My Handmade Sunshine

I have been thinking a lot about my blog and what I want it to be... a place to share, to learn, to stretch myself, and a happy place. Goodness knows, happiness can make the world go round and miracles happen! So as I thought of how I pictured it looking, I wanted the handmade part to really shine, but the sunshine part (that we all are given a chance to create everyday- no matter the weather) was the basis of my blog. So I toyed around with quite a few ideas, and the buntings kept coming back to me. More ideas and then, the sunshine becoming PART of the bunting, hit me like a rock! I knew that's what it had to be. And I wanted BIG, so I went with a 20 inch square pillow form :)
So the work began...I sketched, sketched, and re-sketched what I wanted it to be, then finally had my perfect look. However, it was on a 3x5 card :) My pillow is 20" square! hehe- so the enlarging began :) I cut, taped, and drew til I had all the proportions just so, and then the crazy part. Figuring out the fabric came next- this was especially tricky since I do not have much of a "stash" just yet- I am still new to sewing and quilting in particular, so I had to really dig to get the colors I dreamed of. It would up being the exact colors I pictured though. I cut and laid the pieces on the paper and then transferred it a bit at a time to the pillow top.
Once everything was fused on, I appliqued everything into place. Some pieces I just "outlined" some I tightly zig zag-ed. It was fun being random! I hand embroidered the bunting hanging line and the sunshine's beams. I wanted a really crisp look, so I decided not to quilt the top- just leaving the applique and hand stitching. I added a bright, happy, sunny yellow back, with an envelope opening. Then on to the edging. I wanted the pillow to look similar to a mini quilt, so I made binding and actually binded the pillow :)

I love how it turned out- it gives me the calm feeling inside to know that is what I want this place to be, and it's an amazing reminder to me to always "make sunshine" wherever I am! I hope I remember that every moment!!

I am entering this pillow over at the Pillow Party at Rachel's blog- go check out all the pillow beauties :) FUN! http://www.stitchedincolor.com/p/bloggers-pillow-party.html