Sweetwater Hometown Reversible Table Runner

I've got something fun to share with you today!

Remember those snowball-styled blocks 

for a Jump Ring quilt that

I showed you in this post???

Well...I used eight of the finished blocks to make

this fresh new table runner!

{Fabrics are Hometown, from Sweetwater for Moda.}

I selected some texts, polka dots and stripes

in red and gray, alternating light and dark blocks.

For the finishing touch,

I used a diagonal plaid print

from Sweetwater's Feed Company line.

It's just so yummy, bundled up in this sweet roll.

Can you believe it?
This table runner is actually reversible!

I hand-stitched the binding neatly,

thank goodness!

The backing is also from Feed Company...

a recipe text print!

I think I'll try at least one of these recipes out someday.

I didn't quilt the runner heavily,

and personally I prefer it that way.

I did some straight line stitching

but left the centers of the rings unstitched.

The fabrics are so pleasant,

and I like the way they are featured

in these large blocks.

I love the way these "modern" fabrics look

with my vintage tins...

and I'm sure the table runner would really set off

a contemporary dining room, too.

I have some more blocks left over,

so I think I'll make at least one, maybe two more table runners. 

This particular one is now up for sale

in my shop on Etsy, eamylove.

Come back soon!

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Reunion

One of the best things about summertime

is getting together for picnics, parties,

and reunions of all kinds.

This year our annual Love family reunion 

was extra-special in many ways.

Our aunt Lu and uncle Ralph just celebrated 
60 years of marriage,

so I decided to make them a signature pillow.

I received this great label from Sweetwater this month,

as a member of the Label Crew Club.

It gave me the bright idea for this sentimental gift.

I already had a charm pack from the perfect fabric line:

Reunion, also by Sweetwater for Moda.

{I had only used a little bit of it when I made these

sweet Cathedral Window pincushions

featured in my Blurb book.}

I pulled out the cute coordinating bunting print for the zipper cover

and a basic polka dot blender in gold for the back.

There is a great pillow pattern available from Sweetwater,
but I decided to use

the Diamond Pillow pattern from

Crazy Mom Quilts.

{I thought we needed a very big pillow...turns out we all have small handwriting in my family.}

I ironed and stitched the label to the center,

then took my pillow top to our family reunion.

Everyone was asked to sign it

with my permanent marker.

Even before the picnic, I had the backing all prepared,

using my own free tutorial

for a Covered Zipper Pillow Backing.

{I used my own little label for my "extra" signature touch.}

The next morning, all I had to do was to

trim the backing to the same size as the top,

open the zipper at least halfway,

and stitch it all together around the outer edges.

Within a few minutes,

I had the pillow cover turned right-side out,

pressed and ready for the 

20" square pillow form.

{The happy couple was delighted to see it in its final form at their surprise anniversary party.}

I didn't quilt the pillow top,
because I didn't want to stitch over the signatures.
Instead I used Pellon ShapeFlex 101 to stabilize the pillow top.
That made it easier to write on, too.

My Friends and Family pillow

made a great sentimental gift for a very special couple

who holds family and friends dear in their hearts.

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New views from Cathedral Windows

I had just a wee bit of time for sewing

a few nights ago...

so I decided to make something small.

It was about time for a new batch 
of Cathedral Windows pincushions,

using Kim's tutorial from My Go-Go Life.

One of my earlier posts featured my first few pincushions

from this tutorial,

and I really have fun with this method!

{I made these during the summertime!}

In next-to-no-time

I had my new fabrics selected, and the basic ivory squares

were cut, folded and pressed.

For this new batch I chose a few Moda fabrics from Sweetwater,

featuring a Reunion charm pack...

and a few bits of Mama Said Sew yardage.

I developed a deep and lasting affection for the Sweetwater prints while

I was busy making those two zakka sewing kits...

one incorrectly, and one correctly!

The colors look great with charcoal linen,

but a basic ivory Bella solid cotton sets them off nicely, too.

I made one in cherry red and pewter...

another in scarlet and golden yellow...

and a third in charcoal gray and apple green!

{This color combination is really growing on me.}

And then I started REALLY playing around with colors,

seeing what backgrounds look good for photographs...

I totally copied this idea from the blogging genius Deborah

of Simply Miss Luella!

Their little pudgy bottoms..er, I mean backsides...
are so squeezy and cute.

What fun I had setting them up in different dishes...

and in different arrangements!

I think if I had known about pincushions

when I was a little girl,

I would have spent a lot less time with Barbie dolls!

One of these is going out to a very special person...

but watch for others to be listed in my shop on Etsy,

eamylove.

More new arrivals will be added shortly!

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