In Bloom Pillow

My last and final entry for the Stitched In Color pillow contest!! I call this my In Bloom pillow because Spring is here and things are in bloom (including my big belly).  I wasn't sure I was going to enter Rachel's contest this month, but the prize is 5 yards of Aneela Hoey's Sherbet Pip, so I felt as though I had to enter.  Annee turned me on to this fabric when posted about it with her Girl on a Tree Swing.  Oh to get my hands on this gorgeous line of fabric!!  (I might just give myself my own prize if the pillow contest doesn't work out for me!)

This idea swam around in my head for way too long, and I finally let it come out.  I'm not sure it's exactly what I envisioned in my head, but I was playing with a lot of fabrics here and a new idea, so mostly I'm happy.

I used Aneela Hoey's style of quilting that she used in her Girl on a Tree Swing tutorial.  Then I hand stitched around each color, and stippled my pillow top to some batting and muslin.  This is my third attempt at stippling, so I'm still working on this skill.

It felt like spring here in Northern CA a couple weeks ago, so I wanted a flower blooming to adorn the leather chair where the LOVE pillow sat for the month of February.  I married my needed for a flower with my desire for a Girl on a Tree Swing wall hanging.  I just need a bigger house with more wall space.  I did really enjoy making this pillow and going through my scraps to create my desired color palettes.

On the back I used the last of a Valori Wells print I've had in my stash for quite some time.  I used it originally to reupholster a chair, and  I've always loved the bright, bold colors in the fabric which you can see influenced my fabric choices for my In Bloom Pillow.

Here's to spring and a time for things to bloom!

You can find my pillow and many others at Stitched in Color's Pillow contest.