A Stitch in Time {English Paper Piecing Book}

I actually made a place mat!

Just kidding...

I started making a place mat and changed my mind and made a throw pillow.

The pattern is called the Tea Time Placemat from Sharon's from Lillabelle Lane Creations's new book, A Stitch in Time.

She asked a few of us bloggers if we would join her for a tour of her book and I had to do another project with one of her patterns from her amazing English Paper Piecing book!!

It really is a lovely publication.  There are a ton of small projects that you can finish rather quickly. They would make great gifts as the holidays approach.  This throw pillow that I adapted from the place mat pattern is quick to make and allows a lot creative ways you can add your own touch.

I had originally planned to take the vintage feel that the reproduction prints gave a little further with some embroidery as she suggested in her book, but I couldn't resist giving it a modern twist with matchstick quilting adding pops of color to tone the dark brown crosshatch fabric I used for the background.

The only difference than her placemat finish is that I added a hidden zipper backing.

And instead of the headache of piping?  I just bind my pillows as if they were quilts!

If you want to see more amazing projects like this?

 

 

 

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And honestly.....were you really surprised I made another pillow???

Quilting on the Go....English Paper Piecing {Book}

 

When Sharon Burgess asked me if I would participate in a book tour of her new book, I couldn't contain my glee.  We "met" early on in my blogging years and I've was extremely lucky to receive a creation of hers during a swap, a beautiful hoop piece.  Her work is impeccable and her recent patterns she has published have been stunning!

When the book arrived on my doorstep from Tuva Publishing, I opened it up and had a moment of "which ONE am I going to do".  I started to be greedy and had the idea of making a BUNCH of them for the tour.  But alas, summer is wrecking havoc and I only completed one of the projects in her book.

When I settled on the Summer Star Table Runner, it was because the colors of hers reminded me of the need for some Fourth of July pillows in my family room.  I have pillows that I have covered in the past for Halloween and Valentine's, but not for the American holiday.

I am one to make my own papers.  It is something I enjoy, but if you are looking for some paper kits, Paper Pieces have some available!

I also don't glue baste, so it probably takes me a tad longer than most to get an EPP project completed quickly, but I sure do enjoy the process.

I won't pretend that I'm a perfect EPP quilter either! Just one that loves to do it!

I loved the way Sharon quilted her runner, but I really like doing matchstick for my throw pillows when I can. I haven't had the guts to do it on a large quilt yet, so I take advantage when I have smaller projects like this.

And really? It makes it easier for me to run a vacuum over them when my pugs get their hair all over them. Haha!

I love the final product!!

I love how the star changes when you change the placement of color. 
They are similar, but the eye gets drawn different ways.

I still have to finish the binding on the second pillow cover...

I'm telling you, the summer is KILLING me!

Next project?  I can't decide.  The Clam Shell Dilly bag?

Or the Zipper Pouch?

Yes.  The projects in the book are THAT good!

 If you want to see more projects and the different variations...

hurry up onto Sharon's blog Lillabelle Lane.  

Some amazing variations like the zipper pouch above are being done!!