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The couple’s color scheme includes pale blue and orange, so they chose this Anna Maria Horner Sketchbook fabric for the pillow. I loooove this fabric with all its huge florals, mini bursts and birds. It was tough picking two 9×9 inch squares to cut because the pattern’s so big but I chose one side with just flowers,  and one side with a cute little bird.

I had the hardest time finding a 5/8″ ribbon in an orange shade to match until I remembered to check at Piedmont Fabric, where I picked up this delicate pale orange silk ribbon in two sizes.

There’s a flat, fabric-covered button sewn into the centers of both the top and bottom of the pillow. I also made the thinner ribbons detachable so the couple could use the side with the bird as the top if they preferred. I’d actually intended for the bird to be on top when I started out but thought it might a) not have enough orange on that side and/or b) be a little too funky for their tastes…but who knows?! I guess I’ll find out tomorrow!

Congrats Rob and Elisa, and thanks for letting me have the honor of making your ring pillow!Similar Posts:

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Bolster pillows are characterized by their long, cylindrical shape, and they happen to have HEAPS of great benefits. Allow me to name a few:

1. They look cool, especially when tossed amongst pillows of other shapes.
2. They offer therapeutic benefits! Use them:
   • Under your neck to help relieve head and neck tension
   • Under your knees to relieve lower back pain
   • Behind your back for lumbar support
3. In the Forest Faux Bois design, you can fool your guests into thinking it’s a real fireplace log. Yup.

PLUS…did you know?

The origin of the bolster pillow takes us to the Far East, where wives would fashion bolster pillows out of bamboo for the husband to use when he traveled. He would sleep with the bolster pillow so he would not be lonely.

Children develop a habit of sleeping with bolster pillows in Chinese and Malay families. This habit often carries on into adulthood. The climates in Singapore and Malaysia are often too hot to sleep with covers, so people use bolster pillows for comfort.

The use of sleeping with bolster pillows is so common in Indonesia that most hotels provide bolster pillows for their guests.

Thanks to Outdoor Pillows for these fun facts!

In conclusion, bolster pillows are cool. And you need some! =D Covers in more fabrics are being added just about weekly, but shoot me a note if there’s a fabric in my shop that you want to see as a bolster pillow cover (or any other cover for that matter)!

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These are the latest bright and billowy pillow covers that I’ve added to the shop. They’re 18″ square cases that come on and off the pillow insert of your choice with an invisible zipper, and the edges of the inside seams are finished with a serger for a polished, more professional look.

My serger is a Brother 1034D that I love, from Amazon.com. It has no thread cutters and makes no locking nor backstitches however, so you get a couple of thread tails when you start and finish serging your seam. Up until now I’ve simply been tying each thread tail into a knot and snipping off the loose ends. Nothing wrong with that method, but today I finally stopped long enough to look for alternative methods.

I found a sweet Serger Basics article on WhatTheCraft.com that answers my very question: how do you hide serger thread tails? The short answer is to thread the tail through the eye of a darning needle and use the needle to draw the tail through/underneath the threads of the overlocked seam. I remember seeing this technique elsewhere, but the golden nugget of WhatTheCraft.com’s article is that you slide the needle underneath the threads of the overlocked seam BEFORE you thread the tail into the eye of the needle. A-HA! That takes care of either not having a long enough tail to thread through, or using too much thread to create a longer tail. Brilliant!

I’ve also vaguely recall learning a technique long ago where you use a thin metal crochet hook inserted between the threads from a couple inches away from the thread tail and draw the thread tail down from the bottom instead of from the top. I didn’t have a slender enough crochet needle to try, but I think that could work equally well.

Here’s the link again in case you too are wondering, “Just what DO I do with those long thread tails that my serger leaves behind?” Here is your answer, with step-by-step photos and instructions.Similar Posts:

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I haven’t ordered from ZipperStop in awhile, but I’m glad to have them back in the mix because they’re really responsive and don’t waste any time getting your order out the door! Plus, my other supplier doesn’t offer invisible zippers in as many colors as they do.

My invisible zipper skills are a bit rusty, so I went online for a refresher. I found this YouTube video from Otis College of Art and Design and wanted to share it because it’s awesome!

I’ll most likely machine instead of hand baste (just because it’s faster and less clumsy for me), as well as use a strip of interfacing in the zipper insertion area as recommended in Fashion Incubator’s invisible zipper tutorial.

Also, sew? i knit!’s invisible zipper tutorial will be helpful figuring out how to use this el cheapo plastic Coats & Clark invisible zipper foot until I have time to get over to Walnut Creek’s Sewing Machine Shop for a Janome foot. Ex-cit-ing!Similar Posts:

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Step 2) Don a pair of wings

Step 3) Surround yourself with faux bois throw pillows and flutter about with glee!

It’s official. I’ve been branching out (get it ha ha) and making the accessories part of “thoughtfully designed handbags and accessories” come to life, as seen first by the small collection of neck warmers, wool felt brooches and now…throw pillows!

I love a room with interesting and colorful cushions, and all the interior design experts on TV these days are saying how throw pillows are the perfect way to instantly spruce up a room on a budget. These pillow covers are easily removable with a hidden lapped zipper that stretch all the way across the bottom seat of the pillow cover, making them quick to swap out (though why you would EVER want to do that I just don’t know) or to simply take off to spot clean should you or a guest manage to accidentally *gasp* soil the fabric.

The floral appliques are made of 100% wool felt and topped with buttons for added color and dimension. These will be available at my booth (#24, baby!) at the Bazaar Bizarre SF Holiday Show this coming 11/30/08 at the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park!Similar Posts:

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It’s a relatively simple design inspired by a floral element on the bride’s lovely gown from the Amsale Bridal Collection, along with her colors, lavender and green.

image from Amsale Bridal Collection

The pillow is made with ivory dupioni silk trimmed with ivory satin ribbon. The flower is reconstructed from a cream white faux magnolia from Beverly’s, and I topped it off with a 7/8″ flat button that I covered with matching silk. The ring is a faux silver wedding ring also from Beverly’s that was sold in a $2 pack for a whole bunch. I used a flat pearl bead on the back of the pillow to hide the ivory thread used to secure all the stuff on the top. A few more views!

I always get a little paranoid about whether my projects really turn out as good as I hope they are, but I really hope she likes them! The magnolia petals are a bit more creamy in color than I was originally looking for, but I’m hoping that it’s actually a good thing because they look vibrant and alive even though they’re not an exact match to the flowers on Olivia’s gown. I’d love to hear what you think!

UPDATE 3:48pm: Phew, they’re done! Here’s the 2nd of the pair. I decided to move the velvet ribbons around, as well as use a green one on this one and the lavender on the other.

Time to pack – Jimmy’s there already playing a round of golf with the boys!Similar Posts:

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