Snuggle Up! with Letter Pillows

I know a pair of girls who turned 7 this summer...  and I wanted to make them some personalized pillows in the shape of their initials.  This project is only slightly less basic than sewing a throw pillow - pretty simple. 

I began by drawing a pattern.

 My favorite method for sewing my own patterns (probably the "lazy" method) is to trace around my paper pattern with a pencil, then sew on that line.  This is quicker and easier than adding seam allowances to my pattern.  It also ensures that I stitch precisely where I want my seams to end up.  

I used a stretchy, soft fleece for the backs of my pillows. Super cozy!

Once I had sewn along my pattern line (leaving a couple inches open to turn my pillow right-side-out), I trimmed the edges and clipped the corners.

I typically use a large crochet hook when turning my projects, which allows me to push out crisp corners and edges without poking through my fabric by accident.  

The "A" challenged my spacial reasoning skills at first... 

I had to leave the center seam open in order to turn it right-side-out, then hand stitch it closed. 

Once turned, I stuffed my pillows (really really full, so as to avoid a "floppy" appearance) and hand stitched the opening closed.

I was so thrilled with how this quick project turned out that I made a couple for my own babes too!

A Little Hand Lettering

 

So much time has passed since my last post (nearly 7 months!?!).  I guess that's what you get when you are the mom of 2 kids under 2!  And, oddly enough, life has actually gotten easier since our graduation from the "2 under 2" club (Little J turned 2 a few weeks ago!).  He is also bubbling over with excitement about his new vocabulary, especially his ability to point out every car we pass on the road... The new Baby Coconut is almost 6 months old now, and finally following a loose daily routine - and sitting up all by himself! Busy, busy!

Luckily - for my own sanity - I have managed to make some time for myself lately to work on some art projects.  This one (above), is one that I painted for my mom to use as baby shower invitations back in November.  I added my invitation text digitally, then had them printed at Staples.  (My Autumn Baby Shower post can be viewed by clicking this link).

But the original painting had a big blank oval that I never had time to fill in.  I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to fill it with anyway... so this project got pushed to the back, back, back, back burner.  Until I had a free evening last week!

I painted a watercolor panda for Little J when I decorated his nursery, and I wanted baby #2 to have a Mommy Painting of his own.  Since I painted this little bad boy while I was pregnant with Baby Coconut (and since it was the inspiration for his baby shower theme), it seemed appropriate to officially make it his painting.  With hand lettering!