Monday, May 31, 2010

Little Pillows

I've been on the run so much lately that I needed an easy, portable project. I was reminded of making little pillows that get joined together into bigger pieces after watching Teesha's tutorial.



I had made these in the past, but Teesha's approach is a little different. She stuffs them with fiberfil instead of batting for a very fat, textural pillow.


After they are stuffed, the edges are rolled and stitched, then the quilting stitch added to the pillow. I might join them together to make the covers of journals:


Or maybe a long wall hanging:


Or maybe they will just sit in a pile on my desk.

16 comments:

Jacky said...

I love the wall hanging...what a fabulous (portable) idea.

Thanks for sharing.

Jacky xox

Lynne with an e said...

These are delightful. And another great way to use up some of that material that's taking space in my cupboards (doll making plans that never came to be, etc.). I imagine if I make some, though, they'll wind up in the pile category. Thanks for the warning!

Dreamcicle Journeys said...

Beautiful colors, Robin, with contrasting fabrics and variegated threads.

gerfiles said...

Interesting... I´ve been thinking of making some pillowlike rectangles after seeing a photo of ancient clay tablets with words on them, piled + bound with rope, in a book - perhaps a wallhanging which can be rolled up into a pile...?!

lynne h said...

oh, i love these robin!

...or maybe a big pillow made from them. darn they're so sweet i want to hug them... i love the idea of little pillows. there's something about them...

i've been meaning to write and tell that i'd let you know if i came up with anything earth shaking re: the inktense pencils. this much i know for sure, i like them a lot better on muslin or acrylic paint than paper. you can get more 'gritty' and inventive with them then... i just put up a post with my favorite colors in it...

xo

Robin Olsen said...

Oh I like hearing all these ideas for them. Maybe I will be inspired to do more than pile them up!

Jan said...

I like these little pillows. A wonderful project to carry around, not needing too many tools. You could make enough eventually for a whole quilt if you wanted. Thanks for the idea. You and Teesha, that is.

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Wonderful blog. there is a resonance here. -J

arlee said...

a scroll of poetry this way would be lovely---or a bathmat, or a cushion--ooooooooo

Tory Brokenshire said...

Beautiful little jems, I could see a bowl of them on my table with a note "pick them up" and I would.

lynda howells said...

Ha..l am doing the same thing. I sit and watch an hour or so of TV with my husband, after supper...and sew. Also l am not sleeping well at the moment either..so l sew. I think l will have many book journal covers by the end of the month!Hax Where do you get your wonderful material? am having trouble finding different materials at momentx i must put my little cushions upo on my Art blog.
( http://tryingtocreatearteveryday.blogspot.com)
lyndax

Robin Olsen said...

Lynda, most of my fabrics are from thrift stores, either old linens or clothes that I dye, overdye, or use as is. Occasionally I pick some up at quilt stores, but then they tend to look dated so easily. I prefer the one-of-a-kind oddities!

Unknown said...

I wondered what the scale of these lovely little pillows, now I see when they are all stitched together.

Your work is so bright and happy...and yes! your work will brighten any gray Portland day.

Heartwideopen said...

Oh My goodness! I do this and then sew the parts together to make books, bookbags, totes, and all kinds of stuff! I love having a small piece to work on and it's so portable! Lovin it!
HuGGs!
Debi

Valerie said...

I like the idea of using these as a wallhanging. They look really good collected together in that way.

Herm said...

Robin, your little pillows are beautiful. I also saw Teesha's tutorial and in fact in our trip from Portland to Minnesota I was sewing them, I will use some for journal covers!!!