Wool Heart Pillow, Finished by Friday

From the Summer 2012 Issue

As mentioned in a prior post, I like to update my decorative pillows often. The ones I make are rotated now and then to mirror the seasons. Right now I am working on the Fall offerings. I managed to finish the heart pillow, pattern first seen in the Primitive Quilts and Crafts magazine. The Summer 2012 issue.

* read the entire post here.
I find such inspiration in this periodical. From that design I felted the little hearts on a herringbone background then used a hand applique blanket stitch around each heart. I wanted a finishing border a little less colorful than the pattern, I also wanted a rectangular shaped pillow to use on the Windsor rocker.

Using some basic design principles, each color of wool for the hearts was used at least two times. The dominant Fall color theme, the oranges, were used more than once.

A better angle, the pillow kept sliding off the back of the rocker. The finish on this piece of furniture is perfectly buffed and a little slippery for a wool pillow. Right now, the original chair pad is still in residence on the rocker but needs to be changed out for Fall. Seen below, it works well on the chair but is clashing with  new pillow :)

I decided to border the center panel with plain brownish/green over-dyed wool. Border is really not the correct method I used. I centered the panel on the fabric allowing a two inch border all around. I steam pressed the edges of the panel flat, and stitched it to the background fabric using an invisible thread. I have used this thread recently on some other projects and I am in love. More on that another time. This is a "permanently stuffed" pillow. I just used fiberfill to fill it and slip stitched the little opening closed. It is an odd size, not available in a commercially made down pillow and my down-stuffing experience was not so much fun, for weeks afterward even. I still find a stray feather now and then!!! Because these pillows are decorative they will not be washed, thus stuff and slip.

Anyway, Finished by Friday, yeah!

Now a shout out to the person who inspired me with the whole Finishing Friday concept. Julie of Moments of Perfect Clarity shared this concept some time ago. Her blog is a constant inspiration to me. It has taken me a while to embrace the sense of having a day to assign to finishing a project. However, the idea, the concept and the driving force is helping me to manage my creative time when other methods I have tried floundered. I also recognize that I have reached a point where I am ready to embrace the challenge. Whatever the reason, I am liking it. 

Now, in the queue for next Friday, the Pear Tree Pillow. Almost done, still auditioning fabrics for the backing. It turns out that I have more alternatives than I originally realized. 

I also need to start board basting the large scrappy star quilt. Gardening and cooking got in the way this week. Tomorrow is out, entertaining family. Hopefully, a lazy Summer Sunday afternoon will work out.