Wednesday 27 November 2013

Starry Stitching

 A couple of posts ago i showed you the english paper pieced stars i had begun to make.........i LoVeD sewing these.............it was really quite addictive.............
............and last week i decided to turn the pile of epp stars into a cushion, joined with teal diamonds........the optical effects of geometric piecing is often surprising................
 .........i made the stars over a couple of weeks, mostly while chatting to family and friends or cosily watching movies in the evenings...........
 
............after i'd made the first starry pillow i decided to make another with the remainder of the stars, but this time joined with white diamonds...........
 ...........they will look nice in our spare room, i think, which has a white and teal colour scheme.....
 ............i am making more stars with my diamond paper pieces now, in lots of different colours, for a quilt.........and to help with that new plan a wonderful selection of fabrics was sent to me this week by the lovely shay of simply sweet fabrics.................
..........shay got in touch with me recently, and it was such a treat to discover her etsy shop which has so many gorgeous fabrics including lines from the big fabric houses and also japanese imports........
 ..........the little collage above shows the sweet collection in my parcel from shay, all the way across the pond :) ........i know many of you will recognise the cosmo japanese tiny roses, scrumptious by bonnie and camille for moda, briar rose by heather ross for windham and the 30's collection by atsuko matouyama.......i could hardly wait to sew with them and before starting a bigger project i made a starry pincushion with some of them.................
 ........i love to mix up fabric lines and to try different combinations together............
 .............and after the starry pincushion i made a postage stamp pincushion too............and now i have begun my next quilt using these bright and cheerful prints.....will show you soon :).........
 ........this week we will be celebrating my lovely mr p's birthday, and my sweet niece emily's 21st birthday too.........and then, when the birthdays are over, it will be time to put up the christmas decorations.............i love the christmas lights and candles the most and always love to see the advent candles in the house windows..............
............this week the hyacinth bulbs came into flower, making the sewing room smell gorgeous......thank you for visiting here, lovely readers, it is such a treat to have you stop by my little blog space..........wishing you all a wonderful week, and a very *HaPpY ThAnKsGiViNg* to all who celebrate it..................take care and keep cosy.................back soon xxxxxooooxxxxxxxxx

44 comments:

Simone said...

I love your cushions Helen - so fresh and pretty. Is that Persephone books that I spy in the spare room?! Your new prints are gorgeous. I am sure I would sew more with all that inspirational fabric to work with. have a lovely week enjoying Birthday celebrations. x

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

Very sweet stars that made up your gorgeous cushions!! The fabric is also very dreamy and love the choices you have there. Love hyacinths too, they smell wonderful!!

Hen said...

Beautiful cushions, Helen, the effect is really striking, I especially like the teal intersecting diamonds. Lucky you with all that lovely fabric to play with. I know you will make something beautiful. Enjoy.
Hen xxx

Cindy said...

The star cushions turned out so pretty! I am still working on my quilt, it will take a while!
I always love seeing a pile of beautiful fabric. Can't wait to see what you make with them.
Cindy

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Love your new cushions Helen, the teal is beautiful! :)
Your little pincushions are so sweet. It must have been like Christmas morning opening that package of beautiful fabrics. :)
Happy birthday to Mr P and your niece!
V xxx

PamKittyMorning said...

Your projects are always so wonderful!!

Deborah said...

I can't imagine anything more stunning than a quilt made with these fabrics and this design! Your choice of teal and white contrasts for your pillows are perfection!

Lorrie said...

Your cushions are beautiful - it's amazing what a difference there is between the teal and white linking diamonds on each pillow.

KC'sCourt! said...

Those cushions are absolutely wonderful - you have given me an idea!
Julie xxxxxxxxx

Ali said...

Absolutely gorgeous!!! Can I come and stay in your spare room lol -love all you makes as always. Enjoy your birthdays and look forward to hearing about them xxx

Amy at love made my home said...

All of your cushions - pin and person - are so pretty. It is surprising how different the two large cushions look changing the diamonds from teal to white, it shows had you can change things up. xx

craftmates said...

Lovely cushions! So very pretty and the fabrics are just to die for.

Teje Karjalainen said...

Dear Helen, your Hyacinth brings Finnish Christmas to my mind!
I love diamond shape and your pillows are so beautiful! Thank you for telling about the fabric shop - looks hfantastic collection! x Teje

Kerri said...

Simply adore your pillows!! They are so sweet!!

20 North Ora said...

Beautiful projects as always. Will go visit Simple Sweet Fabrics - just what I need - more fabric!!

Judy

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello Helen! I agree, the optical illusion effects of the star pillows are awesome! The colors you use are so happy... I'd like to get some of those in my house. Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes.. I'm so excited about setting my table and cooking a big turkey! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous new fabrics, what a wonderful gift! Love your hexies and stars, the pillows are fabulous. They'll look great in the guest room. Hope it's warmer and drier where you are than it is here :)

Hugs ~ Mary

thesnailgarden said...

Love your star cushion. I'm thinking of making some star decorations from patchwork for Christmas ... If I ever manage to climb my mountain of WIPs! :) Best wishes, Pj x

Christine B said...

Beautiful cushions Helen and I just adore those cute little pincushions, so sweet! :)

Erna said...

Once again a bright and cheerfull post...oh I can even smell the hyacinths...
Hugs
Erna x

Unknown said...

Helen such lovely cushions oh I do love them, there is something about hand stitched hexagons which I find bewitching. Your design is just heavenly, you just get all the colours so right Helen. Hope Mr P and niece had wonderful times, am sure that you made sure that they did Helen. Lovely lovely post as always Helen, you always manage to surpass yourself each time you write. Hope there is another book out soon, can't wait. Big hugs and thanks so much for being so supportive and caring, it means such a lot to me.
Dorothy
:-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lynne said...

Hi Helen! Beautiful paper piecing and cushions you have there, the teal color really does the trick.
So much inspiration from those fabrics! I really like the Japanese prints.
Lynne

Things and Thoughts said...

Υοu match the colors so perfectly well Helen and you create wonderful things with heart and soul!
Thank you for sharing with us!
Sending you many hugs...
Olympia

Unknown said...

Oh Helen, you have stars in your eyes this week! ;-) I just love the paper piecing, those stars are simply mesmerising...and the fabric bundles are lovely, it's always so exciting to lay them all out, the possibilities...Chrissie x

Frances said...

I do agree with you about how the change of just one color completely alters the graphic impact of this quilted star pattern. Your two versions are equally lovely and look grand side by side.

Thank you also for the link to the fabulous fabric source. If I ever get caught up with my current knitting projects, I now have a great place to search out very special prints. The Japanese patterns are fabulous and the colors, too.

Happy Birthday to Mr P!

xo

vintage grey said...

Hi Helen,
Your star pillows are so beautiful and I always love seeing all your pretty prints together! And, Shay is such a sweetie and what beautiful new fabrics to play with! Have a crafty week! xo Heather

homemade@myplace said...

gorgeous cushion Helen!!!!!
xxxx Ale

Jane said...

You find the most gorgeous fabrics Helen and make them into the most glorious projects. I love the new cushion..how clever the shapes work. Enjoy all your upcoming celebrations..what a busy fun time you have ahead! X

scrappyjacky said...

Your cushions look gorgeous....teal is such a lovely colour....love how the shapes work together.

Crafted by Carly said...

Wow, Helen! I love the cushions!!! Your stitching is SOOOO neat! :-)
Carly
x

Ladybird Diaries said...

Such a gorgeous happy post..I love all the colours here! Your cushions are just beautiful.
Marianne x

forgetmenotsblue said...

Beautiful Helen. You have some wonderful fabrics. I love the stars the little pin cushion is inspired xx

koralee said...

oh my friend...you are always inspiring and stitching up something adorable...I really wish I was as motivated as you...right now I need to start thinking Christmas...and I feel very overwhelmed with all I want to do. Love to you and can't wait to see what fun and creativity you have in store for us this Christmas. xoxoxooxxo

Hannapat said...

Hello Helen. I really like what you have done with the start cushions, they are so pretty and so inspiring. I also love the sweet little star pincushion, just what you need whilst stitching away in the festive month. I hope you enjoy all the birthday celebrations and getting the house ready for Christmas. Usually I am all ready and excited, but this year I feel so ill prepared. Enjoy your weekend xoxo

driftwood said...

really really gorgeous Helen, all those neat points.... I seem to be very skilled at wonky paper piecing whenever I try it....

flowers on my table said...

Hello Helen, your patchwork cushions are really beautiful, and what a gorgeous selection of fabrics. I am sure you will have fun planning your quilt from those beauties. How lovely to have the hyacinths blooming so early.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments, you are very kind. All the best with the birthday celebrations and Christmas decorating. Love Linda x

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Happy Birthday to the Mr and to your niece! We have lots of December birthdays to celebrate, too. I love your pretty stars and especially the pincushions. You have the most beautiful fabric for your creations! Sweet hugs!

Unknown said...

Good morning my dear friend :) i love your post, the craft work´s are very beautiful, the star is so nice :)I love to visit your blog :)you are a inpiration ...
Wish you a peaceful day
Love and hugs
Nina ***

Sam I Am...... said...

Oh! I'm so excited that someone on THIS side of the pond has the British taste in fabric! I jotted down her Etsy address and visited her site and I want it all! LOL!
I love epp but have never done stars but they are my favorite shape as I am the star of my own life as we all are. I need to make or get a template and "star"T on some of those. Good project for cozy Winter evenings. As always, I love your pincushions....what great gifts for mailing too as they don't weigh much! LOL! Thank you again, as always, for your wonderful inspiring posts and beautiful pictures.

My Little Home and Garden said...

This goes to show that a starry day is as lovely as a starry night. Beautiful, Helen.

-Karen

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

I love your epp stars and cushions. The effect of the teal is different to the white - so interesting. I'm currently working on an epp quilt which has stars as well as other shapes, yet I find the stars are the most fun and relaxing to piece. Looking forward to seeing how your quilt comes together.

gillyflower said...

The star cushions are beautiful!
Love the sweet pin cushions too, and the new fabrics are lovely.
Gill xx

Un autre endroit said...

Joyeux Noël !

Windmuehle21 said...

Ich wünsche Dir im Kreise deiner Lieben ein wunderschönes, gemütliches Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch, Gesundheit und Glück fürs Jahr 2014. Ich freue mich schon darauf auch im nächsten Jahr wieder einiges auf deinem Blog miterleben zu dürfen.
Viele, herzliche Grüße aus der Windmühle
Iris