Reading pillows...Island Batik Style

Island Batik Ambassadors were given the challenge of pillows for the month of May. Pillows are something I have not explored in quite a while, but have been seeing more and more of them. So I accepted the challenge...times two.

AccuQuilt is celebrating it's 10 year anniversary this year. They reissued a few dies to commemorate the anniversay. I had no idea why I would need an elephant die--# 55373 or the airplane die--#55366, but the pretty blue tray these special issue dies came with won me over. I put them in my "basket" and hit the "buy" button!!

So the challenge was on--how to use the new dies--and maybe make a pillow at the same time!! A search on Amazon for children's books was just the right inspiration needed for these projects.

I mean just look at how great these three work together. The story book, the die, and the deep saturated colors of Island Batik fabrics!!

Staring with a few 2 1/2" strips from the Elementz line--a great colorful modern feeling line of fabrics.

I stacked 12 colors into 4 rows of 3. Cut off a 2 1/2" square--subcut each 2 1/2" sqaure into 4--1 1/4" sqaure.

Sewed them randomly together.

Then kind of randomly pieced a five row little fabric mini quiltlet--approximately 5" x 4 1/2"
Apply Steam a Seam 2 Lite to the back of the fabric mini quiltlet...and watch the magic happen.

I was just a little excited to see just how cute this elephant turned out!! With directional applique designs-- just make sure to figure which direction the elephant needs to face before cutting!!

Again with those deep saturated colors...be still my heart!!

I have recently started using the Steam A Seam 2 Lite and am really liking it. The needle did not get gummy when using my longarm on a another project. Nor did it when using my regular sewing machine to "Snappli-quilt" these pillows.

Making a score line on the paper backing really helps with the paper removal.

Something else I found helpful, was to place the "pocket" part of the reading pillow on the actual pillow form to help with applique placement. The sticky back of the Steam a Seam makes placement a breeze!!

Super sweet clouds were made with the Rose of Sharon die #55045.  I was just having too much fun.

Fun interrupted to make noon dinner--bacon, lettuce and tomatoe wraps with fresh picked from the road sides wild asparugus. YUM!!

Playing with applique placement for the elephant pillow.

Doing a little "Snappli-quilt".  Quilting around applique shapes of a quilt top layered with batting and backing, to finish it all in just one step.

Doodle like Snappli-quilt lines for a whimsical effect.

Bind the pocket top edge.

Use the envelop technique to finish off the pillow. Sew around perimeter. Turn right side out. Enjoy.

Such a super Saturday project. I started at 9AM and was finished by 3PM. That included about 45 minutes for noon dinner, but my amazing husband did dinner clean up for me.

Such happy colors!!

I just couldn't wait to give these to my grandkids--so we brougth the pillows over to them right after evening chores were finished. So glad they live within 10 miles of us!!

Oh what happy smiling little faces!! They share a bedroom and always read a few books together before going to sleep--now they have a special place to store them!!

A great big thank you to Island Batik for supplying the fabrics, Aurifil the thread and Hobbs Batting the the Theramore batting!! They all worked together wonderfully!!!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go!!" --Dr. Seuss