A Whole Cloth Pillow : :

Some fabric, I think, looks just as lovely left whole rather than all chopped up into little patchwork pieces. And, sometimes it's nice to just keep things simple, don't you think? In my sewing room there's a vintage metal rolling cart that houses all the pillow forms that I'd love to free up as soon as possible to use in the kitchen or out on the deck as a bar cart this Summer. So, yesterday I made the first of several whole cloth pillows -- The perfect quick & beautiful solution to turn those pillow forms into something cozy to use and admire!



I decided to start by making a new quilted Fletching Chant pillow cover. The last one was made the night before I packed up and left for Quilt Market, using what remained of my arrow print strike-off. Since returning back from Market it's been a favorite pillow around the house, has seen lots of wear, and never had that special, beautiful feel that only Art Gallery Fabrics have since strike-offs aren't printed on their Pima cotton. You can see the first one in this photo that I shared just before packing up and hitting the road!



As I'm typing this I'm realizing just how sentimental a print can be. Just thinking about this pillow takes me back to what an amazing experience Quilt Market was for me!



To add to my "keep it simple" plan for this pillow I auditioned the quilt binding scraps I had laying around for finishing.



I added a bit more quilting this time, using a white Aurifil 50 weight, to add a bit more sturdiness and durability in hopes this one holds up better than the first one.



I chose my Midnight Roof metallic stars print for the back and my scrap of Squared Elements binding was just enough to finish one raw edge of each backing piece for a neat but quick envelope finish!



I know I'm going to love digging through my stash to choose what other prints to use for these whole cloth pillows!

♡ Maureen

A Scrappy Arrow Stitched Pillowcase : :

It's been a couple of years now since I've made a pillowcase. I've made them for a pillowcase drive and with a friend, but never have I made any for our very own beds. This morning I pulled this Arrow Sketch Stitch patchwork from my work in progress basket and decided to turn it into a first quilted pillowcase for US!



A quick glance at the Pretty Quick Pillowcase Tutorial with French seam instructions that I've always used for pillowcase-making and I felt confident turning my abandoned patchwork into something fun and useful!

I used some leftover Folk Plaid binding for the trim, easy & perfect!



I found just the right piece of a Honey Pure Element solid in my scrap bin to use for the cuff. The French seams really make a perfect pillowcase finish inside and out!



I love these colors & fabric prints so much together and my Aurifil thread arrow sketch, with all the Janome built-in stitch details, really makes it special!!



Haila approves, hooray!



♥ Maureen

Beginning : :

Yesterday as I cut and sewed with the strike offs of my first ever fabric collection, there was a flood of emotions and lots of tears as I realized, this is what it feels like to have you're wildest dream come true.

















I have been so touched by the sweet comments and messages from those of you who have been following my blog throughout these past four years, and by the amazing generosity of those of you who have offered to help me create garments and bags and whatever else is needed as I prepare my Quilt Market booth. I'm going to cherish this experience even more just knowing how incredibly generous and considerate the people who make up this amazing sewing community are. This kind of kindness is far more beautiful than anything I could ever create with these fabrics. Thank YOU.

These are just a few peeks of yesterday's Wild & Free beginning, more soon!

♥ Maureen

Sketch Stitching Arrows : :

The promises I make to myself are the hardest one's to keep, but last night after a rough day I knew I'd feel so much better if I spent the hour I had pledged to devote to my sketch stitch ideas working on something new. It absolutely worked, I felt better and was quickly reminded that when I feel better, I do better!

I'm having so much fun working on these pieces! This one I created to match my Fletching Chant arrows print in my fabric collection, Wild & Free. I started by thread sketching a set of arrows onto a quilted piece of AGF's Pure Element Peach Sherbet with a white Aurifil 50wt. This colorful stack of AGF Pure Element solids coordinate with my collection and inspired the thread color story I used to create this new sketch.



Experimenting with the combination of threads and stitches feels just like coloring! It really is so much fun!



The feather I shared earlier in the week began with a simple sketch in a dark blue thread, then came all the color. This time I used a variety of decorative satin stitches in a mix of widths and patterns, saving the dark blue thread for my final outline. The triangle stitch patterns are my very favorite and so closely match the details I added to the very first pen drawings that became my Fletching Chant print!



I'm so excited to have this new stash of AGF Pure Element solids to sketch on and to sew with while I wait for my fabrics to arrive. It's going to make this waiting time much more enjoyable and bearable!



Art Gallery Fabrics recently shared their interview with me, where I talk about the inspiration behind my collection, what it means to me, along with my hopes for the rest of this year! I'd love for you to check it out by clicking -- here!

♥ Maureen

Oh, Geese : :

When my FQS Blogger's Choice bundle arrived, a collection of twelve hand-selected newly released prints with three solids all in fat quarter cuts, I knew just what I would be making with them! I had designed this Soaring High quilt pattern for Cloud9 Fabrics back in November and enjoyed making these flying geese blocks so much, I've been craving another go at them ever since. Following the same fabric cut measurements listed in my pattern, yesterday morning I began making geese. And, lots of them!













I couldn't resist going super scrappy with these colors and prints. As it's all coming together the original arrangement I had in mind is vanishing more and more, but I'm having so much fun improvising as I go!

How about you, have you given flying geese a go? I honestly LOVE making them!

♥ Maureen