Holiday Lane Blog Hop - Grinch Lane!

Thanks for stopping by to visit me on the Holiday Lane blog hop. I have had such a great time with this lovely pattern. Huge thanks to Mdm Samm and Pauline for their time and work organising this fun event for us and another thank you - to Jill Finley  who designed the pattern and allowed it to be used for the hop. It has been an absolute pleasure from start to finish to make this pillow.

I started out by wondering what fabrics to use. I don't have a huge amount of Christmassy fabrics in my stash. However, one day much earlier in the year I was browsing Fat Quarter Shop's new in category (as I am wont to do in a spare moment) when a little voice piped up "ooh, the Grinch - I love him. Please, please can I have a Grinch quilt." Well, what's a Mother today when faced with a request like that! I secretly ordered the fabric and have been working on a Grinch quilt for Catherine for Christmas. A tricky business as my sewing room is downstairs and we spend a lot of time in there so - I've had to be very tidy with my secret sewing and make sure it's tucked away by school home time. Now, there were quite a few leftovers as I bought a fat quarter bundle so I hit upon the idea of using these to make the pillow and including it in Catherine's Grinch parcel for Christmas. More secret sewing during the day and hiding away at night! While I've been working on the pillow though, progress has halted on the quilt - but I will get it finished in time. 

As it's such a big pillow, it's a bit hard to photograph so I took a few close up pics as I was working on it. I wanted to add some sparkle to it and after some thought I dug out my Bejeweller gadget. I've not played with this for a while and had forgotten how much fun it is. I put red 'baubles' on the Christmas trees and a star on top of them. Then, I put some tiny crystals in the snow to make it glitter a bit, added a jewelled wreath to the door and finally, I put some silver stars in my black sky.

Silver Stars in the Sky

Glittering Snow

Wreath on the door

Blinged Christmas Tree

A flat picture before I turned it into a pillow. I quilted all over in matching colours. All of the applique is fusible web and stitched down at the quilting stage except for the felt which I just used a few dabs of glue to stick down and then stitched down by machine.

The finished pillow. Although I loved the flanges I decided to go with a wider pillow and so didn't do those.

The back of the pillow. There was a lovely panel in my fat quarter bundle which was perfect for the back of the pillow.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and I hope my daughter will be too. I may even make another one once time is more freely available as this one was so much fun to make. 

I've been having a great time hopping around and seeing all the various different versions of Jill's pillow - it really is wonderful and inspiring to see everybody's different versions of the same pattern. 

Hope you've got a nice warm brew in your hands as there are plenty more blogs to hop to on today's schedule.

Living Life One Day at a Time

Polka Dot Classic

Sophie Junction

I'm Keeping Busy

Sunshine Quilting

The Treehouse <----- UR Here

Petit Design Co

Nunu's Quilt World

Ellison Lane Quilts

From This to That

Mary on Lake Pulaski

Loose Threads

Till We Quilt Again

13 Woodhouse Road

Comments

[Judy B]

Your Grinch pillow is fantastic! Thank you for sharing.

[sandi]

Hi, I have been a stalker blogger of the Holiday Lane Blog Hop since last week, and I have enjoyed seeing what people have done with their cushions...loved it all so far...and I have to mention I love your tree at the top of your page...I love trees and watching yours change with the seasons is fantastic....I will definitely come back for another peek now and then...

[Martina]

Oh I love it! So cute!

[Jill]

Very cute Grinch pillow!

[Sunshine Girl]

This is so lovely! I am sure she will love it - I never thought to add a bit of bling to mine using my bejeweller - such a simple but good idea!

[Nati]

Very nice pillow, great additions with all the embellishments!

[Nicole]

I love your pillow, great job!
Greetings from Germany
Nicole

[Toni]

Wow what a super gift - the pillow is fabulous.

Toni xx

[Gill]

A great cushion! I'm sure your daughter will love it!
Thank you

[Thimble Room]

Fabulous pillow. Love your bling touches - I'm all for sparkly when it comes to Christmas. lol

[mary]

This is brilliant - love it

[charlotte]

sew very cute. I know she will love it!

[cindy]

I love the Grinch! Love your Who-ville themed pillow, it is adorable! I've been collecting Grinch fabric for a Christmas quilt for myself and want to make a 'Who-ville' lane pillow to match. Your pillow is so cute! Thank you for sharing :)

[mdm]

absolutely adore everything about your pillow...how can you ever go wrong with any grinch fabric...it was gorgeous...and you were in our top choices ...

[Britt-Inger]

Your pillow is very cute. Thanks fro sharing

[Agnes Bullock]

What a lovely pillow- the jewels really make it pop!

[Celtic Thistle]

Love your bling embellishments great cushion!

[Patty D]

wonderful who-ville pillow. thanks for sharing!

[marjorie]

Wow!! love all the little embellishments you added

[gail]

Your pillow turned out great - and I love your wreath!