Modern Mini Challenge Entry

I am always entering contests...

you've gotta play to win, right?

Here's one that almost anyone can enter!

Ellison Lane is hosting the

Modern Mini Challenge, for the second year in a row.

I know I enjoyed this challenge last year,

when my little mug rug

made it to the finals!

I really love making smaller projects,

like mug rugs...

pillows...

and table toppers.

I kind of had a tough time choosing

which project I wanted to submit.

{Only one entry per person, please.}

I would have definitely chosen my paper-pieced

Signature Pillow,

made from the awesome tutorial

over at Six White Horses.

However, the entry has to have been made within the past 6 months.

That's when I decided to enter my From The Heart pillow.
For me, the challenge was to take some ideas
from others, add my own,
and end up with something that reflects my own
personal style and sense of design.

I used the tutorial found at Bijoux Lovely,

to create the herringbone block.
Then I made a pretty heart-shaped pattern
and cut out my applique.

I fused it to my background
and blanket-stitched it in place.
I quilted a casual stipple design all over the center...

then added straight-line stitching for the borders.

The back was finished using my own tutorial,
with a covered zipper.

Valentine's Day is only once a year,

but, maybe because my maiden name was Love,

I think this pillow works any day!

Stop over to see the many many minis...

you'll leave with a smile on your face!