For our wedding I wanted to make most everything. I had seen some really neat ideas for ring pillows online, but none really seemed to fit our theme, or our family...
I loved the birds, and the fact that it could fit our home as a small throw pillow, but the colors were not going to match
So not us...
And of course...there was no way I was going to be happy with the "traditional" style of pillow...
I wanted something that spoke of our love, and I wanted it to be special because my future Son would be the one to carry it down the aisle. It needed to be meaningful.
And what is more meaningful, than something hand-crafted? Right? Haha. Oh yeah. That's meaningful. Did I mention that I have never sewn anything, never made a pillow, and only have a little bit of experience stitching from girl scouts over two decades ago? No? Well...it's all true.
I set to work, first I had to find the material, and get everything for it. I had a few sewing needles, but after discussing the process with my mom she suggested that I get embroidery needles since I was going to be stitching...
I wanted something that spoke of our love, and I wanted it to be special because my future Son would be the one to carry it down the aisle. It needed to be meaningful.
And what is more meaningful, than something hand-crafted? Right? Haha. Oh yeah. That's meaningful. Did I mention that I have never sewn anything, never made a pillow, and only have a little bit of experience stitching from girl scouts over two decades ago? No? Well...it's all true.
I set to work, first I had to find the material, and get everything for it. I had a few sewing needles, but after discussing the process with my mom she suggested that I get embroidery needles since I was going to be stitching...
We picked our colors from this picture. Jon and I both love the colors blue and green, the color of the sky and earth (when it isn't so dry...). We had been on a family trip to the zoo, and saw a peacock that looked like the one in the picture, and that's how we chose our colors!
Now to find emerald green and peacock blue...it wasn't as easy as I thought. I found the Natural Fiber Muslin, and found the embroidery floss the right colors, but couldn't find the right color for the backing on the pillow. I looked all over for some peacock blue fabric. And yes...I looked everywhere. There were colors that were close, but too turquoisy...Or too greenish... In my desperation, I tried an awesome little thrift shop here in town...Just before they closed.
I swept in the front door and was greeted by the most welcoming woman- she never remembers me, even though I have been going inside since I started school here too many years ago to mention. But she always greets me like an old friend...who always forgets my face.
She could tell by my face I was desperate, and asked what I was looking for. I proceeded to tell her I've been looking all over for some fabric to make the ring pillow for our wedding, but figured I would just try her place on the off chance she might have something that would work. I showed her my color swatches, and her face lit up. "I have just the thing!" She rushed me up the stairs, and went right to the rack where a cute little coat from an old dress hung, "I tried to get the gal who bought the dress that went with this to take the jacket too, guess you needed it more"
Now to find emerald green and peacock blue...it wasn't as easy as I thought. I found the Natural Fiber Muslin, and found the embroidery floss the right colors, but couldn't find the right color for the backing on the pillow. I looked all over for some peacock blue fabric. And yes...I looked everywhere. There were colors that were close, but too turquoisy...Or too greenish... In my desperation, I tried an awesome little thrift shop here in town...Just before they closed.
I swept in the front door and was greeted by the most welcoming woman- she never remembers me, even though I have been going inside since I started school here too many years ago to mention. But she always greets me like an old friend...who always forgets my face.
She could tell by my face I was desperate, and asked what I was looking for. I proceeded to tell her I've been looking all over for some fabric to make the ring pillow for our wedding, but figured I would just try her place on the off chance she might have something that would work. I showed her my color swatches, and her face lit up. "I have just the thing!" She rushed me up the stairs, and went right to the rack where a cute little coat from an old dress hung, "I tried to get the gal who bought the dress that went with this to take the jacket too, guess you needed it more"
The jacket actually fit, too...which made it that much harder to cut up!
I can not describe my relief. I was elated, and so happy to have found the perfect shade of fabric! We chatted about the wedding and the pillow, and I found my new friend once again asking my name...I hope she remembers me when I bring the pillow by to show her!
I had all my supplies, all I had to do-or so I believed-was sketch out the pattern, and make the pillow! Right? Yes. But the pattern was the hardest part, after trying to find the right colors, and after actually locating said colors...I liked so many designs i found online, but knew each one was lacking some element...
I had all my supplies, all I had to do-or so I believed-was sketch out the pattern, and make the pillow! Right? Yes. But the pattern was the hardest part, after trying to find the right colors, and after actually locating said colors...I liked so many designs i found online, but knew each one was lacking some element...
So as you can see...none of the pillows fit our style. I started sketching. A few of the ideas went straight into the trash. But one, stuck. It had everything it needed. Each element was picked from some correlation to our life we live.
My awful sketch. haha
So not only am I not a person that sketches anything other than doodle lines, but I've always heard how hard trees are...I was scared. But determined, this was our wedding-our most special day. And if I had to learn how to draw a tree, and make a pillow...by golly I was gonna do it! Tee hee...oh the things we do for love.
I had my sketch, my medium, my tools...now what? How do you make a pillow? I learned from Fraulein Maria (Sound of Music), that the beginning is a very good place to start. So I cut out the pattern, and used it to cut the pieces of fabric, and prolonged the inevitable sewing as long as I could. I probably cut our 50 little birds, and 20 tiny leaves before I decided which ones would make the cut.
I laid the pieces out on the muslin, and pinned them all down, and re-pinned them so many times Jon thought I would never finish the pillow. I have pictures of the process somewhere...but in the wedding hubub somehow lost them. So then I sewed everything down. And I hope it all stays together well- still not sure if my knots were made right.
After finishing the front, it took a few nights of movies and music to keep me awake...I put the backing on, flipped it inside out, stuffed it, and closed the pillow! I felt like a pro by the end of the process...I even sewed some curtains for the lil guys' room in the middle of the pillow process! Haha. What a difference between when I started and the couple weeks later when I was sewing on the ribbon for the rings! Here is my (poorly taken) picture of the pillow:
I had my sketch, my medium, my tools...now what? How do you make a pillow? I learned from Fraulein Maria (Sound of Music), that the beginning is a very good place to start. So I cut out the pattern, and used it to cut the pieces of fabric, and prolonged the inevitable sewing as long as I could. I probably cut our 50 little birds, and 20 tiny leaves before I decided which ones would make the cut.
I laid the pieces out on the muslin, and pinned them all down, and re-pinned them so many times Jon thought I would never finish the pillow. I have pictures of the process somewhere...but in the wedding hubub somehow lost them. So then I sewed everything down. And I hope it all stays together well- still not sure if my knots were made right.
After finishing the front, it took a few nights of movies and music to keep me awake...I put the backing on, flipped it inside out, stuffed it, and closed the pillow! I felt like a pro by the end of the process...I even sewed some curtains for the lil guys' room in the middle of the pillow process! Haha. What a difference between when I started and the couple weeks later when I was sewing on the ribbon for the rings! Here is my (poorly taken) picture of the pillow:
Our Family Tree is firmly planted on a Stone, with the river flowing behind it, and giving it strength, with the three little song birds in the tree...that is carved from our love. :)
I am so glad it worked out! I was afraid I would not be able to use it when I first started the process since I had never done anything like this before, but I think it would be a fun thing to do again...maybe a different design tho. I even kept some of the birds that weren't rejected-maybe someday I'll have to add a little bird to the tree...
Photographer's Pic...cleaner-for sure. But you can't see Jon and I at the top. :)
Just one of my projects for the wedding...more to come!
Just another day in the life of C A Stone...♥
Live in the rhythm of love...and share the bliss!
Just another day in the life of C A Stone...♥
Live in the rhythm of love...and share the bliss!
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