A Second Memory Pillow

The youngest of my siblings is turning 31.  Oh how time fly's. I saw him for the first time when he was 2 months old. You see I was in my first year of college when this lil brother was born. It was during Christmas break that I came home and got to hold him. The fun thing about this brother....he is a red head! the only red head in the family! Our Opa (grandpa)was a red head on my Mothers side... Now he is turning 31. The loss of our mom, was upsetting to him for reason's other then it was our mom. He feels that he and his children were robbed of time with her...and I cant help but understand that...

he and his beautiful Bride have been married 9 years... I made him a Memory pillow for his up coming Birthday.

Boy, did I struggle with this one...the pink lacy material Was the dress my mom wore at his wedding...it also was stretchy and had lining that stretched as well...the more mauve material was a favorite skirt of my mom's and even tho this fabric was easier to work with, it also had stretchy lining.

I embellished it..trying to match this day...sweet and romantic!

Full of hopes and dreams...

A romantic pillow???

And of course, I had to put 'Schatje' on it..for that is what my mom called all those that she loved...'Schatje' is Dutch for sweetheart...

The back of the pillow...(I kept the lining out...I just couldn't work with it anymore!!!)

My mom in the dress she wore, next to her baby boy...the youngest...it was a happy Day!

9 years later...My brother has a family he adores. His daughter struggled with the loss of her grandma...and sadly the lil man, may be to young to remember her. Due to the age gap, his children are the same age's as my grandchildren. This brother is in the service. My mom so proud of him and his family. Happy Birthday my Little brother, We love you, are proud of you..and will always be here for you!

DYI Fabric Pumpkins

Everywhere I go, I have been running into Fabric pumpkins!!! some are for sale..some are not! After checking several of them out...I decided I could make these one my own, without a pattern :)

I started with picking out fabric that correlated well together (you will notice that in the pics you will see 2 different Set's. This is due to not photographing each step I took, as well as I should have).
The biggest piece is 10 inch. x 25 inch. The middle piece is 8 inch. x 23 inch. and the smallest piece is 6 inch. x 21 inches.  If you want a bigger set then just add for example Big 16 x 31, Medium 14 X 29, small 12 x 27 or if you want a smaller set the opposite. for example Big 6 x 21, Medium 4 x 19 and small 2 x 17.

Take the fabric and fold the strips, right side facing each other and sew a seam down the one side  to close it. it will make a circle.

Using embroidery thread. stitch around one end. I started at the seam I had just sewing all the way around till I got back to that seam...

 Pull the thread till the fabric is all together and then tie a couple knots. The next pic will show the steps taking so far in a better way...

See how i just hand stitched from the seam back to the seam! Then you just add the stuffing and do the same to the other side, as pictured here and stitch from one end to the other.

You pull the thread on this side as well, Wanting it to close as tightly as possible.

One side of your fabric pumpkins will have more a stem look to it. Make this side your top.

One side will be smoother. Make this side you bottom, so that they will sit flat.

To create the more wedge look of the pumpkin, I used embroidery thread and simple sat the pumpkin on it, pulled the string tight and made a knot at the top.

Then I did it the other way, see how there are 4 sections now. basically look at the pumpkin as if it was a pie, and tie the string in those sections...this means you will tie 4 strings to each pumpkin creating 8 sections.

Here is one all tied, reflecting 8 sections. The sections do not have to be perfect. there is no perfect pumpkins :)

I cut leaf's and stems out of felt. The stem's you want to sew 2 lines down them from the top. leaving a space at the bottom to attach to the pumpkin...see the next pic.

Sewing the 2 lines, makes it so you can bend the stem a bit...see how the bottom comes out on each side. this way you can sew the stem and leaf to the pumpkin.

I blanket stitched the stem's on. Making sure the leaf was underneath and pulling the thread through the fabric and the leaf all at the same time. This secures the leaf and stem onto the pumpkin and also covers up the knots from tying the segments. On this set, I choose 2 leafs per pumpkin and personalized this set.

This was my practice set. But last minute I was invited to a wedding :) so I personalized the leafs, with there initials and date...as a wedding gift.  (I told the Bride, this way 20 years or so from now, her new husband will remember there date in October!!!) I find it interesting how my husband struggles with dates the longer we are together and the older we get... ha ha ha

This set of Pumpkins, I only put two leaves on the biggest pumpkin! these are so fun to make...and you can pick whatever color scheme you like.

Such a fun way to decorate! I hope I didn't loose anyone in my directions. I realize I left pictures out of certain details...I will pay closer attention with the next DYI project I post. Good luck and just have fun with it. Happy fall everyone :) thanks for stopping by. 

Treasure today

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you...before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in a quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may. for it may not always be so.

one day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch

myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world, your return."

~Mary Jean Irion~

(roses from my mom's garden...tonight it is suppose to freeze..for now ..with her home not sold..I can still wander her garden and be greatful....that today the memories make me smile...cherish each and every normal day ..always)