learn!

 

If you like the looks of this Mini, make sure you come back on 5/29/13, as I will be posting a tutorial, so that you can make your own.

 

Oh, and did I mention that Amanda won a 2nd place ribbon at Quilt Market for her double booth?  Here are a couple of photos that I borrowed from Amanda's blog (surely she won't mind!).  :)