Fairfield Pillow Challenge - Designer Craft Connection

What better way to brighten up a summer setting is there!  Combine an outdoor pillow with some colorful fabrics and embellishments and the results can be amazing.

I requested Weather Soft™ Pillow Inserts for this project.  They are a water resistant pillow shape made specifically for outdoor use.  They have a laminated shell that protects the fiberfill from moisture.  They are durable and add comfort to your patio and deck furnishings.

Measure a piece of the Oly-Fun™ Sky Blue fabric an inch larger than the size of the pillow form.  The fabric will be sewn by machine to form a pillow covering that may be removed to be changed for the seasons.  Overlap the fabric approximately 3" to 4" on the back part of the pillow covering.  NOTE: Hem the edges by folding over the edges 1/4" to 1/2" before sewing around the four sides of the pillow covering.  Before turning to the right side, trim the four sides with pinking shears and trim the points.

Die-cut circles from the Hot Fudge Oly-Fun™for each flower.  Die-cut leaves from the Pine Oly-Fun™. Using the Eileen Hull Leaves Sizzix die, cut 12 of each size leaf for each flower.  NOTE: The stems on the leaves can be trimmed away.  Beginning with the largest leaf shape, glue them around the brown center, spacing as evenly as possible.  Continue to glue the next size leaf around the center placing them in between the leaves of the first band.  Finish with the smallest leaf, placing them between the leaves of the prior row.  Find the placement of the flowers and leaves that is desired and then glue them into place.

Place the finished pillow where ever you would some brightness!!!

Materials

Fairfield Weather Soft™ 18" x 18" Pillow Insert (#A-WP18)
Fairfield Oly-Fun™ Craft Pack Pine
Fairfield Oly-Fun™ Craft Pack Sky Blue
Fairfield Oly-Fun™ Craft Pack Hot Fudge
Yellow Felt
Sizzix Big Shot
SIzzix Dies: Eileen Hull Leaves, Original Leaf, Maple
Beacon Adhesives FabriTac™
Sewing Machine
NOTE:  Fairfield Oly-Fun™ Lemon Drop could be used in place of the yellow felt.

Visit the Fairfield World website to see the complete line of products.

Designer Craft Connection Challenge - Handmade Holiday with Fairfield

Holiday season is definitely upon us!  There have been several holiday related projects sitting on my dwing table for some time.  This challenge for Fairfield, thankfully, gave me the opportunity to finish these holiday projects so I could used them at home or for gift giving.

My choice of product to use was Fairfield Poly-Fil Low-Loft® batting.  I have worked with various battings for my quilts.  I found this batting to be perfect for these sewing/craft projects.  For all the following projects, the batting gave each just enough body, yet they remained soft and easy to sew and cut.

Last year I purchased a printed fabric panel from an area quilt shop but never found the time to use it.    The "flag" banner will be a nice addition to display this winter season.  The contempory colors and design will make this a perfect gift for my youngest sons home.

The panel also had a printed square to use as a pillow cover.  I chose to make a table square from it.  The batting ws perfect for this project and just thick enought to add some "free form" quilting over the branches and pinecone images on the fabric. This will most likely become a gift for my very "modern" daughters home.  Four printed fabric tags were part of the panel.  They are finished off with off-white jute cording and will be given along with the table square, to be used as coasters. These could even be used as a place card for a dinner with friends.

Here is an idea to reuse a candle holder:

Cut a piece of batting, slightly longer and wider then needed.  Press the batting with a iron set on a setting for polyester.  NOTE: Use a piece of parchement paper or a release sheet from "iron on" fusible.  The pressing will compact the batting slightly.  Make a cylinder from the batting to fit around the candle jar.  Sew a very narrow seam to hold the batting together.  Tirm if necessary to the hieght needed to cover the jar.  Slip it over the container an fold over the top slightly to form a cuff.  Add some die-cut snowflakes if desired with a bit of fabric glue.  NOTE: The snowflakes could be glitered before applying.  It can give any container a frosted affect.

I love banners and I use them in many places around the house.  The mantle in the family room is always adorned with one throughout the year.  The latest is made from red burlap, muslin and Fairfield's Low-Loft® batting.  I included a simple snowflake stitch at the top of each after sewing around the edge with a straight stitch and wihite thread.  Once the mittens were layered and sewn, the edges were pinked with scissors.  White letters were cut, fused and stitched on each mitten.  Use a white iridescent fabric paint to add some dimension around each letter.  Embellish with  two green holly leaves and red berries in felt.  Hang them from ribbon with small wooden clip clothespins.

There are a number of other DCC designers who are participating in this blog hop.  Please follow the button on the right side to hop through the other blogs or the linkz below for creative handmade holiday ideas using a variety of products from Fairfield World.

An InLinkz Link-up

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