Friday, May 25, 2007

Revamping a Cushion

Inspired by the new polish of my sitting room, I madeover an old friend that has been residing on my green couch for several years. A needlepoint pillow of purple violets on a soft grey-green background, this pillow was flat and lifeless and backed in neutral-colored linen.


I cut the front and back apart, then made some fantastic piping from an irridescent green silk (a Jane Seymour "designer" shirt from Goodwill, the most fantastic green apple color).

I made a new back from another old shirt, this one purple cotton (you know it from stuffed elephants). I didn't have a new pillow form in the house, so I just wrapped my limp pillow in several layers of batting before stuffing it in the new cover.


As icing on the cake, I dug out a crocheted flower from another Goodwill bag, appliqued it on the back, then cut out green silk leaves which I tacked on to the back as well, trying to allow them some dimensionality, with some gathers and pleats. I was going for the look of the foliage on cheap fake flowers. Isn't that a great look, one that's always right on?



My new purple and green!

9 comments:

  1. love those colors together. i have recently discovered your blog and find it so inspiring and lovely. your family is quite talented and it's a pleasure to peek into your world.

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  2. That is a great idea.

    I need to start looking closer at the half-price shirts at Goodwill. :)

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  3. That's AMAZING! You have such a gift for seeing the potential in something and transforming it with materials you already have. I'm just so impressed.

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  4. Thanks for sharing. I love "scrap" crafts too. It is so delightful to repurpose things.

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  5. Just lovely! Recycling at it's finest! Thank you for sharing your inspiration!

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  6. Beautiful color combination.

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  7. That really looks good. Great job!

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  8. How clever you are...

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