Upcycled Linen Decorator Pillows

A while back at the local thrift shop I found a dress that was destined for parts unknown. The dress wasn't my style but it was made of linen and had wonderful machine embroidery on it. I snatched up the dress thinking there was plenty of material in it to make something....but not sure what.
My recent shoulder surgery gave me a few ideas.....and a little bit of time to work on them. I took a good look at the dress and decided on pillows. At first I thought big square pillows would be good (and easy, too, the inserts would be pre made) but since I like a challenge, and didn't really want to fool with buttons, I decided to make two small pillows that would be a good size for travel, or support my poor, miserable arm when I try to sleep. (Forgive my whining. Sorry).

Here are some pictures of the fabric I used.

 Each side of the skirt had different embroidered flowers, too pretty to throw away.

I like the natural color of the linen, too. 

I made the pillow cases envelope fashion, no zipper. I had to make the pillow inserts to fit the pillows. 

Here are the finished pillows. One is a little longer than the other but .......

Not too hard to make. Another unfinished object (UFO) out of the pile, and I sleep better with the little pillow to help support my poor shoulder (sorry, whining again). 

I still have quite a bit of fabric left. It was a large dress. I thought a pincushion or two might be nice. Not sure what else but that's the fun of recycling/upcycling.  

Sewing for Love: Mending a Pillow and Cheap, Chopped Chicken Feathers

Weird title? The Sewing for Love part or the Cheap, Chopped Chicken Feathers? So I will explain. Most of us who so do so in part for love, the love of creating, the love of others (watching someone's face light up when they appreciate something you made for them).....stuff like that. Sewing is a hobby for me. I sew OK but not great. I understand the process but I just don't have the talent like others I know. I do it for love.....which leads me to the pillow.
My loving hubby (really, he is a good one...even cooks) has a pillow that he just loves. He shares it with our dog, Annie. I guess one could say it is really Annie's pillow and she graciously shares it with him. Good relationship. Well, this pillow is old. I don't even know where we got it from, who bought it, or anything. It just appeared and it stays on my couch. I have the honor of changing the pillow case every so often, that's it. It's not mine. I'd just as soon send it to the dump, but then I would have to sneak it past 2 instead of one.
I thought I would finally have my way when I noticed a zillion or so feathers in the living room one day. On further investigation I found the pillow had a large tear in it...the fabric is that frail and worn. I told my husband who promptly got a needle and thread and, without further ado, sewed the rather large hole.
I was shamed. Totally shamed. I could have, and should have, sewn it when I found the hole but didn't. He would have done it for me. Total shame so today I mended the pillow properly. I made a new pillow the same size as the old one with two layers of fabric to keep the feathers in. It's plump and pretty now. I showed it to the hubby and his face shone with delight. "I love that pillow" he said.

So what does that have to do with cheap, chopped chicken feathers? When I opened the pillow to use the feathers I noticed they didn't quite look like any goose feathers I am familiar with. It made me think of the Dick Van Dyke Show episode where Laura bought supposedly goose down pillows and he found out they were full of chicken feathers. He sued. In the courtroom he told the judge the pillows were full of "Cheap, chopped, chicken feathers." He won. Seems the judge was allergic to chicken feathers.
Cheap, chopped, chicken feathers kept running through my head while my machine was singing.

Eileen Patterson

50’s Redingote and Dress, Looney Tunes, and Pinafores, Featured Patterns

            

Redingote (def.) a woman's light dress or coat of the 18th century, with an open-fronted skirt, revealing a decorative underskirt. So I guess in the 1950’s this was a designer’s take on the riding coat of the 18th century, just closed at the top to show off the dress underneath. Gorgeous dress.

Stuffed Looney Tunes Characters, Bugs Bunny, Sylvestor, and Tweety Bird.

Adorable dress with puffed sleeves, elasticized cuffs, and pinafore. In size 4.

3/11/11 Miss Eileen's Top Etsy Finds

I have been trying to make a treasury. I tried a few times but get distracted by all the wonderful work I find on Etsy. Narrowing the work down to a mere 16 is pretty hard so I thought I would do a weekly feature instead. Here goes.

Hope you enjoy.



OOAK Necklace Loops Intertwined Ladder Stitch Bronze Bugles

Domed Circle & Curving Wire Pendant Handcrafted

eReader Cover Book Style Kaffe Fassett Patchwork

RHINESTONED FEATHER EARRINGS

 

Hebrew Scrabble game board notepad – small

Irish Brew Handcrafted Soap

Handmade Wool Pomeranian

Three Mini Rose Pillows

See why I can’t make a decision? You should see me with a menu.

Post by Eileen P. of GoofingOff.etsy and GoofingOff.artfire

Decorating with Fabric

OK, so I am tired of the way my house looks but I don't have enough money for a redo. I would like new curtains, pillows, tablecloths, and whatever else will make my house look good. Sound familiar? Lucky for me, I can sew. I don't have to go to Wally World and buy cheap "made in China" objects for my home. The only thing I really need is good fabric and a good pattern. The need for the right fabric is obvious but why a pattern? After all, curtain panels are straight with a hem on one end and a pocket for running the rod on the other. True but a pattern can be a guide. A good pattern gives you hints, sizes, and shows you what measurements you need to make a project successful. Here's a good curtain and drapery pattern. The pattern has variations I can use in the living room (drapes) and in the kitchen. Another project I have in mind is a duvet. I want to redo my bedroom. Even though the idea for the duvet is in my head, certain measurements need to be right. Same with the decorative pillows. I would hate to get started and cut only to find the cuts weren't the right size and I have to buy more fabric. Saving a few dollars on a pattern could end up costing big dollars in the end not to mention wasted time and frustration. Having a buddy help with a project is priceless, even if the buddy is paper.