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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Some little handmade gifts

Over the long weekend, I made up some little gifts for a couple of people, all ready to give to them this week.


First up was this cute little mug rug. I like how the wedge shape reminds me of wedges of cake! It's a pretty little one and simply quilted. This is for my mother-in-law who is visiting today, as part of her Mother's Day present. I will have a tute for how to make this as part of the {Sew} Get Started series, next Monday. It will be a nice, easy, fun introduction to quilting!

Then, on Sunday when I was browsing through my reader on my phone (while enjoying my breakfast in bed!), I spotted a fabulous string pieced cushion/pillow on Samelia's Mum's blog. She made it all with solids, I thought it was just perfect! And I instantly wanted to make one, particularly as Anorina did a great tute for it too.

So, later that day when I was out shopping, I spied this cheap and horrible faux silk cushion in Tesco, reduced in the clearance to €2.50 and couldn't pass it up as a bargain.


I came home and dragged out my fabrics, including some of the large DS scraps Elaine sent me, and some Hope Valley that I got early in the new year, and I made this up as a scrappy cushion and replaced that horrible cover with this one. Hey presto, something lovely out of something awful! It's a little outside my normal colour range, but was made to match a particular colour scheme for the person its going to.

String cushion front


I quilted it 1/4" in from each of the seams, and love how it looks, and the way your eye is drawn to something new every time you look at it.

String cushion quilting closeup


I intended to put a zipped back on it but didn't have a long enough zipper, so I made a simple envelope one instead.

String cushion the back

This will be gifted later on in the week and I hope the recipient likes it!

16 comments:

  1. gorgeous makes! Love the wedge shapes in the pretty mug rug and the cushion is gorgeous! I agree the quilting looks brilliant :)

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  2. I too like the idea of wedges of cake! :)

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  3. love the little gifts. i never have the foresight to see an inexpensive pillow as a potential pillow form-- must start thinking that way!

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  4. Love the mug rug....makes me wan't some cake now!
    The cushion is gorgeous!!! Love the colours!!! =D

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  5. I'm sure the recipients were thrilled with their beautifully crafted gifts! Who wouldn't be?

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  6. I love strings! So the cushion is FAB in my book..

    and the mug rug is cute too!

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  7. What wonderful makes! Aren't your friends (and MIL) going to love you? xx

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  8. Gorgeous makes Sarah - you`re such a clever thing!

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  9. Love the mug rug - the wedge shape reminds me of cake slices too:) And the pillow is gorgeous - will have to try this pattern with some scrap strips I have here!

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  10. Well rescued for that cushion there!

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