My Beautiful Cushion

I arrived home yesterday to a parcel awaiting me. Now I love Christmas and everything that it involves. So you can imagine my excitement when I opened my package carefully to discover that I had only peeled off the first layer. I excitedly laughed and delicately opened the next layer thinking how carefully packaged my cushion was. Then the inner child in me took over because I discovered that there was yet another layer to be opened, so I admit it, caution was thrown to the wind and like a big kid this wrapping got torn open to reveal what you see below.

Now before we get carried away I must show you the clever way the label was attached to my cushion. As soon as you unzip it you see this beautiful personalised label. I would like to take this opportunity to THANK Lynda aka quack quack 22 because the pictures I'm posting here really do not show the amount of work and expertise that has gone into this cushion at all.

Here it is the front view of my beautiful cushion. I must admit that when I saw this being created I did put a comment up on flickr stating that I loved this and I also did I Spartacus to it. (I Spartacus is a game we play in the swaps where if you see a design that you think might be for you, you say I Spartacus) Deep down I was convinced that I couldn't be that lucky to get a wonderful Christmas themed cushion like this.

This next picture is of the rear view of the cushion I received. Having said that it could just as easily be the front view because it is just as beautiful as the front/other side of the cushion. Like I said earlier these pictures do not do this wonderful cushion justice at all. Firstly the quilting is exquisite as is the stitchery. Not to mention the hidden zip (now that's really clever). The whole cushion from start to finish is just a masterpiece and I am totally in awe of the work and love that has gone into this gift for me. Thank you just doesn't seem enough.

To top everything off when I commented on this cushion I commended Lynda on how beautiful her appliqué was and on how I fancied trying it but hadn't have the nerve to try it yet. Well Lynda picked up on this and sent me the best goodies ever.

Drum roll please!!!!!

I received an appliqué kit made up by Lynda herself with step by step instructions on how to do it. Not only that but the kit she sent me has a Christmas theme. How lucky am I because I also received a bag of accompanying fabrics to use with this project.

Talk about the perfect present I now think that Santa IS female and her real name IS Lynda.

THANK YOU LYNDA

You have made me one very happy swap partner.

Brit Quilt Swap ( Pillow Fight)

Well here it is. The finished cushion created for ?????????

No chance I'm not spoiling the surprise now. I must admit I was taken out of my comfort zone for this project but I'm happy with the end result.

Thanks to Ethne who helped teach me how to attach a zip to this cushion. I just hope my swap partner doesn't mind that it's not hidden.

I also hope that my partner is happy with the cushion and extras I sent along with her cushion. I'm sure I shall find out soon enough if she likes it.

Christmas Giveaway

Hi there folks

This blog is being posted to inform you of another of Lily's Quilts fantastic give away's.

This weeks prize is two Kona Bounty of Basics Boxes.

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize either click on this link; http://lilysquilts.blogspot.com/

or click on the Christmas Gifts for Quilters button on the sidebar beside this blog for more details.

I must admit that the thought of winning such a fabulous prize does get me smiling with the endless possibilities of what you could create with such a large quantity of fabrics.

Anyway it's time to sign off yet again so I can post this blog and spread the word about this exciting giveaway.

Brit Quilt Swap ( Pillow Fight)

Hi there folks.

Here it is the latest instalment on how my Rainbow River cushion/pillow is coming on.

I have finally managed to complete the quilting part and all that is left to do is add the stitchery and then cut it to size and add the zip.

I'm quite pleased with how the quilting went this time around. Well lets face it anything less than five days unpicking is a vast improvement on last time.

I must admit I'm finding this swap really relaxing and not nearly as stressful as the last one was. I think I learned from last time that most people appreciate the fact that you are trying to make something nice for them and are very supportive of each other in these swaps. The most nerve racking time is going to be adding the zip because I've never done one before and the sending of the cushion because I really really hope my partner likes it.

Anyway I better go and start dying the threads I'm using for the stitchery part of this cushion. I will blog about this once they are done.

Until then stay happy, healthy and keep blogging.

Rainbow River

Hi folks,

Here it is my first blog about The Brit Quilt Swap round 2 (Pillow Fight).

After toying with a few different fabric types and colours I finally decided to go with one of these beautiful fabrics. Fabrics that my very good friend Ethne (FlamingStitches) said I could use that have come from her secret special stash. I will at this point say thank you very much

Ethne.

I started off by piecing together cuts of fabric using freezer paper which I think is the best thing in the whole world. After a couple of hours piecing fabric together I ended up with this:

This is the start of my Rainbow River creation.

I must admit I'm quite happy with the amount I got done today.

Especially as I didn't start until half past one. I have however, left

myself with a bit of a dilemma.

What colour background fabric should I use. I was originally thinking of using black but am not so sure now because I intend to add some stitchery to my partners pillow and then there is the quilting to do as well.

At this stage it is safe to say that any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Anyway I shall blog off now and hopefully I will have some more inspiration tomorrow. Until then happy quilting and blogging.

.

Prize Give Away

Hi there folks,

I'm pleased to announce that Lynne of Lilys Quilts is starting a Christmas Gifts for Quilters.

If you are interested just click on the link in the side bar.

The idea is to give people ideas of the kind of gifts that quilters might be interested in receiving.

There is also another button link on my side bar for Aurifil blogger. This is to help put you in contact with the very generous Mr Aurifil who has lots of beautiful goodies for sale. Also Mr Aurifil is the contributor of the prizes that are up for grabs in Lynne (LilysQuilts) give away.

So good luck folks and many hours of happy shopping/ hinting.

Anna's Birthday Cushion.

Just over a week ago my close friend Fiona and Her daughter, also my friend, Anna took me out for a day trip to cheer me up.

During the course of the day it was brought to my attention that on the 4th August it is Anna's 18th birthday.(Where have all the years gone?)This started me fretting as to what to get for Anna that would be special. I knew it had to be butterfly orientated as this is her favourite obsession.

I finally decided that if I got a move on I might

be able to make something with a butterfly on it because this would make her gift completely unique.

I started off by trawling through the quilters cache block patterns and eventually found the design for this butterfly block.

Then with the help of Ethne(flamingstitches), who, kindly donated a few batiks and with the aid of freezer paper I got started piecing the fabrics together.

Once I had pieced the butterfly together and tidied up the edges it was time to decide just what exactly to do with the butterfly block. Then it came to me. Anna is in the process of redecorating her bedroom and mentioned on our day out together that I could help her decorate it if I wanted.

So that was when I decided that I would make it a scatter cushion for on her bed.

I took some of my white fabric and with the aid of Dylon dyes I turned the fabric into this pistachio green colour which I feel makes the butterfly pop. I went on to do a stitchery using backstitch to personalise the cushion for Anna.

I only have to wait until Thursday to find out if Anna likes it. So until then it's fingers crossed.