Harvest Squirrel Pillow

Greetings friends! It is new project tutorial day - time to share my September project created for Therm O Web with you! This is a very special month, because it is collaboration with Benzie Design. I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials to share with you on the Therm O Web Blog...and to collaborate with my favorite stitchery and wool shop is the icing on the cake. Each month, I share a new project and you give you my tips and tricks for using the extensive catalog of Therm O Web products. For the month of September, the blog is focused on projects for fall sports, cozy things, autumn color, and harvest. The theme for the collaboration with Benzie Design is handmade holidays with an emphasis on Halloween/fall/autumn. I created a brand new project that was posted yesterday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "Harvest Squirrel Pillow" featuring HeatnBond and Benzie Design Wool Blend Felt. My comprehensive tutorial contains a detailed supply list and step-by-step directions with color photos and a pattern with applique templates (and you can find a short tutorial video on my YouTube channel and Instagram page). This is a versatile, beginner friendly, appliqué project that can be done by hand or machine. I hope you will stop by the Therm O Web Blog and check out this fun design...

This is an afternoon project that can definitely be a scrap buster! You can use your favorite wools and/or fabrics to create your own autumn pillow. If you are new to appliqué, this project is a fun place to start - these simple appliqué shapes are great practice for a beginner. I used a linen fabric base for the appliqué background, with a Harvest Moon Palette of Benzie Designs Wool Blend Felt. I added texture and dimension by needle felting Corriedale Wool Roving to the squirrel tail and ears (I used my Huskystar by Husqvarna Viking ER10 Felting & Embellishment Machine, but you could use your favorite needle felting tools)...and added a little gold Glitter Dust Spray to the moon and stars for shimmer.

From Therm O Web, I used HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets, Fusible Fleece, Heavy Weight Interfacing, a Pressing Paper Fabric and Craft Sheet, and Glitter Dust Ultra Fine Glitter Spray (Gold)...plus, I tell you how to apply each product. Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list.

To find the pillow form and my favorite small, sharp scissors used in my post (along with other supplies/tools listed), visit my Harvest Squirrel Pillow Supply List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!).

If you have questions on any of the Therm O Web or HeatnBond/SpraynBond products or would like to see a specific type of product in one of my projects, drop me a comment or email.

You will have to visit the ThermOWeb blog for my complete tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial:

https://blog.thermoweb.com/harvest-squirrel-pillow/

I hope this project gets you excited to create something special and unique. AND, if you haven't visited the Benzie Design website before, do yourself a favor and stop by - it is a happy and colorful shop, with high quality products! The color palettes of  wool blend felt are a great way to try different colors and build a collection. They ship lightning fast and wrap packages so sweetly. I have no affiliation with them, I just adore their products and cheerful vibe!

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project will be available in October...

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...

Painted Blossoms Fabric Tour

Happy Monday - welcome to my stop on the Painted Blossoms Fabric Tour - thank you so much for dropping by for a visit. I am thrilled to be sharing these fabulous floral fabrics from Poppie Cotton! I have some very special projects lined up, created with the new Painted Blossoms fabric collection designed by Amanda Cocoran for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed putting on my quilt designer hat and playing with these nature-filled prints. This brand new fabric collection (shipping to quilt shops this month) has a soothing feel to me. As with all Poppie Cotton fabric lines, the entire collection is filled with tiny details and the sweetest little motifs. These nature-inspired prints feature flower blossoms, butterflies and stripes. The colors include soft yellows, pale pinks, teals and blues...a calming and happy color palette. 

Working through my projects, I started with my Floral Charm Table Runner. This patchwork runner measures 52" x 16" and can easily be adapted to a size that works best for your table. It is 5" Precut (Charm Square) friendly and is a perfect beginner project with traditional piecing. I used Country Confetti in Strawberry Lemonade Light Pink for the binding....and put some of the fun stripe print at either end. This runner fits my farmhouse table perfectly!

Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1202693766

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1246312527

Next up, I created a couple zippered patchwork pouches. I didn't use a pattern, I just started cutting and sewing. I made one tall pouch for yarns and one short pouch for a small project or stitching/crafting tools. Both pouches have boxed bottoms and feature my favorite floral print on the lower section of the bag.

Lastly, I created a pretty little pincushion. This is a traditional log cabin quilt block that I foundation pieced. This pincushion measures 6" x 6" and has pink rick rack around the perimeter (Hand-Dyed Rick Rack from Lady Dot Creates). I found some super cute decorative pins in my collection to embellish it.

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Painted Blossoms fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Painted Blossoms is shipping this month.

I already have my projects in progress for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in October - my day is October 7th. That tour will be showcasing the "Calico Cowgirls" fabric collection (click to see a preview). Plus, I have a new project tutorial posted on the Therm O Web Blog today (Monday, September 23th)…so, be sure to stop back here tomorrow to read all about it...

Overseas Adventure

I  am headed off to Paris and then to London, for a little adventure and rest/relaxation. I'll be off the grid until Monday, September 30th, enjoying new sights and quality family time...so, this is my short public service/housekeeping announcement....

While I am out of my office/studio, I will have very limited access to correspondence (I will be out of the country), so please be patient if you send me a message, comment or inquiry that requires a response. All shippable items will be deactivated in my Etsy Shop. Shippable items (paper patterns/charts, project bags, Stitch Starter Rulers, etc.) will return on Monday, September 30th. All digital items will continue to be available. I will respond to all messages, comments and emails in the order received on September 30th. Thank you for your patience!

Please note - I have scheduled quite a bit of content during my absence, so you will see a couple blog posts and social media updates with a plethora of creative things (I have been SUPER busy in the studio).

I'll be back to visit with you again soon, when (I'm guessing) I will have TONS of photos and experiences to share with you...

Pink Pumpkin Quilt SAL

Greetings friends! Have you been sewing along with Poppie Cotton this week? They have been hosting a Pink Pumpkin Quilt Sew-Along...and while I didn't have room in my jam-packed schedule for a full-size quilt, I did manage to sew along. I made four pumpkin quilt blocks and added sashing and borders to create a floating pumpkin pillow. I used fun fabrics from the Kitty Loves Candy Collection by Lori Woods for my pumpkins and Country Confetti in Waffle Cone Yellow for my background. Poppie Cotton has the Pink Pumpkin Quilt Pattern, designed by Lori Woods, available on their website for FREE (visit their website and click on the free tab). I used the pumpkin quilt block from the pattern and then designed my own pillow. I think it turned out super cute and it will be a fun addition to my Halloween/fall decorating...

You can read more about the Pink Pumpkin Quilt Sew-Along on the Poppie Cotton Blog.

Happy creating!