Better late than never right ? I have so much Christmas fabric that I love, Love, love... and I never use it :( This year I decided things would be different.... and they were -- just a little late for Christmas. This afternoon I finished up the
"Redbird Christmas" pillow.
I started with my "Family Tree Quilted Envelope Pillow" tutorial posted here on the Moda Bake Shop, designed a new applique center, and re-used my pillow insert.
Ta-daa!
Redbird Christmas
The final finish of 2013.
I used hand dyed wool from a local quilt shop and some very old Holly Taylor fabric with a little Judie Rothermel and Blackbird Design fabrics mixed in. For the pillow front, I cut my own 2.5" strips from yardage and it worked out perfectly.
I used Valdani 12Wt Pearle cotton to hand stitch the wool applique and Aurifil Mako 50Wt Cotton for the piecing, cotton applique, and machine quilting -- LOVE these threads!!
2021 update: Ahhh -- for those of you that follow me now, you know I would choose to use Aurifil 12wt wool or 12wt cotton for my wool applique. Being on a spool will allow you to use these high quality threads on your machine or by hand.
I quilted it with my Janome Horizon using a Queen Supreme Slider, Machingers gloves and lots of patience ;)
As you can see - I added a little stuffing to the bird and the tree -- makes quilting it a little more of a challenge but I just LOVE the dimension that it adds. What do you think ?
For the back I used the same Holly Taylor fabric from my stash -- it sure feels good to use up some fabric.
(Rarely happens... ha ha ha).
If you're interested in the template for the tree and/or the bird pop on over to my Throwback Thursday blog post about Redbird Christmas and download it from there.
I would like to take a minute and thank you all for supporting my blogging and sewing efforts this year! It's really been an awesome adventure and without all the great bloggers and readers out there I'm not sure what would have motivated me to continue to learn and grow and share. So....
Thank you all so much and have a wonderful New Year!
2014 Can you believe it ?
Bring it On!!
Off to celebrate my "little" brothers 50th Birthday -- he turns 50 tomorrow --
A New Years' Baby...
Hugs to all,
Happy New Year!
Karen
Absolutely gorgeous red bird cushion!
ReplyDeleteYour pillow is beautiful! Happy New Year! :0)
ReplyDeleteLove the pillow and your quilting is great.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours.
Beautiful pillow. I would love to have the templates for the tree and the bird..Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteI just loved your Redbird Christmas pillow and your quilting is beautiful! I too would love to have the templates...Thanks! Happy New Year for you and yours!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! I'm interested in trying to add the stuffing to appliques. Do you use just regular polyfill?
ReplyDeleteYes, I would love the templates. The pillow is gorgeous! I can do some for next year.
ReplyDeleteIt is just great and I would like to have your templates also! I love your colors!
ReplyDeleteI love your pillow and would love to use your templates. Stuffing the bird and tree really add to the finished look. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillow. I would love this template also.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing. I would love to try this project!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! I am very interested in the template. Thank you for asking and sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove the pillow. Please send me the templates. Happy New Year from North Dakota.
ReplyDeleteThe pillow is so pretty. I love your detailed tutorials and pics and would very much like the templates. Wishing you a very happy quilty 2014.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous.....I love the fabrics that you used. I would seriously like to have the pattern as well as the templates.
ReplyDeleteYou're not late for Christmas - we're only on the 8th day of Christmas, four days left - ergo not late. It's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteI would love the templates for this pillow, so very pretty, thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteAnother sweet pillow! I love your mix of wool appliqués and beautiful quilting fabrics! I would love to have your templates--your designs really call to me!
ReplyDeleteTruly lovely project
ReplyDeleteThanks so for sharing and for offering the templates
Love this
Catie
Your Red Bird cushion is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOnly found you recently and I loved your Family Tree on Moda, I would love to have the PDF for this pillow! All the best is 2014!
ReplyDeleteDon't you love working with wool felt and perle cotton? Your quilting is gorgeous. I am visiting from My Quilt Infatuation link up.
ReplyDeleteLove your pillow
ReplyDeleteI would love the pattern ... simplicity w elegance. Your choice of fabrics is exceptional.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cushion. thanks for offering the pattern, would love to make it.
ReplyDeleteThat is so nice!! I'm so glad I saw it on Needle and Thread Thursday!. I'm going to look around your blog now-- fun!
ReplyDeleteFantastic work! I love the simplicity of the bird and tree. Really excellent!
ReplyDeleteLove your pillow. Your stitches are perfect!
ReplyDeleteSuper duper cute!
ReplyDeleteSo adorable! Love the pillow :)
ReplyDeleteLove your Christmas pillow! The shapes of the tree and cardinal are so sweet and whimsical like.
ReplyDeleteGreat pillows. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteI love that Christmas pillow!!! Great job, Karen. :) But then, you always do beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteLovely pillow, if I start now I should be able to finish one or two by next Christmas. Thank you for your generosity
ReplyDeleteLovely pillow, if I start now I should be able to finish one or two by next Christmas. Thank you for your generosity
ReplyDeleteWow it's lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillow! I like the bird and the tree being stuffed.
ReplyDeleteI like it very much!
ReplyDeletelove it, Karen! I'll bet that FMQ took LOTS of patience. It looks amazing. You know, I actually enjoy using my Christmas fabrics most during the summertime. For some reason, when it's Christmas time, constantly looking at the red and green in my decor makes me NOT want to sew with it. Plus as a teacher, I have more time to enjoy them in the summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!
:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
I'm like you - there are several pieces I've had for years - just waiting for the 'right' project. Your pillow is beautiful and will be all ready for next year, so the pressure's off :). I'm working on a table runner that I started far too late, which has evolved into 2 (!) but have my sights firmly set on being able to use them/gift them for the coming Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilting, love the trapunto stuffing too.
ReplyDeleteLovely pillow! The trapunto adds so much.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful! I would love the templates. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Vicki
[email protected]
It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am a VERY-Beginner sewer and trying to learn as much about different techniques at the moment. How do you machine quilt/free motion sew the actual quilt design? I love the gentle looping design and am curious. I've never been one to take my time learning, I like to dive in. I learn best with a challenge.
Beautiful pillow! I love the Christmas tree and the bird. Wonderful work!
ReplyDeleteNavy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
Positively inspirational!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pillows from the hand stitching to the piecing to the quilting and stuffing they are spectacular. I just love them. Thanks too for the PDF files.
ReplyDeleteBunny
I love this cushion!!
ReplyDeleteYour pillow is so beautiful! I would love to make it!
ReplyDeleteLynn
What a beautiful pillow. I'm inspired to make one for next year. I have so much holiday fabric in my stash it should be easy to pick great fabric for it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillow. I too love birds so this is right up my alley. Thank you for the inspiration on your blog. Sandy
ReplyDeleteWould love the templates but the pdf doesn't seem to be working. I click on pic and nod templates....
ReplyDeleteI would love a PDF of the tree and bird
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog via someone posting this beautiful cushion, i would love to have the instruction in a PDF for the cushion so i could print off to make this & possible the others
ReplyDeleteHugs Janice
Thank you for your lovely cushion pattern. so love the colours. It will be one of the the lovely things that makes a delightful show out at Christmas. Happy Stitching.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the PDF to this beautiful pattern. Thank you so much for sharing it. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa -- I don't have an email address for you so I couldn't reply via email. If you look at my blog from a computer you'll see the free template on the right sidebar. Email me if you can't access it and I'll get it sent along to you. Thanks for your sweet comment and Merry Christmas !!
DeleteA lovely pillow
ReplyDeleteI was perusing Pinterest when I came across your beautiful cushion. I love the colours and fabrics that you have used. I wonder if it is possible to have the templates as you mentioned. Thanks for a lovely pattern.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillow. I would love to have the template for the bird and the tree. Thank you so much.
ReplyDelete