This may well be my favorite creation to date on my Cowgirl Red Fiber Art Blog.
The inspiration was my favorite summer skirt on the right. I don’t know what the technique is called. It is two layers of fabric, appliqued and cut out randomly. The fabric on the left is an extremely cheap (price and quality) fabric I bought last week at Walmart.
**** (See Walmart Disclaimer below.)
I ironed a stabilizer on the back of the leopard print. Then basted the black fabric to the right side of the leopard. I had two pieces exactly enough for a 20″ throw pillow.
I cut some 1/2″ bias strips of the leopard and placed them randomly. Stitched once down the middle of each strip. It is a raw edge.
I used an embroidery stitch that mimics hand stitching in contrasting red. #86 on my Bernina. I sewed random geometric shapes in side each quadrant created by the bias strips
Then I randomly cut out shapes inside and out of the stitching. No plan.
Over time and with washings the fabric will wrinkle, pucker and fray. That is the intent.
This is what it looks like underneath.
I stitched a facing for the button closure on top.
Close up of the vintage buttons from my collection.
I can’t stop looking at my buttons.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to part with them.
I have an OCD obsession with buttons. It’s akin to hoarding.
I need help.
These are my colors. Red, Black and Gold with the Leopard Print. I’ve found that every woman is a certain animal print. What are you? Leopard, Zebra, Giraffe, Tiger?
Love, Cowgirl Red aka Terah
Full disclosure: I am morally opposed to Walmart. I almost never go there. But when you live in the toolies like I do, sometimes you are forced (victimized) into going there. After they ran all the mom & pop stores out of business in every small town in America, they have the gall to quit carrying fabric then start up again with only pre-cut really cheap ugly stuff from China. But I have never met a leopard print I could refuse. And they waved it right in front of my face. Along with several spools of gold metallic thread. Sort of. I feel so violated. I went there for printer ink or a shovel or something.
Walmart or not its very cool. I have problems avoiding animal prints myself. Even the super cheezy ones captivate from time to time. Its a handicap.
Maybe there is a twelve step?
xo
I feel the same way about WM. I live only a block from a superWM. Where it stands used to be a field with Meadow Larks, bobwhites etc. Sigh~~ On a more positive note, your pillow turned out really nice. I love the color combinations. I don't know what animal you would call me. I do have some leopard in my wardrobe that few get to see. 😉
Yes Mari, there must be a 12 step for animal print addiction.
Lisa, I would say you are a leopard like me, especially if you have a secret stash.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Good Morning Safari Girl…if your not careful a WM sharpshooter will have you skinned and laminated and you will spend the rest of your life as a coaster or a lampshade…. Agree, supermarkets are killing our plant… Love your cushion cover and those vintage buttons are to die for…..
I feel like you do about WallyWorld. Many years ago I worked at one in Minneapolis–briefly. Was hired as "full-time", but then found out their full time was around 30 hours a week! (So you didn't get benefits–and only the supervisors worked enough to actually get benefits.) They paid little or nothing in the first place and I was supporting myself alone. They had promised me I wasn't going to be just a temporary, pre-holiday hire in October…but in January they cut my hours back to 4 hours a week!! And those were covering lunches–so I had to make 4 trips to the store! They let a lot of people go and never even told them–they'd show up and were no longer on the schedule. Horrible company!
On the rare occasion I have walked inside one since then–I, too, feel almost violated. I have seen them come in, undercut everyone's prices so the local businesses fail, and then they slowly raise their prices. In Minneapolis, they had different prices for the same items in different parts of town. And some of the highest prices were in the poorest places! (Sorry about the rant.)
Regardless of where you procured your fabric (LOL!)–the pillow looks gorgeous! Lovely old buttons, too. 🙂
I have never been into animal prints. Does this mean I'm not a real woman?? 😉
love the leopard print pillow and those buttons, wow…great job. Its been years since I've been in a Walmart, but then I have options here in Minneapolis, I think your pillow was worth the trip in!
Thanks Kat, Rita and Cheri, It seems we all feel the same about WM. I felt compelled to share my rant with the fabric. xoxox Terah
I've never really been drawn to animal prints but THIS…oh yah, this I could do! What a great pillow, and the way you put it together is so random and fun, I'm going to have to try this some time.
Nice work… your pillow turned out great. Love the buttons too!
The pillow is wonderful. I agree with your feelings about buttons. I never thought about it before, but all my animal prints are leopard. I had some zebra in high school, but as I have a daughter who is a senior, that was a long while ago.