Crafting to Enrich Your Space

My Mom and I have visited around two dozen quilt shops this summer. It has been delightful meeting so many new, creative people. No two of whom look at a piece of fabric and think of using it for the same project. Immersing yourself in so many creative environments with diverse ideas, you cannot help but feel inspired.

I am the type of individual who enjoys Halloween decor all year long. From Gothic and Victorian to dark academia and a smattering of macabre, I feel right at home. Therefore, when I came across this particular fabric at one of the quilt shops, I had to sew some pillows!

My lovely new collection of pillows!

Below are some photos of the progress and process. I also wanted to share a few additional things with you:

• As the cotton fabric is so light-weight, I wanted to beef it up with some fabric from my Great-Grandmother's stash. It was from JCPenney and dated 1975! I kept the tag, and it's a bit like giving Grandma a hug when squeezing the pillows <3

• To add some decoration and to quilt the facing fabric and interfacing fabric, I used contrasting thread around the scalloped edges and the interior of each image.

• I have no idea where I picked up the random tidbit to pull the top stitch thread to the underside of the fabric and tie it off there to keep the front neat and clean, but I finally had the chance to use that tip!

• As throw pillows become tattered beyond repair, I have kept the polyfill in a bag for reuse. Usually I use it to restuff dog toys. It was nice to use it to make into new pillows, finally.

Original purchase tag on great-grandma's fabric.

Original purchase tag on great-grandma's fabric.

Fabric panel pinned to polyester fabric.

Fabric panel pinned to polyester fabric. Sewing quilting detail on the panel with contrasting thread

A little trick I learned somewhere along the way. Pull up on the bobbin thread...

... use a needle to pull through the top thread to the backside.

... use a needle to pull through the top thread to the backside.

Tie the bobbin and top threads together on the underside of the fabric.

Here's what the front side looks like with the threads pulled to the underside.

Here's what the front side looks like with the threads pulled to the underside.

Pinning the right-sides of the front panel together with the right-side of the back fabric.

Right-sides sewn together with a gap left open for turning the pillow right-side-out.

Trimmed edges and corners.

Pillow turned right-side-out.

I keep a bag of polyfill from all of our blown out pillows for reuse.

As I slowly personalize small aspects of my space, I feel more grounded in contentment. I think perhaps it's unrealistic to desire only happiness in life. Life is filled with happiness and sadness. We wouldn't live a full, rich life without experiencing the full range of human emotions. But, I think feeling content is highly underrated.