Winter's Lane {Quilted Throw Pillow Covers}

"Walking in a winter wonderland..."

My favorite fabric line to this date is quite possibly Winter's Lane.  Every time I see it being used by another quilter or sewist, I fall in love with it all over again. 

While constructing my second Winter's Lane quilt, Festive Flurries, I had several triangles that were left over from trimming in two different sizes.

It was out of character for me to chain piece them immediately after finishing the blocks, but I'm so glad I did.

I tucked them away for a bit and pulled them out last winter and trimmed and stitched them altogether when little man was sick home one day. 

I soon had two identical rectangle mini tops to quilt and "magically" make them pillows with panel scraps and leftover Fat Quarters I had saved from the line.

I had some leftover fabric from the extra leftover backing to use for the binding.

The leftover FQs were used to make the backings.  

I used a not-so-favorite fabric from my stash for the quilted backing part.  You don't see it until you unzip the hidden zipper to change the covers!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 14" x 26"

Pattern: Multiple sized HSTs and squares

Fabric: Winter's Lane by Moda Fabrics, Kona Snow

Quilted: 1/4" seam on Babylock Symphony

Here you can see my tiny HSts and our Prancer girls tiny feet!!!  She occasionally gets involved in photoshoots!

I love that I can keep my Winter's Lane quilts around after I take down Christmas decorations.

It softens the blow.

Valentine's Day {Quilted Projects}

"Love does not make the world go round.  Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

 About two weeks ago, I pulled out these leftovers.

They were leftover layer cakes and cut triangles from my Layers of Charm quilt I made two years ago!

 

I didn't finish all of my Valentine's Day projects until the end of that day.  My husband and I went on vacation to Maui and I just didn't get all the quilting and binding done to take it with me on the vacation.  But I was excited to come home to these "minis".

 I'm actually super excited that I got these done so they are ready for next year!   

I don't mind being late or really early.  I just like being done!  

I used the leftover backing from the Layers of Charm quilt to make hidden zipper backings.

 

I was worried about using solid black binding, but I'm glad I did.  I feel like the eye is drawn only to the triangles of prints and stands out against the quilt on the chair.  The second pillow pops out against the second red chair (and more to come for a coordinating quilt in the works!).

I still had two leftover layer cakes to make two Hugs and Kisses potholders.

I intentionally set aside the lip layer cake for the X potholder.

And a red dot layer cake for the O potholder.

I used insulbrite and batting and then echo quilted both of the potholders. 

I used a fun Teal with white dot leftovers on the backings of all the potholders and trimmed them with black binding and a loop to hang them.

I almost ignored the four HSTs I had sitting around.  But before I put them in my scrap bins, I decided to play around with them and chose to make a trivet.

I didn't love it until I decided to add a coral pink embroidered stitch.

Then to round things out, I decided to make some quilted coasters for the family room again.

I raided my stash and made six of them and it makes my hubby happy because he loves my quilted coasters.

I was also inspired to make a Hugs and Kisses bunting for the fireplace.  I tried to use scrapbook paper I had in my stash that matched the colors in the Moda Kiss Kiss Fabric.

I'm sooo excited about decorating for next year and also making a few more valentine's quilts. 

 Stay Tuned!

Red, White, and Blue {Floor Cushions}

This project is the first one that I loved as soon as I dreamed it in my mind.  I loved it as I made all the tops.  I loved it as I was quilting it.  I loved it while I was constructing it.  I loved it when they were all finished. 

RARELY ever happens to me.  I usually hit a bump in the road at some point!  I envisioned these quilted bean bag floor cushions to complement the Stars and Stripes Quilt  I made for the boys' game room last year.  

Want to hear the BEST part?  

Entirely made of scraps and stash!!

(NOTE:  I am TOTALLY aware that I took this photo of an upside down Texas flag!  I apologize all you Texans.  I was concentrated more on lighting than the actual cushion!!)

The first cushion was in honor of our home the last 11 years.  I thought it was perfect considering the large quilt is the US quilt!

I used heavy home dec fabrics and denim from old projects.  Because the piecing was actually rather simple and boring, I tried to have fun on my longarm with the quilting.  On the red, I played with my 90 degree angle ruler and made various sized chevrons.  I wanted to play with movement.

On the white, I just free motion quilted squiggly lines.

 Meandering in the blue stripe and tiny echoes on the raw appliqué denim star.  I didn't pick up the needle and just kept spiraling into the center. 

Diamond Quilting on the denim sides.  

Do you just love the white and red ticking as the binding as much as I do?

All three cushions are constructed the same. The bottoms are heavy home dec material or denim with a zipper a few inches away from one side. I decided to treat the entire cushion like a quilt.  I quilted all the parts and washed them before sewing the sides to the top and bottom. I decided to do a binding instead of piping so I didn't have to turn a lot of bulk, inside-out.  Inside, I made an entire lining in the same size to hold the bean bags with some old sheets.  That way, I can wash the cushion shell.  Boys are dirty, after all!

The second cushion was leftover strips from other projects and stash.  I pieced a few of the strips and then cut 60 degree angles to make the triangles.  I added the gray to break up all the red, white and blue.

It seemed to beg for the solid red binding for some pop.  The cushion sides were a home dec fabric that just didn't work out for my bedroom window treatments.  Waste not, want not. 

The third cushion?  Last, but certainly not least. Actually?  My FAVORITE! This five point star was so fun to make.  I was very random with my scraps and stash and I just love how it turned out!  I love the straight line star quilting. It crinkled so beautifully!

Another home dec red stripe fabric for the sides and a solid blue binding. I did not want to take away from the top!

Perfect, right?

Quilted Apple Potholders

Guess what time of the year it is?

If you don't have a lot of time left, like I didn't. These potholders did not take me very long. 

They are constructed very much like the quilted leaf potholders here.  All you need is an apple pattern (I will post one soon. Have to deliver these first.  I'm blogging on the go)

Two coordinating fabrics for front and back. 

Small scraps for leaf appliqués and the stem loop. Bias binding. 

Fun.

I love this fabric. 

Looking for something different?  

I made these mug rugs last year.