Welcome to my stop on the Polar Bear Plunge blog hop, hosted by Joan of Moosestash Quilting.
The theme for this hop was something to do with a bear, blue or cold... I went down the "blue" road for my project.
I had lots of fun creating this Blue Vortex Pillow. I started with a selection of blue solid fabrics along with a print that matched nicely. I cut out 6" squares and then had fun stacking them and cutting curves free-hand to create this improv piece.
Starting from the centre, I quilted it on my machine in a spiral design. When it comes to quilting, more is more, so I decided to add some extra hand quilting within the spiral machine stitches. The Aurifil cotton 12 weight thread worked well and gave it just enough definition and texture. I posted about the quilting here.
I shopped my stash and found the most perfect fat quarter for the back of this cushion. It's an older print by Valori Wells for Free Spirit Fabrics from her Murmur collections. The blues worked really nicely together and it looks as though the back and front were planned right from the start.
I added a zipper to the back of the cushion, rather than an envelope style closure. I'm getting fast at these zipped cushion backs and did this one in about 5 minutes. All that practise making cushions at Christmas has paid off.
Now it's time to go and see what everyone else participating in this blog hop has made. I'm sure there'll be lots of fun projects to be inspired by. Below is the list of bloggers participating today. Visit Moosestash Quilting for the full list of participants.
Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
I do love that spiral - I have something I'd love to quilt a spiral on - just not sure I'm brave enough to do it...maybe a long stitch so I can unpick it! LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you. If you’re hesitant, maybe do a little practice one piece with some scraps and then go for it.
DeleteThere’s a great tutorial for spiral quilting on Flourishing Palms blog.
The quilting by machine and by hand really complements the piecing on your lovely pillow!
ReplyDeleteThose blues are perfect together!
ReplyDeleteI love your pillow and the quilting takes it to the next level!
ReplyDeleteAnorina, the pillow is amazing! I love all the blues and using the stack and whack method worked out well with the curves. The spiral quilting really sets it off too. Christa Watson has a tutorial on doing a big spiral as well... Thanks for sharing this lovely project!
ReplyDeleteThat looks fabulous and I agree with you about more being more when it comes to quilting. Awesome way to play with improv as well. Love the idea of zippers on the pillow backing!
ReplyDeleteI think your pillow is way cool Anorina. I think I will bookmark this so I can visit and maybe play with some of your ideas. Thanks
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pillow!
ReplyDeleteYour pillow is beautiful Anorina! I love how you combine machine and hand quilting together too.
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty in all the blues and your quilting is such a beautiful addition. Combining machine and hand sewing was a great idea. Love it...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful pillow. I love the hand quilting. The spiral quilting is something I have wanted to try for some time, and I think doing it on a pillow is a great way for me to try it out. Thanks!
ReplyDeletethis is lovely. it does look like the back and front were made for each other. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty pillow in those bright blues! I like the spiral quilting with the long stitching inbetween - it adds a fun twist to the whole design. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteLove those blues and the stitching! Great work, thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the combination of machine and handquilting!
ReplyDeleteGreat pillow and great job on the quilting. I love the touch with the hand quilting, too. It is a perfectly polar blue pillow for the plunge!
ReplyDeleteperfectly pretty Anorina
ReplyDeleteYour cushion looks great I like the improv well done
ReplyDeleteThe cushion looks great.....
ReplyDeleteI love your colors and the quilting on this one. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI really like this stack and wack approach. Curiously will any of the other pieces get "puzzled" back into similarly beautiful pillows. Since you are the Pillow Lady I am looking forward to what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pillow. Love how you have mastered the zipper.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great pillow!!! I love how you cut your curves free-hand ... and I also love the addition of hand quilting to the machine quilting. Very inventive! :-)
ReplyDeleteSuper COOL pillow, Anorina, and SEW perfect for the Hop!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this pillow. The quilting is wonderful and the blue colors are perfect.
ReplyDeleteThat looks very snuggly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great pillow, front and back!
ReplyDeletePerfectly blue. Love the addition of the hand stitching.
ReplyDeleteLove the hand quilting mixed with machine quilting, it gives it such a unique look!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely pillow! I especially like the hand-quilting between the spiral machine quilting lines; it almost looks like little snowflakes, swirling around on the pillow. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat pillow. Love your improv curves, and the quilting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous pillow!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Anorina! I love the improv curves. The pillow is awesome!
ReplyDeletelove the pillow, so modern and the hand quilting really added a nice touch!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this Anorina- the cool colours, the lovely stitching and the plumpness of the cushion!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The quilting is amazing!
ReplyDeleteBeth @ Words & Stitches
Anorina your pillow is beautiful. Love the colours and spiral quilting is one of my favourite methods. Your addition of hand stitching just makes everything pop! 😉
ReplyDeleteYour cushion looks great Anorina.
ReplyDeleteLove your pillow and the quilting is so fun!
ReplyDeleteFabric, color, design, and texture - what's not to love!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love this pillow! Your design idea worked out beautifully, as did the great color combo you came up with. Are you sure you didn't find that backing first, and then match the front colors to it?! And your hand stitches between the machine spiral quilting is awesome. Love that bit the most. You make gorgeous pillows, though I'm sure your sofa color must now be indeterminate because of the heaps of colorful pillows all over it! :-)
ReplyDeletePositive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. Blissy pillow case reviews
ReplyDeleteOh it's just gorgeous and perfect for the blog hop! I love your color choices and arrangements, and the quilting is just right! xx
ReplyDelete