This Week's Beginning : :

As quilt making goes, beginning will always be my very favorite! Do you have a favorite part? Aw, it's just so much fun for me. For each new bundle I have so many ideas, and these days not a lot of time, so I don't over-think it, I just have to start!

During these past two days, in-between my Etsy orders, working on that Criss Cross Diamond QAYG tutorial..



And, early morning binding sessions..



I started something new!

Using the Monthly Sparks bundle I created for Fabric Spark, including their in-stock Wild & Free, Art Gallery blenders, and a few Cotton + Steel prints...



With more complementing blenders from my stash, more Wild & Free, and more Wanderer!



When I look at these bright, fresh colors I see Summer, terracotta pots filled with Geraniums, Marigolds, Impatiens, and Salvia. They all look so beautiful together!





Looking at last night's work this morning, those thoughts of colorful Summer annuals and days must have inspired my current layout, my pattern looks to reflect that!



And, I'm loving this beginning!  ♡ Maureen 

Mod Flower Pillow : :

Sorry I am late today! Since Friday afternoon, in-between volunteering, movie watching, soccer games, birthday parties, and packing, I have been in a Rock & Romance trance-like quilt making state! I have never been so focused on finishing something in all my days of sewing! I am very excited about this, but I have to wait just a little longer before all can be revealed...

So today, I'm sharing this cute, little applique pillow I whipped up the other day! I was inspired by an applique I saw in either Mini Boden or Johnnie B, and my Stockholm fabric from Contemporary Cloth.



Since I love combining felt and fabric, making appliques, and of course, pillows. I sewed up this new design to try. I love how stitchy it is. And the aqua, navy, yellow, and grey color combo is always a winner!



Right away, it reminded me of one of my very favorite color mosaics from a post I shared back in May!



Which I'm sure is why I especially like how the back of this one turned out! Simply Color + my favorite Bryant Park print (sorry, I can't find a source.)



I've listed it in my etsy, and I'm still deciding if I should make more in a variety of color combos?

I have to say.. I quite like this one with my new sewing chair! What do you think??
 

Wishing you all a late, but wonderful start to a new week! ♥  Maureen

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A Poppy Applique Pillow : :

I'm so excited to finally be able to share with you today the first project I created for Janome, a Poppy Applique Pillow.



Inspired by those Poppy's out my kitchen window and my love of all things coral, using several of the amazing built-in stitches that my Horizon Memory Craft 12000 offers, and a variety of Aurifil thread, I came up with this simple and fun Poppy Applique pillow design for Janome!



It was such a treat to find a use for my lovely, coral Wool Aurifil. You can see how much texture using this thread adds!



I also love how the built-in Applique stitches that I used to add the black thread details to the center of the poppy flower, look so sketched. I can't wait to use these stitches on a new "sketch stitch" piece!



You can find the written instructions for this Poppy Applique Pillow on the Janome Content Page here! As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions!



I hope you enjoy it! ♥ Maureen 

p.s. If you're looking for my Art Gallery Fabrics LillyBelle Giveaway -- click HERE!! 

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To Pick a Pillow : :

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I shared these new pillows. I was considering then that one of them might be my entry into this months Blogger Pillow Party, but I was unsure of which one, if either? I still have the idea I original had planned to use, in my head, and now that this very busy month is almost over, I think it is there to stay for just a bit longer. So, now I just have to choose which one?

They both were created from this patchwork block.

Which was inspired by my new Chevron Patchwork Lampshade -- that I found the perfect base for and totally LOVE!

So, now I just have to choose which one? The butterfly?

Or, the patchwork flower surprise pillow? That sort of just happened into a second pillow, from the leftover patchwork block scraps.

So, now I just have to choose which one?

Hmn? Alright, I have decided on the flower -- because I love yellow, because it is so very Springy, and because it is so very different than anything else I have ever stitched up, as well as anything else already entered this month.

Yes, I pick the flower.

So, please wish me luck friends! And, be sure to check out the other pillow entries here and the prize here! I noticed that some of my regular blog visitors have joined in, too -- Good luck to all of you! I am so happy to see that you have joined in the fun!

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Secret Garden Crown -- Finished!

I showed a peek here at a little something special I was working on for my little girl last week -- well, it's finished! And is my favorite crown yet!





I plan to offer custom orders for these in my shop soon. My new pillows from yesterday are now available in there, as well.

Happy Creating! ~ Maureen

Butterfly Garden Pillow(s) : :

Remember this? From about a week and a half ago. or so.

It was inspired by this Chevron Patchwork Lampshade. I LOVE patchwork anything and am really drawn to these colors lately. Before the lampshade was even shipped, I put this block together. I knew it would become a pillow, no surprise there, right?

And, I knew that block would become a butterfly with some sketch stitch details.

My plan was to make a few more scrappy patchwork pin cushions out of what remained from the block. I started piecing my scraps together, and instead -- I ended up with yet another pillow!

A surprise pillow! That I actually like better than the butterfly pillow I was envisioning all along. I love when that happens, don't you?

For the moment, for picture purposes and until I find a new base for it, I made a temporary spot for my new shade. Do you remember this chair? It was kinda-sorta supposed to be mine, but my cat sleeps in it all day, every day! At least now I have my new lampshade -- please tell me you see the likeness to my pillow design?

And, two new pillows!

Although, I think these are actually headed to my etsy ((smile)) and I can't decide if they are Blogger Pillow Party worthy? I really want to submit something special this month -- since it is the last month and I have had a pillow chosen for the final nine every other month and have yet to win. Oh, and have you seen the prize? Check it out and then you'll really understand why I am stressing over choosing the right pillow. LOL

Let me know what you think! o.k. And, be honest! I have a couple more weeks to make something else.   

: ) Maureen

p.s.  My Sketch Stitch Owl Pillows are being featured on My Owl Barn -- have a look!

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