Candy Swirl {Quilted Throw Pillow}

I may have checked the Hallmark channel to see if Christmas movie season had started after I took this picture.  It really put me in the holiday decorating project mood.

And if you are now wondering? Hallmark Christmas movie season HAS started.

I finished my Candy Swirl Block project from the Vintage Christmas Fat Quarter Shop quilt along!!

 The Vintage Christmas book includes some really great small and large projects.

 I decided to spice up the vintage look with more modern matchstick quilting.  It really is one of my go-to for throw pillows.  I get a lot of questions on how I do it, and I am promising my followers that I am working on some really helpful tutorials over the next few months.

Lori Holt has suggestions for some cute trim around the binding, however, I thought the gingham fabric I chose was just the right touch.

I chose a small dotted red for the pillow backing from my stash.  I love using up my stash!

Another go-to?  Hidden zippered back.  And, again, I have a video tutorial in the works! 

I'm really excited to bring some tutorials that can be used in conjunction with some pattern releases I have coming out in the near future...so stay tuned!!

Quilt Project Finish:

Measures: 18"x 18"

Pattern: Candy Swirl from Vintage Christmas

Fabric: Reproduction Vintage Fabrics, Robert Kaufman Quilters Cotton, Joann Fabrics

Quilted: Matchstick Quilting with Superior Threads and Gutermann on Babylock Symphony

 I'm actually excited to have a new pillow for my bedroom for the coming Christmas season. Usually I am trying to make Christmas items AFTER the holidays because other things are getting in the way.

What are you already making for the holidays to brighten up your home?

My Worst Enemy

ME!

I am on a mission to start hitting things hard.  I have a long list that needs to be tackled and I need to really spend every second I can working on it.  I just need to start ignoring "me" for a bit.

I have already been sidelined to make myself this cute Go Faster Box Bag the other weekend.

And I managed to work up a tutorial for my do.Good stitches bee blocks last week.

Card Trick Block in two different sizes!

Saturday, I managed to pull out all of my Fat Quarters out of their bins and get them out on a shelf so I can see them.

This past Sunday, I kinda-sorta tackled the list by finally making a new throw pillow out of placemats I bought for the family room.

And late night Mother's day, I was thinking about my little girl, and decided to design a Butterfly Kiss block.

It is paper pieced and am hoping to find a tester or two after I figure out how to get it into .pdf form.  I was able to finish it up yesterday morning.

Otherwise? I have been working on this.

I promised myself I would NOT take this up.  No knitting or crocheting.

But then I found the DVD I had thought I had given away and I just couldn't resist.   

The first starts were rough, and I do NOT plan on making sweaters any time soon.  But I have a project in mind for a simple square.  We shall see!

 Now to get focused on everything else on my list.  I can't even seem to blog regularly lately!  "Me" needs to settle herself down!!!

Linking up!

My Alma Mater

Marquette University

The place where I earned my Nursing degree.  The place where I grew up to become an Army Officer, thanks to the most incredible Army ROTC program!! 

It also happens to be the place where I happened to run into Mr. Boss on the first day I was moving into my dorm.  I don't know how many people meet their soul mate over a big moving cart their freshman year...but I was one of them!

With that said, our children are subjected to Marquette Basketball every single year.  March madness is a sacred time around here.  We don't buy NFL packages for our television review.  We buy NCAA men's basketball packages!!!

You are wondering...why the pillow?  

It is for our oldest son.  

The one who turned 16 yesterday.  

SIXTEEN!!!!!!!

Oh..and yes, it is official.  Fancy Fondant is not for me. Cupcakes?  Oh yes.  I did make the 16 out  fondant because he is the only one in the house that actually likes to eat it!

Back to the pillow....

I predicted he would not be super excited about it. His general response to my quilts when I am done are, "that looks just like all the others....it's a quilt".  But don't be too harsh on him. He admits and everyone else in our house knows that his talents are not in anyway bent to artistic creativeness.

He loves sports.  He REALLY loves Marquette Basketball.

We decided that he needed something special.  A trip to Milwaukee with his dad to see a game.    I am all about surprises and silly packaging. So I thought I would make the foundation pieced pillow.

It was a rocky process and my design changed as I was working on it. 
But I finished it yesterday morning, just in time to tuck the tickets in the box.  

I thought for sure he would say, "Oh...gee...nice" and then the tickets and trip would be even more exciting after such a let down.

Instead?  It was "Mom, wow. You made this for me?  I love it.  It is awesome!"  

I love him.  

He is currently my favorite right now.

Shhhh...don't tell the others.