around the workshop

starting new projects, using new materials, pushing creativity...

Here's a sneak peek, more details to come.

return on creativity: new pillow cover ideas

I made some new pillows for my shop using black fabric paint.  The all is well pillow was inspired by three word sayings like "Life is good" or "Live Laugh Love".  I hand painted the words and then sewed red felt applique accents in the loops of the letters.

I used an eclectic grouping of my collection of foam stamps to create this alphabet pillow.  I bought most of my stamps years ago.  They are mostly from Making Memories and no longer sold, but I found a set on Amazon here.  I love my foam stamps.  I use them on paper and fabric.  If you find some snatch them up! 

This is my favorite tutorial for sewing pillow covers.  It doesn't win the prize for the prettiest pillow in my opinion, but the measurements seem to work really well for me.

Happy sewing and thanks for reading!

a big idea: rolling pin stamps by alisa burke

If you are intrigued by the idea of creating your own stamps...

If you are interested in unique ways to design your own prints...

Check this out.

Go to Alisa's blog to see this genius and amazing idea...

return on creativity: plaid painted pillow

Another painted pillow.  I just had to try my hand at plaid.

more masking tape and paint...

It's so magical when you pull the tape off...

Then perpendicular stripes...

I sewed this into another 16 inch square pillow with an envelope closure in the back.

This pillow turned out a bit more masculine...

...perfect for a leather chair.

return on creativity: painted pillow

To me pillows are like blank canvases waiting to be decorated.  In this case, I decorated with paint.  This was a spontaneous project, so I didn't do much research into the proper way to paint fabric.  I just dove in.  It will be interesting to see how this pillow holds up over time, especially how it holds up to washing if that should become neccessary.

To achive painted stripes I started by applying masking tape stripes to my fabric.  Then I painted.

Allow the paint to dry and remove the masking tape. 

Sew into a pillow.  I sewed my pillow into a sixteen inch square with an envelope closure on the back.

I like the results so much that I've already come up with other painted pillow ideas.  Happy painting!