Spring hodge-podge

I'm hoping to finish my bird pillow TODAY. I'm very pleased with how the fabrics and the needlepoint look together. The needlepoint was a thrift store purchase, but I already had the fabric! yay! I really need to use what I HAVE instead of always looking for more. I'm challenging myself to do that more and buy less.

My Etsy shop is in dire need of a spring up-date...so I've been thinking about new little items I could stock it with. I'm experimenting with these oilcloth pouches. Some are lined with felt, some un-lined, some lined with more oilcloth. Some have buttons on the end of the ribbon tie, and some have beads. I really like the look of the one with the yellow and white gingham, but my machine was freaking out and the stitching is horrendous!! E-gads! The felt lined ones are so cozy to stick your hand into, but I could only make one successfully, for some reason my machine wouldn't stitch well again with the others I tried. This is the part I don't like about the design process. I want it to work and be perfect the first time around!! Yeah, right. Wouldn't we all love to live in a perfect world :)

I just started making some fabric covered buttons using the super strawberry fabric my friend sent me from Norway. Aren't they just so cute?? And soooo 'spring'. How come no one ever told me how fun it was to make these?  This is another little goodie I want to put in my shop. All kinds of sweet fabric buttons.

Comments

[joy]

ooooh wheee! I love the oilcloth pouches! I love the ones lines with more OC for like makeup or in a baby bag or just for anything that could get dirty! YAY! Very cute

[manda]

Oh I've been wanting to make fabric covered buttons for ages! Part of my furniture degree was traditional upholstery and we covered buttons then and I just loved it! I haven't seen any where here to buy kits though. Although I found a place online that I could rent an industrial button press thingy from.
I've been meaning to ask you about your cushion. It looks great!
Those pouches look fantastic too. You have been busy!

[Strikkelise]

I love how the bird pillow turned out! A beautiful way to use that old embroidery.
And- amazing to see those strawberries in action, thousands of miles away! :)

[gina L]

The Pouches are great. And the buttons are the cutest!!! Spring here we come.
I have the same problem with trying to use what I have instead of always buying more.

[beki]

Ooo, the colors are so fresh and pretty! Very nice ;) I can't wait for spring!!!

[carol]

Wow- what a great idea with the needlepoint. I'll have to check out my favorite thrift store.

Thanks for the inspiration.

[Jackie]

look slike you have been busy. Everything looks lovely. I don't think you can have too much fabric. I'm always buying more. I wish I could sew faster!

[Dana]

That is going to be one great pillow. I can't wait to see it finished!

[stace]

Oooo. . . love your pillow. I love the little bird and the fabrics you chose give such a nice cozy feeling. The oilcloth pouches are so cheery - I love them! You could do some tiny embroidery and make more covered buttons! I'd love cherry fabric buttons too. Great job!

[Kristy]

Absolutely love the pillow!Will it be going in your Etsy shop?

[Laura]

The pillow - the pouches - the BUTTONS - the beads! Everything is so sweet! Everything *looks* like a perfect world from the outside. :)

[Erin]

Your pillow is beautiful. You have a good eye for colors--the fabrics you chose look so perfect with the needlepoint.

[molly]

of course you know I LOVE those buttons because I am a button fanatic! please tell us more--where did you get them plain buttons, how did you do it...etc, etc.