Queen Bee Pillow

Back in December, I posted that my good friend Mary stitched "The Queen Bee" by JBW Designs for me (which is so perfect!)- many of my friends call me "B"...and honey bees have a special place in my heart, as my grandfather was a beekeeper - she knows all this and cross stitched this design especially for me...a truly touching piece. Plus, she knows how much I love to sew, quilt, and create and let me decide how to finish it!

Feeling inspired by the fabric "June Blooms" from June Bug by Alexander Henry Fabrics, I decided to finish this special cross stitch into a pillow sham for a 15" x 15" pillow. I found a great sage colored fabric in my stash that matched the stitching and coordinated with the "June Blooms" print for the inner frame - this was a piece from a scrap bag without a selvage, so I am not sure of it's origin. I thought it would be fun to do a piped pillow - so I also used the sage fabric to make coordinating piping...this was made super simple with three things: my AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter (used to cut 1" strips of fabric for the piping...I also used it to cut strips for the pillow cover), my Groovin' Piping Trimming Tool (fabulous!), and the piping presser foot for my Designer Diamond. All in all, it took me about 2 hours to complete this pillow cover from start to finish - and I totally adore it...just looking at it makes me happy! Special thanks to my friend Mary for cross stitching this piece for me...it was a joy to finish it today....

Polishing Projects with Piping!

Last September, Elegant Stitch came out with a fabulous kit called "Buttons and Blooms for the Cure" (raising funds for breast cancer education and awareness) - the chart/pin pillow was created by Blackbird Designs and uses their fabric line "At Water's Edge" by Moda. I fell in love with this piece, and stitched/finished it the week it arrived (which is rare for me, as I am usually model stitching)...since then, I have been infatuated with piping. I felt the piping around the pin pillow added so much dimension...just the perfect touch. I started playing with and reading about piping and it's various uses. Last weekend, I was watching an old episode of "Sewing with Martha" (Martha Pullen) and one of her segments included piping and used a special trimming tool - I immediately went to the computer and researched this fabulous tool. It is called a "Groovin' Piping Trimming Tool" and was invented by Susan K. Cleveland... it helps you trim your piping seam allowances to a perfect 1/4" or 1/2". Her website http://www.piecesbewithyou.com/ was a goldmine of piping products and books...a wealth of information! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this trimming tool and try it for myself...and I was not disappointed...my order arrived within 2 days...and it works easily and accurately...what a great find! My next sewing project?...I would love to use my new texture embroidery hoop to make an embellished quilt square...and finish it as a pillow edged with piping...hmmm....I need more time! I have a couple more unique gadgets I will share with you later this week....