CHARM ABOUT YOU

I learnt a lot making this cushion but mostly that I need to abandon ideas of what is perfect, what is popular, notions of right or wrong and just go with what I love no matter how it turns out!

**apologies for the bad pictures, had to use my mobile phone!** Since re-shot with the camera.

I have to be honest and say that when I started this I wasn't too sure about it, I liked it more when I'd done some hand quilting and it's now my favourite cushion.

ET Turn Up the Volume cushion:


I don't usually buy fat quarter bundles but with this I had to! I got a yummy bundle from Fabricworm.

I decided to use the connect the dots in graphite for the back and how could I resist a bit of hand stitching? I used some coordinating perle to literally connect the dots and had so much fun doing it.


When I was making the cushion I realised I wanted to use the dot/flowers (Recess in graphite) for the binding but didn't have enough and managed to order that, as well as more of the ABC in manilla from Fresh-Squeezed Fabric, it arrived really quickly, which meant I could finish it up perfectly!

I was also thrilled to discover this tutorial from the fabulous Mary and I'm so pleased with how the binding turned out.


For me it's a happy ending!


Linking up to:

 TGIFF, which is at one of my bestest bloggy pals Erin's aka Missy Mac Creations this week

and       

Pink Chalk Studio are having a link about 'where I sew'


 so I thought I'd join in...

I sew in the corner of our dining room. It's a tiny space that's blocks the door from the hall but we have an open plan living/dining room so we can still get in the room!


I don't have a sewing room of my own, or really enough space to manage all the crap sewing supplies that I amass, hence all the boxes next to and under the desk. The desk was a great find on gumtree and it extends as well, although that can't happen in my little corner!

I'm surrounded by beautiful makes from blogging friends (see if you can spot something you've made!) and I love the hanging organiser made by Emily, now next to my small "design wall" - ha!

And yes I know it's a mess but I've got so many projects on the go... here's some of what I've been doing:

working on the next rose star block

mmm... any guesses?! ;)

Next up I've finished the ET phone home block cushion front! Thanks for all the encouragement and suggestions regarding my mistake... thankfully it's all been for the best and I really, really love it now!


I hand quilting using Anchor perle 8, a pale green around the triangles:


and a cream in the border:


I'll get more pictures once I've finished the cushion. I look forward to getting this done, it's likely to be one of my favourites and I'm going to call it 'ET turn up the volume!'

Also linking to: