Thursday, June 3, 2010

Paralyzed by Indecision...

I signed up for the Pillow Talk Swap 3 on flickr awhile back. I was so excited to be part of this swap...there are some gorgeous pillows being swapped around blogland. But as the deadline to mail out approaches, I find I'm paralyzed by indecision. I want to make the perfect pillow for my partner. And I know that is impossible, but I at least want to make a pillow that she will love.

Since the move, I've been slow to get back to sewing. I just don't have the drive that I had before. My first attempt was a Wonky Bento Box a la Quilt Dad. I even dug into my precious FMF Green Seeds scrap. Yes, you read correctly, scrap, singular. I was lucky enough to have Rachel from 2nd Ave Studios send me a bit of the gorgeous green seeds for her block of Stash Busting International and I've been using little tiny pieces every since. But I really only have about a 5" square remaining. Anyway, I digress. Needless to say, my Wonky Bento Box was less than successful. I don't like my distribution of fabrics, how the blues are all clumped together and I hate the solid grey as it stands out way too much. And as my mom says, "It just isn't wonky enough." I think I'll make it into a table topper and stick a plant on top of it...

My second attempt was a Stashbuster Block #2 from Little Miss Shabby's tutorial.  I love Little Miss Shabby, don't you?!? I hope I can have her colour and design sense when I grow up. I just used 2" squares instead of 1.5" to make the pillow bigger.

Now I'm struggling with the quilting. What do you think? Should I pick out my lines and do something else? Or should I keep going? Do you think I should applique something in the middle? See...I am so indecisive.
Anyway, I hope you are making better progress than me! Happy Sewing!

14 comments:

Deb Robertson Writes said...

I COMPLETELY understand! lol I love the idea of swaps and I love getting the blocks. But I suffer from MAJOR indecision and also PERFOMANCE ANXIETY about making things for others. It's crazy. I actually like your blocks. Really I do!

Needled Mom said...

I think we always have those thoughts when doing a swap. I actually love the first block, but would be pleased to receive either.

Leanne said...

I am with you - I got my pillow and it is amazing and I have no idea how I am going to match up with my partner. But I have to say, I love both your pillow and your bento box.

As for quilting, I am a straight line kind of girl so I would do sqaures starting in the middle and working my way out (i use masking tape to figure mine out). Just an idea.

And really, your blocks are awesome.

Dolly said...

Your quilting looks wonderful, so far.....I'd keep doing those nice close lines. I've found that I don't like to have more than an inch and a quarter unquilted, as it just doesn't look as pretty once it's quilted.

And if I saw that Bento Box square under a pot, I'd have to move the pot for another look !

Dolly said...

I meant, it doesn't look as good once the quilt is washed, if you leave big open areas unquilted !

Jackie's Stitches said...

If you put your Bento Box square under a pot you'll cover up your FMF!

I like the idea of close lines for your pillow.

Both are really wonderful!

Kelly O. said...

that bento box block has interest. it's the "flaws" that give it that interest. I happen to like it better than the stash buster--I mean it's more eye catching.
the stashbuster quilting looks good. I think I'd leavethe gray with only 1 or 2 lines of quilting and then keep going with the tight quilting....

Diane said...

Both of these are beautiful.

Unknown said...

I love it! The colors remind me of summertime! Happy Quilting!!!

www.aqsquiltnews.blogspot.com

Nanette Merrill said...

I love both of them, the bento wonky is wonderful but my favorite is the 2nd. SO dramatic. Love them.

Marianne Penner said...

I am the new owner of this pillow and I absolutely love it! It looks so amazing on my couch and the texture created by the placement of fabrics and the quilting is fantastic. I think I may need the pillow surgically removed as I haven't let go of it since I got it this afternoon. Thanks so much Barb. I'm sorry you experienced indecision, I always feel that too with this swap. Really, I am so happy though the pillow cover is GREAT!

Marianne Penner said...

OH, and I forgot to thank you for the MOMO charms! Love them.

Anonymous said...

I love the combination of fabrics and colours you have used. What a fab pillow.

Katie said...

don't you dare cover up that FMF with applique! Your pillow is great... I LOVE the color combination. Your icon is adorable too, i want to make a quilt in those fun apple green colors. THanks for stopping by my blog a few days ago! Hope you win the FMF...everyone needs more than one 5" square of fmf