How did I get myself in this situation? Last summer I decided to turn some orphan blocks from the Partners in Design QAL into pillows. Then I took orders for some, and now, I find myself again making a bunch of pillows for our island art walk sale. It isn’t awful but it is time consuming. I added a few other bits to it…different pillows and a trial so let’s get to it!
The Ferry Pillows
Here are the ones from last year, when I made a whole bunch of them. They are so much fun when you see them all together. Last year’s were 12″ pillows except for the middle ones in the bottom row, they were 18″, and a special order.
The quilting pattern is Catching Bubbles by Christy Dillon of My Creative Stiches. Last time I did each pillow with one cropped block. This time I just did it as rows, as the block is now larger than my quilting space. I quilted them like a traditional quilt, in rows, so much faster!
This year’s model is 14″ – a better size I think. I made 12 blocks, sold 6 at the July ArtWalk and have 6 for this months’ ArtWalks (there were two). The good news is they are all sold! This particular ferry “retires” at the end of the year, although I am hearing rumors it may still be around after its fancy new replacement comes (a bidirectional electric powered ferry). So, will I make more? Honestly, it depends, on whether I do the island Christmas Fair.
This picture cracks me up because you can see some of the others off on the right. This is when you can tell I am in a hurry and not checking the photo thoroughly.
The Other Pillows
I made 2 pillows like this for our house, years ago, featuring Casco Bay. It is printed on linen. When purchasing my Pfaff Passport 3 found the fabric again, so I made 2 for this Art Walk.
I used the Prostitcher function of Mark/Record to sew the outline of the block and I used a block called Starbust Long from Prostitcher as the quilting pattern. It was perfect, almost invisible but good for keeping the batting from shifting. I am assembling the pillows in this photo.
The two linens are different, I think I like the beige better as the blue is a little bit of a robin’s egg blue, so it doesn’t go with everyone’s decor. I think I can get more of these, so I will maybe make some next year.
Coming up on my Blog
Another quilt finish and two little projects will post probably Monday. I have been slow to blog, and that is ok, there is a lot to share in the coming month.
Birds of Maine Finish
Ice Cream Quart Holder and Zip
Quilt Yoga 2
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd
Linking Up With
Finished or Not Friday
Monday Musings
Fabric Destash
Fabric Purchased August: 0 yards
Fabric Used August: -12.5 yards
YTD Fabric Purchased: 29 yards
YTD Fabric Use: 85 yards
Grand total : -56 yards
oh my that is a lot of pillows – so neat!
Kathleen, if you could people happy with these pillows everything is ok, or? Yes, bags from scraps or these ships are much work! I did long time ago a bag pillow with a ship on the top. In the car we need emergency cloth if you have an accident and so this „pillow“ was open at the back to put in / store things. Love your quilting!!! Lovely to see a post from you after summer!
Cute pillow photos, Kathleen! Is your island pictured somewhere there on that map pillow? That’s a lot of islands! Are they all inhabited? Great panto and quilting all in a row!
Love these pillows, so cute and well made! I love that backing too. Your quilting looks amazing. Looks like those little pillows next to your chair are looking on, waiting their turn to get photographed. ;)
The ferry pillows are so fun to see all together, and how fun that they all sold! The Casco Bay pillows remind me of the mailboat cruise I took on Casco Bay oh so many years ago – a favorite memory!
What a great bunch of pillows! So fun to see them all together. Good plan to quilt them together like a quilt!
Kathleen I love your pillows
That is a lot of work, those ferries have a bunch of pieces. I hope you sold them for a good price. They are wonderful.
Hi Kathleen! Love the pillows old and new. The one with the map is really cool to me, but I’m always drawn to anything map-related. I’m certain they will sell well. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Wow! Making all of those pillows was a lot of work, but it looks like you enjoyed it, and you get to reap the rewards! The map is cool! I think that even with a map, I would be lost in those islands! Are you there somewhere? :)
Great pillows. I’m not a fan of repetitive sewing but the owners of those pillows will be enjoying them for years. Great job.
Your pillows are adorable, I am so happy they are selling for you, but then it is the perfect design for the area you live in.
That is a lot of pillow, but they are really cute, Kathleen!! I hope you sell all of them! Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings. Have a great week!