bits and pieces

I started working on my new couch pillow today, using the tutorial I told you about yesterday.  You know, if you keep following her links you'll end up here, with directions to make a Moroccan pouf pillow.  I want one of those!  I'm heading to the thrift store to pick up a prom dress (which will become a pouf) as soon as I can.

Anyway, I did begin my small pillow.  I will complete the entire thing without spending a cent, thanks to my hoarding ways.  About 25 years ago, back when I first became a hoarder and a bag lady, I went outside to discover my neighbor about to toss yard upon yard of perfectly good fabric into the dumpster!  I said, "oh no!  we'll be having none of this!" and I wheeled my shopping cart over to the dumpster, where Shirley, the neighbor, promptly placed the fabric.  I've been using bits and pieces from that stack for the last 25 years.  I've pretty much used it up by this point.

I stuffed my pillow with some leftover fleece from a coat I made about 8 or 9 years ago.  The white cotton I had on hand, as well as some leftover batting from this quilt.  I plan to embroider something very simple over the orange print, using some hand dyed thread I picked up last month.  I'll be back later this week I hope with the results.  No promises!  You know how I get sidetracked.
 

While I was searching for the orange fabric, I came across this patchwork star.  Last week we were talking about women's connection to needlework.  Well, if I'm remembering correctly what I was told, my father made this piece.  I have a bag somewhere full of other pieces for a quilt top that he sewed from old shirts.  Someday I really need to finish that project for him.  It's funny thinking of my dad in front of a sewing machine; he was more apt to be in front of a table saw.

I guess I should go cook some dinner.  Before I go, I want to ask, what time of day do you usually sit down to do your blog reading?  I like to look at a couple in the morning, while I drink my coffee, and then when I'm unwinding in the evening I enjoy browsing around.  I keep thinking that I want to get in the habit of posting first thing in the morning, but that would involve an awful lot of advance planning!  I usually write about what I've been working on and thinking about during the day, and well - if the day hasn't happened yet....  Just thoughts.  Have a lovely evening:)