Friday, March 3, 2017

For the Love of Llamas

When I first read a couple of years ago on Julie's (Pink Doxies) blog about her getting a horse for her youngest daughter, I could totally relate, because I'd been there, done that with my youngest daughter.  When I read that she and her family had rescued two llamas, and had gone through hell and back with them, vets, nursing them, caring for, loving them, and then developing quite the relationship with the two, I was pretty amazed and intrigued.
Cecil in the background, Misha in the foreground, August 2015, when Julie and I first met in person

Where we used to live in Alberta, the closest gas station and convenience store was called The Laughing Llama, and yep, you got it, they had llamas.  They were so sweet.  And interesting!
Can you spot any rogue, rather shy here, llamas?
When I was surfing the 'net looking for the farm animals (cows especially) doing yoga, I came across some llama fabric.  No way!  When I saw they had it on a pink background, I threw it in my cart faster than you can spell llama.  I knew exactly who was going to get something with said llama fabric.  Certain person who had recently done me a sweet favour.  And thus was born yet another DrEAMi!
http://www.mmmquilts.com/2017/01/dreami-moments.html

Drop Everything And Make it! Click the pic if you'd like more info.  That First Quarter Finish Along that is 2/3 of the way through the first quarter? OUT the window.  My first QAL looming...MEH, it'll happen...THIS is going to happen.  And now.

I decided to make a cushion cover similar to that I made for Tish as a thank you last year, because it was such fun to play with 2.5" squares.  In Julie's, there are some new fabrics: the pink starfish fabric, the aqua sand dollar and the Cloud 9 waves, all symbolic of our Florida connection, the geometric Art Gallery one, which shows up in a second project below, and the modern C&S Christmas one to name a few.  Then there are some oldies, some very old and some more recent: several floral ones, a nod to Julie's love of gardening and knowledge of the flora of nature, some batik and kaleidoscope ones representing her love of hand-dyed fabrics, even some older Tula, 'Cleta' by Art Gallery, and even a piece from my Meadow Mystery! Such fun.
The back shows you what a fun print it is, maybe a little more Mexican than Florida in feel, but I LOVE the bling on the llamas!

I did an envelope back but I only do one layer, not a double one of fabric.  I've always had success with this method, it uses less fabric, and not one of my cushions has given out yet, and I've made many over the years!  There's a wee bit of a surprise on the inside of this one:
I had to use that selvage, and was so happy that I could plan it so it lay perfectly on that edge!  You know how I love putting little unique surprises in my quilts.

I used one of my labels from Ikaprint.  Note if you order, you can make them double-sided! I did not even realize this, and so I've started writing on the back of them with either a gel fabric pen or super-fine Sharpie.

Pink and black is pretty classy, so for the binding I used an RJR Handspray couple of strips I'd brought down with me for a strip quilt project.

I quilted it simply with straight lines through the patches.  I got a little fancier on the border.

I had extra fabric (on purpose) and I new exactly what I'd do with a hunk of it.  What do two pieces, Sulky Blendables 30 weight thread, and some straight-line quilting make?
Have I professed my love of Sulky threads enough?! Just look at the subtle shading, mmm!

A llama zipper pouch!  The llamas have also become quite close to Julie's youngest daughter, and so I made her a pencil case/toiletries bag/llama treats pouch, whatever she purpose she decides.
Both sides have different llamas studying the beholder, ha. Their expressions are spot on!

Inside...
She's in college, so I thought the Art Gallery "Maker" fabric which reminds me of math and geometry, even maps, was appropriate.

Both gifts were very happily received.
Julie's cushion cover got Sulky rayons 40 weight.
Quilt Stats:
Pattern:  original design
Size:  cushion cover: 18.5"; bag is about 6x11"
Fabric: 'Lovely Llamas' by Michael Miller, 'Maker' by Art Gallery Fabrics, 'Stella 504' by Dear Stella Design, sand dollar one is by Jane Dixon for Andover Fabrics, and various scraps and stash
Batting: Pellon Nature's Touch 100% cotton
Quilted: on my Bernina
Threads:  pieced with Gütermann; cushion quilted with Sulky rayons; pouch quilted with Sulky Blendables

Linking up
Crazy Mom Quilts
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
TGIFF at Celtic Thistle Stitches
Fort Worth Fabric Studio 
Cooking Up Quilts

25 comments:

  1. This is the ultimate in a gift that so fits the receiver, and her "LLAMAS ", in fabric, a cushion and the ones that greet her in the paddock. What a find, no wonder you had it ( that fabric ) in the goodies basket so fast.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That fabric is stinking cute! How nice to make such nice gifts for your friend. They both are very cute.

    ReplyDelete
  3. what wonderful presents and so well thought out!!! Happy Sewing from Iowa

    ReplyDelete
  4. So cute and thoughtful. I love the meaning and story behind these.

    ReplyDelete
  5. After reading your post, I realize I DREAM a lot when it comes to quilting. Thanks for sharing your acronym, I hope you don't mind me using it because it sums up how I feel sometime, especially when I'm sort of bored with what I'm making. And all it takes is when you see a fun piece of fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aw, how cute are those! Totally adorable. I love llamas, though I don't know any "personally." I've often said, if I ever got a llama, I'd name her Dolly. Dolly Llama. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That llama print is adorable. Great cushion, but you should have put the selvedge on the outside on the envelope back. My friend Linda @ Scrapmaster does that all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such lovely gifts for your friends. Love those llamas too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely work Sandra, and a beautiful present for Lucky Julie with her lovely llamas.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can see why that llama fabric jumped right into your cart, it is adorable. Great gifts for special people.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh those llams on the cushion back just make me giggle! I started another DrEAMI this week-good grief. But oh well, it is all about using fabric, right?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Absolutely LOVE those adorable llamas!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. We can tell how much joy you had dropping everything to make these projects. You're right - SO fun!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the llamas and how you used them. Just too stinking cute. I saw that fabric on Fabric.com and was sorely tempted but I already have waaaaaaay more fabric than I'll ever use.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have a feeling the back of this pillow will be the star! 😊

    ReplyDelete
  16. How thoughtful of you! I can see why you couldn't resist that fabric! One if the quilt shops I visited while visiting north Texas this winter had a row by row with llamas in it....I couldn't resist, either, although I haven't made it yet. Interested in a copy? XO

    ReplyDelete
  17. The fabrics in the cushion are lovely and they play so well with each other as if you picked a pre-cut bundle. I can see why that llama fabric sucked all the air out of the room :-D Knowing you, I am not surprised at your choices - each one more thoughtful than the other. After all, I look at the Om mini everyday.
    Hugs,
    Preeti.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm lovin the llamas and I'm sure Julie will too!

    ReplyDelete
  19. You cannot imagine the surprise this was! I thought it was a used book--typical here, but low and behold, out popped lovely llamas! (Well received my fanny--we oohed and aahed and picked out the expressions our llamas actually made!) I think I mentioned to Sandra one time that IRL llamas LOVE to dress up. There's even a class at shows for "Dress Your Llama" so this isn't too far from real life. Misha and Cecil are both medically special need animals so they'll live here forever, and they are darling animals that will tug on your heart strings. Not unlike Sandra who is a lasting friend, kind, considerate, gracious, and most timely. Lovely Happy Mail, and Lovely Llamas. Thank you so much, Sandra.

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a sweet, sweet gesture, Sandra! And the fabric is just too cute. I am sure it would have taken me much longer to sew up: I tend to get distracted by the characters or designs on fabric. Imagine how many times I would stop everything to play with a llama if I were sewing this fabric. How did you not buy the whole bolt?

    ReplyDelete
  21. This fabric is too cute! I love the llamas and the pillow you made with the fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a gorgeous gift!! Isn't it great when we see something that is just so perfect for someone we know and the gift happens 'just because'?

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a fun, fun gift! Love those llamas. Definitely a very good reason to allow the squirrel to take over the sewing program.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love that Llama fabric! I can't resist a zipper bag, and your projects are darling.

    ReplyDelete

I wholeheartedly appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment, as they make my day! I answer every one by personal email. :-) Unless... you are a "no-reply" blogger, which can occur for a few reasons. You can get around that by writing out your email within your comment so that I can answer you.