Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Another Turquoise Heart Cushion

When I made the Greybird cushion, I cut out pieces for two, sewing the two fronts at the same time, chain-piecing style. I would either keep the second one or put it in my Etsy shop. I finally finished it!
I love it too, and if it doesn't sell for a while, I'm totally okay with that!

I did a few things a little differently. First, I elected to machine quilt around the heart using Aurifil 40 wt. It gives such nice definition. Second, I did a different backing, using some leftover backing from my Pocket Full of Sunshine quilt for the pillow backing:


and third, I used a pretty piece of turquoise, Swirl, a Basic from Connecting Threads (affiliate links, as are all the photos below)... btw just a heads-up that there is a pretty sweet sale going on there right now,


and have you been following all the new lines they are carrying?
and patterns, like this one from Cora's Quilts:


and Grunge! In wide back! $16US a yard and 20% off...
Yeah it's a turquoise theme, no apology, ha!


Okay I lost my mind for a moment seeing those new wide backings (the last three photos). I have the last, a Zen Chic one in 44", and it's an awesome print.

All right back to the subject! Big breath! The back, stuffed:


And laid flat out on the deck:

Wait.
No we did not buy a miniature Holstein cow. We've adopted a rescue through Stray to Play, a rescue organization in Toronto. She's a little American bulldog cross from San Antonio, Texas. S2P has an agreement with a high kill shelter there and they bring adoptive dogs north to find their new homes. We had applied for one, a female, same breed, at the Windsor Humane Society but someone else was in line ahead of us, so we lost out. We had to go a little further afield as the rate of adoptions of dogs has skyrocketed during the pandemic, a good thing, but I hope they stay with their new homes if the owners do go back to work. We've named her Xena (zee-na) as in the warrior princess. I thought of Zena, MacGyver thought yes! Xena the Warrior Princess! Which I hadn't connected, but it fits.
We took this pose as an excellent sign that she is starting to feel safe here. This was her first full day. It's quite a change from her foster home in noisy, bustling downtown Toronto, and prior to that, the noisy dangerous life of a street dog in San Antonio.

She's also a Poang-loving chair dog apparently! We readied our outdoor love seat for her, bringing it inside and making it all cushy, but she elected to claim this chair, and she quite likes this black rug which used to belong to Naala, our beloved mama bear, previous Rottie. Speaking of Rotties, Rufus has been a GEM. So utterly golden it's like I don't know who he is. But I do; he's settled right down, just magic. And he shares most willingly, this chair a prime example!

Okay lots of distractions, so this, (along with gorgeous weather and time spent outside) is why I haven't been posting as much recently; the adoptive process is quite involved and takes time. Sidenote: I wish those who do that to a sweet dog's ears would get the same done to theirs.

The pillow, aka cushion cover is for sale in my Etsy shop. The pale green Aurifil I used for piecing and quilting is a terrific colour. I used the 40 wt to topstitch down the binding as well as quilt around the heart.

I've got a few things which to report my progress, but hopefully I'll get them into another post this week. Here is a sneak peek of one. I am in love with this third version of Follow Your Own Path. The final parade is June 15, so you have plenty of time to join in!


Quilt Stats:
Pattern: Patchwork Heart Pillow by Minky Kim at Bernina's blog We All Sew
Size:  18.5 x 18.5"
Fabric: scraps and stash; background is Toscana by Northcott
Backing:  Pimatex Basics by Robert Kaufman
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Quilted: on my Bernina
Threads: pieced with Aurifil; quilted with Aurifil 50 wt 2843 and Aurifil 40 wt 1148; topstitched binding with Aurifil 40 wt 1148





16 comments:

  1. Love the cushion! But Zena steals the show! Congrats!

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  2. Zena is a pretty girl, and she has found the best home! You can tell she thinks so, too. Love your heart cushion and the peek at your latest version of Follow Your Own Path.

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  3. Such a bright and cheery cushion! Congrats on your new addition to your family. We rehomed a dog and are coming up with his one-year anniversary with us May 29. Not certain how we lived without him! BTW, your weather looks lovely!

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  4. Oh my goodness, so much fun reading in this post. The pillow is lovely, sitting there basking in the sun on your patio! Wide backs caused me to get a bit distracted, then totally distracted when you said Grunge!! But seriously, Xena!! I've always thought if I ever got a dog (holding my hands over Wilbs' ears) I'd want a bulldog. She's just sweet, and I'm so glad Rufus has accepted her so well!

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  5. Such a newsy post. Love the pillow which is just so happy. The new puppy, Xena, is looking like she is settling in. Thanks for all the temptation at Connecting Threads. I just love grunge and I'm trying desperately not to buy anything more! My arrows quilt is waiting for me to quilt it. I have the backing chosen and need to cut the batting. The binding is prepped and ready to go. I really love the way this came out and I know I'll be using multiple colors on the quilting or else a multicolored thread!

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  6. Love your pillow!!! Of course the colour is just perfect!!! :-)

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  7. Wow, hearts, pillows, puppies and fabric on sale, oh my! Love this post! A great name for your new addition! Xena, Warrior Princess!

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  8. Zena, that photo of her on her back shows she feels safe and so happy, Rescue, all our cats have been either from the SPCA or strays, there was only one who didn't really adopt us so well and didn't like being picked up or patted, so I am guessing she was picked up and thrown sometimes?? However she did get heaps of love, and when one friend came, who had early dementia, Poppy sat on her knee, always, Maybe they have that inner sense of where they need to be.Love the heart pillow too, maybe Zena would like one for herself!

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  9. Now you've done it. I already spent over $200.00 on flowers and potting soil this morning and now you've made me send an order for fabric to Connecting Threads. Good thing I got all that stimulus money from the US govt.
    How lucky you are that Rufus has decided to accept Xena without a lot of drama. How about Bella or has she stayed out of sight?
    Pat

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  10. Wonderful post with so much news. Love the cushion & that might go on my to do list for scraps & my oh my, a rescue dog has been keeping you busy too. She's gorgeous & have her ears been tampered with? I love that 2nd last backing fabric & may have to look for it here. I took one of my FYOP quilts off the machine after a small glitch and today will put No.2 on, bind the the other one and have ideas for No. 3 and a cushion. Whoops, got carried away with this cute little block(smile). Take care, stay safe & hugs.

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  11. Such a sweetie! Good luck with your new adoptee. I love your teal pillow and I am sure someone else will too!

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  12. Beautiful cushion, fabulous quilting on FYOP, but Xena is the post stealer! She is a beauty and obviously loves her new home since she is showing you her tummy for belly rubs! 😉

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  13. Hi Sandra! I don't really have time to type a comment because of the Connecting Threads sale. 108" wide in Grunge and Zen Chic . . . gotta run and check that out. Nice pillow, by the way. Of course, it's teal/aqua - love it! It is absolutely reflective of YOUR Great Lake. Calmness just exudes from it. Unfortunately, I think it will sell quickly. Xena! Aww, a comrade for Rufus. So glad to hear they are getting along. And the quilting picture!! WOWEE! Way to distract me again . . . but no. Now I'm off to a sale! ~smile~ Roseanne
    P.S. Note to self - PIN that quilting photo for your own FYOP quilt. Love it!

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  14. Pretty pillow and sweet floral quilting on your Find Your Own Path quilt, Sandra!!

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  15. Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

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  16. That's the name of one of our rescue cats! Xena, because she was definitely both warrior and princess. Your Xena seems to be settling in nicely. Congratulations!

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