the light of a simple cushion
2009
I cannot believe this day has arrived. A few years ago, I went through a huge needlepoint phase – I would wield my needle and wool into the wee hours of the morning, week after week after week. There could be no more beautiful cushion than a needlepointed one. I stitched William Morris’s fox and hare, Swedish horsemen, reproductions of middle eastern carpets, Indian Mogul flowers and paisley, reproductions of American colonial and medieval English tapestries. Cross stitch was eschewed, as I turned each appealing pattern that crossed my path, into a needlepoint!
Alas, I looked at my sofa this morning and thought, oh, it’s looking a bit ho-hum and heavy. Perhaps some new colour and light? Now my original intention was to put some Amy Butler that has been lurking in my cupboard for over a year, to good use. Soft pinks, olive greens and grays – but you know, they just aren’t my colours. And no matter how I fiddled with them, it wasn’t delighting me. Before I knew it, I had out the oranges and reds and blues and greens of Momo’s Wonderland. Yeah, I know, they’re actually more fall-ish colours than summer :-) but you’ve got to go with what you love, what sings to you.
In keeping with my latest fetish, I pieced the cushion straight on to a square of woollen blanket – I ADORE this technique. I started with the stripes across the bottom – then quilted them in a random check. Then on with the bobbles and blue stripe, than the gorgeous big floral (I have 3 metres of this – hee! hee! hee! – I think I want to make a smock like dress to wear over a t-shirt for summer.)
Quilt, quilt , quilt – straighten it up – on with the back (cream denim) and it’s done. Yum!
Then it was onto a bigger cushion – log cabin style. Now, the patchwork is finished, but it’s dinner time, I’ve been at work all day, and I just cannot bring myself to sit down on the porch, in the dark, with the mosquitoes and mess, and finish it … tomorow morning. The sun will be out, the mosquitoes in bed, and everything will be oh so do-able. Don’t you just love mornings :-)
p.s. never fear, the needlepoints have been carefully washed and are neatly packed away, awaiting a future season’s renaissance :-)
11 comments
Trackback e pingback
No trackback or pingback available for this article
The dictionary needs more superlatives for your work because each creation needs more than huzzahs and lovely works! Even though the blanket is hidden away under the patchwork, I appreciate that it matches beautifully. A constant worry for me is whether I have enough Wonderland. I don’t think I do. :-)
I love the colours you have chosen. Actually I was thinking of you today, as I wore a new purple and orange skirt. I was reminded of your comment on my blog ages ago, of ecclesiastical purple and pagan orange. I love your colour choices, and think them perfect for an Australian summer of jacarandas and poincianas.
I haven’t seen the Vistoria movie yet, but am looking forward to it. I know exactly what you mean about examining the dvd for the embroidery etc. It’s the detail that keeps me coming back to historical movies.
Darling pillow! I enjoy seeing all your great projects.
I love the pillow! And thanks so much for the idea of using a blanket as the foundation. That may be old knowledge for everyone else, but I’d never heard of it, and it’s such a great idea! I’m definitely going to have to give that a try!
A lovely little pillow. And it looks very summery to me.
“you’ve got to go with what you love, what sings to you.”
yes! yes! yes!
thank you for sharing such loveliness!!!
~erin
ps ~ did you get my e-mail? you won the movie on my blog giveaway this past weekend!!! i just need your mailing address to get it on its way to you….
Oh, these are so gorgeous! Thank you for the the inspiration. I have been really wanting to make some cushions for the window seat, and now I have the motivation :)
Shame how work gets in the way of creating, love your cushions.
cheers
Christine
Beautiful pillows. I need to make some for my couch too.
Debbie
Oh, these cushions/pillows are just delightful – they would brighten anyone’s day!
Hugs – Lurline?
Gorgeous. And I will definitely need to start working directly on the wool background – genius!