Pillow Talk

It really is all in the details, isn't it?  Since I added the lamp to my office, I decided to make some pillows to continue the office zhushing (was that even a word before blogging? We did a post on that awhile back.) If you've never made a pillow before, there are easy ways and complicated ways to sew a pillow.  I took the easy way this time.  Since I'm currently obsessed with monograms, I decided to try a QUICK and EASY monogram on my office pillows.

I went here for a free printable monogram, and after a little techno lapse, I finally got one printed out to use.  I spent hours looking up 'transfering an image to fabric', and couldn't find any "transfer" media around the house late Saturday night so I just used a soft graphite pencil and covered the reverse side of the paper .

Since I wanted my monogram in the middle of a circle, I used sophisticated techniques to make a circle.

Then I traced over the monogram on the front side of the paper leaving a faint pencil line on the fabric. So easy.

Then I took an orange fabric marker and started filling in the lines.  BUT the marker bled, and I had to go to the store and get an orange Sharpie PLUS a Sharpie fabric marker...I was going to be prepared, since these things usually happen late at night.

I was pleased with the design, although I would have loved to have it embroidered- I am not the most patient person so I proceeded....

I cut out another matching piece and sewed the 4 edges leaving a 6" opening at the bottom.  A very important step is to iron open all the seams before turning it rightside out.  Honestly, sewing 4 straight lines is all you have to do.

I crammed the pillow form into the case and hand stitched it closed.

I made a second one with my husbands initials, and thus made those plain white chairs in my office a little more interesting.

We're all sort of shut-in and closed-down due to Hurricane Sandy, but we are not getting the brunt of it. God bless you all who are suffering through this storm. Keep us posted!
I'm off to see what other DIY I can get into during the storm.

-Nancy

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Monogram Conundrum

I am making a pillow that needs a serious monogram.  It would be much easier if I could go through a store like Pottery Barn, who makes some good monograms, but I have my own fabric to match some roman shades that I want to use.  

Does anyone know a source that uses COM (customers own material) in the Washington, DC area?

I am thinking of these ideas:

The talented Jamie Mears of isuwanee and Furbish has the right idea!

Some favorites from Luxury Monograms

And Leontine Linens

By the way, I just found a great new blog while doing some research called Gramercy  and it looks like they do some awesome monograms. Has anyone used them before?

I appreciate any leads sent this way, monogrammers! 

Thanks,

Nancy