Floor Pillow Love!

Happy Monday! Last week was full of wonderfully productive sewing days and I have lots of good stuff to share this week as a result. First up is this Love Story & Indie Folk Skinny Braids floor pillow!



This super scrappy version of my new Quick Quilt As You Go design, Friendship Braids, is made up of 1"-2.5" strips of these pretty prints to make a big 26" square floor pillow. I have a tutorial in the works for my Friendship Braids quilt block using wider strips, and once you learn you'll see that the variations are endless. It's similar to the herringbone qayg that I teach in my Craftsy class & so often use in that it's just as fast and fun, but the pattern is very different in comparison. It feels new to me, so I'm really enjoying this new qayg pattern!



For this pillow I started with two 14" x 27" cuts of cotton batting that I covered edge to edge with skinny strips of fabrics before trimming them up and sewing the blocks together to finish as a pillow top.



As I stitched on new strips, I used a dark navy Aurifil 50wt from my Bohemian Gardens thread collection to add more quilting. I love the visible thread against these saturated colors. So pretty!



I love using heavy weight denims to back my pillows. For this floor pillow that will surely get lots of rough handling from the kids and pets, a denim or canvas was a perfect choice. Rather than using the right side of this AGF Crosshatch Denim in Rainy Night, I used the wrong side because I like the look of it just as much!



I bought a two-pack of down alternative Euro Pillows and I think for the second floor pillow I'll do this same skinny braids pattern using my stash of AGF denims. I have several new finishes to share this week so be sure to stop back!



xo Maureen

A Back to School GIVEAWAY : :

There's nothing better than fresh, new art supplies!! With "Back to School" happening in just a few weeks here, and already starting in other places, I'm excited today to share a special Stubby Pencil Studio Giveaway -- Just in time for all you busy, sewing Mama's & Papa's to check out their amazing "green" options for your school supply shopping needs! 

  

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Stubby Pencil Studio offers a wide selection of art and craft supplies for children that are not only high quality and affordable, but also eco friendly and fun for kids!

In their words, "Stubby Pencil Studio offers eco friendly craft supplies like crayons made from soy - not petroleum; stationery, greeting cards, sketchbooks and journals made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper - not virgin trees; pencils made from sustainably harvested wood and recycled newspapers - not dying forests. You'll also find unique eco friendly gifts, non-toxic toys, classic games, do-it-yourself kits, reusable bags, party decor and favors, and many other fun and creative eco products for kids."

  

You can check out Stubby Pencil Studio at their --

 WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * BLOG * NEWSLETTER

 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!! 

For this special giveaway, Stubby Pencil Studio is generously offering to one winner an eco bamboo supply box filled with creative goodies!

The prize includes -- Glue Sticks, Crayon Rocks, Pencil Sharpener, Washable Markers, Cedar Pencils, Clipper Jr Pencils, Erasers, Scissors, Triangular Colored Pencils, Prang Crayons, Eco Highlighter Pencils, and more! All stored in a bamboo supply box.… A Value of more than $75!

In addition, Stubby Pencil Studio is offering 15% off for all MCH Readers! Use discount code SAVE4SCHOOL and receive 15% off orders thru 8/31!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)
2. Follow Stubby Pencil Studio on facebook. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, on Instagram, or on Facebook, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (one optional entry) 
 
That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, August 12th. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog!

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win! Please check to make sure you can be contacted!
 

 Wishing a wonderful new, school year to all!!!

p.s. I'll be back later today or in the morning with my newest quilt finish! See you then!!   ♥ Maureen

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Thank you to all who entered the Giveaway!!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *    
 

From 562 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

    Comment #224 --   *  Heidi Staples  *  

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!  

 

A Sponsor GIVEAWAY : :

I have a very special Friday Giveaway today, just in time for the Holidays, with Stubby Pencil Studio!!  

With Christmas just around the corner, I'm excited today to introduce Stubby Pencil Studio 

 here in my Friday Giveaway spot, just in time for all you busy, sewing Mama's & Papa's 

to check out all their amazing "green" options for creative holiday gift giving!! 

 
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Stubby Pencil Studio offers a wide selection of art and craft supplies for children that are not only high quality and affordable, but also eco friendly and fun for kids!

In their words, "Stubby Pencil Studio offers eco friendly craft supplies like crayons made from soy - not petroleum; stationery, greeting cards, sketchbooks and journals made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper - not virgin trees; pencils made from sustainably harvested wood and recycled newspapers - not dying forests. You'll also find unique eco friendly gifts, non-toxic toys, classic games, do-it-yourself kits, reusable bags, party decor and favors, and many other fun and creative eco products for kids."

 You can check out Stubby Pencil Studio at their  WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * BLOG * NEWSLETTER

 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!! 

For this special giveaway, Stubby Pencil Studio is generously offering to one winner a Stocking Stuffed with creative goodies!

Stocking includes -- Rainbow Softdough, Crayon Rocks Holiday Set, Washable Markers, Mini Blank Books, Push-up Crayons, Frosty Friends coloring cards, Triangular Pencils, Colored Pencils Tube, Oil Pastels, Double Sharpener, Penguin Eraser, Clown Whistle, and organic Lollipops… A Value of more than $80!

In addition, Stubby Pencil Studio is offering 15% off for all MCH Readers!
Use discount code  MCSAVE15 and receive 15% off orders thru 12/31/12!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post! If you want, feel free to share a favorite holiday craft you have shared with the children in your life?! (one entry)
2. Follow Stubby Pencil Studio on facebook. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one optional entry)
3. My followers get a third entry! Whether you follow me here, in your reader, or on Facebook, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)
4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (one optional entry) 
 
That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Monday morning, December 3rd. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog, I always try to have that up by 9 am EST!

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win! Please check to make sure you can be contacted!

 Wishing a wonderful weekend to all!!!  

* * * * *  UPDATE  * * * * *

Thank you to all who entered this past weekend's Giveaway!! 

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   

  From 350 entries, Mr. Random says the lucky winner is...

Comment #61 -- Cal, who said...

my comments are getting eaten up, but in summary, both my kids love art projects but are chaotic, so crayons mostly for damAge control right now.

Congratulations!!! I will be in touch shortly!

Etsy ♥ Love -- Part 2 : :

Yes, another treasury! My new ♥ Handmade Holiday ♥ items are certainly on a role!!! This one, the Green Gift Giving Guide by TigerLiliesAngelfish...

* Green Bubble Gorgeous * Mod Stitches * ohlittlerabbit * Wasted Space *

* Uptown Avenue * o0oCuppyCakeo0o * 4EyesAndEars * Maureen Cracknell *
* brownpaperbagart * designsbybeccashop * Forestry Handmade * apiecebydenise *
* Fun2designs * astashtoys * Wolf Art Glass * 3rdlife *

I was so happy to have my "Be Merry" Pillow Cover included in this treasury and love that all of these items are Eco-friendly! Feel free to give this treasury some love, too!

Handmade Holidays ♥ A Pillow Poem : :

♥ 

two little birds found
a chopped down tree
used the brightest star
that they could see
and made a merry banner
meant to be
to make a special
message Christmas tree
for every bird...
and you...and me

♥

Those 'Reading Is Magic' birdies are at it again! I came up with this idea for a pillow Saturday and explained the story behind it to my kids with that little poem above. And, hooray, they thought it was just the neatest thing. So many of the handmade items we make start with a story or a drawing...it seems to make everything a bit more special, doesn't it?

The reverse side is made of Michael Millers Christmas Classic fabric -- Little Flakes in Red, with an envelope style back and a double seam finish for a tailored look.

Available here!  ~ Maureen

Eco-Friendly.Reading Nook.Pillows : :

I recently stitched up these pillows with the thoughts of using them to create a special reading nook for that little reader in your life...

Reading Is Magic : : 

Details : :

 20/20 Fox : :

Details : :

One-of-a-kind, Eco-friendly, wool felt, Sukie Iron-Ons, hand-stitching, envelope - pocket style back (like this one) in designer cotton fabric -- perfect for keeping that favorite bedtime story tucked away in! They will be auctioned off at the Coudersport Public Library Fundraiser in my hometown this Tuesday -- if you're a local, I hope to see you there!