Friday 10 February 2012

Hearts and Accolades!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner this seemed like the perfect time to get cracking with a red cushion for my set of rainbow cushions. I had the perfect fabric - a red/natural heart check linen blend that I have been saving/hoarding for several years and the perfect pattern a patchwork cushion with applique heart again saved for several years! I have tried explaining to my husband the difference between hoarding, which he thinks I do, and saving, which I think I do, as eventually fabric will be 'liberated' and used. My Valentine's cushion being a case in point!

It all seemed so simple when I started this a couple of days ago, applique a red felt heart onto a square of natural linen, trim with ric-rac and then attach to four mitred strips of the heart check linen and back. Once I started, however, I discovered that the magazine instructions weren't much more detailed than that and the photograph of the finished cushion wasn't detailed either so no help there. I have discovered that I need a few visuals, preferably photos, to supplement text instructions or else I flounder, which is probably why making a bag from Amy Butler's Style Stitches book is still on my to-do list - no photos of the WIP!

Once I had worked out whether the ric-rac went on top or below the heart and how to sew it down, I met my biggest challenge - mitring the corners of a fabric with a check without messing up the check! I am sure there is a foolproof way of doing this, so any advice would be much appreciated or else I will have to consign all my checks and tartans to the back of the cupboard. For a Scot too that would be a disaster!

Despite all of the above I did eventually manage to finish the cushion although now with an envelope back not the nice button back I had planned, or else it wouldn't be ready till next Valentine's. I am pleased that it is finished and I now have 3 of my 7 rainbow cushions completed. I have ordered some orange fabric from Sew Fresh Fabrics, so will, hopefully, get cracking on an orange cushion soon.

 
In the middle of my trials with mitred corners I was delighted to receive an email from Katy at The Littlest Thistle who had tagged me for a Liebster blog award. It definitely made my day. The award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and as a recipient of the award I should thank the award blogger in a post, list the names of five blogs I follow who fall within that category who I feel deserve to be noticed, advise the five bloggers by leaving a comment on their blogs and copy and paste the blog award on my blog. So here goes, I have nominated the following bloggers who each in their own way have supported and encouraged me as I have ventured into the whole new world of blogging.


Thanks ladies!



P.S. Have you seen the fabulous giveaway at Lily's Quilts? A colourbox of Oakshott Cottons no less, that is 100 F8ths, and those fabrics are really gorgeous. Have a look here to see what I mean.

    8 comments:

    1. Definitely saving and not hoarding... LOL!!! Fabulous cushion!!! Love the heart and the stitching around it.

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      1. Thanks Pam, it is under wraps now till Tuesday :)

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    2. Fiona, thank you so much :) And your cushion is absolutely adorable. The mitering job is fantastic - plaids are not easy to work with.

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    3. Hey, I have some of that heart linen blend too both in red and grey. Of course you weren't hoarding it (just like I'm not ;o) ) you were just searching for the perfect use for it!

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    4. Fiona, your so sweet, thank you. The valentine cushion is gorgeous, you did a great job.

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    5. Great job, Fiona! Your pillow is adorable. I agree with you about saving! :) I know I've seen a tutorial on doing mitered corners somewhere, I just can't remember where at the moment. When I find it, I'll send it your way.

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      Replies
      1. Thanks, that would be great. I know there must be a straightforward way of doing them that doesn't involve repeated unpicking!

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    6. I love the pillow. I need to think about making pillows to match the seasons and holidays as part of my own decorating.

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