Make a Decorative Pillow (Learn to Cover a Pillow Form Tutorial)

Materials: Yard Sale or Thrift Pillows, Decorative Fabric, Sewing Supplies 

 

Remove fabric from form.

 Place pillow form on fabric.

 

 Cut square out around the form. Leaving enough edge for a 5/8 seam allowance.

 

 Should look like this.

Fold fabric that will be used for back of pillow. It will need to be as big as top piece plus a few extra inches.

Cut back out.

Cut back of fabric so that you have two unequal parts. 

Iron a 5/8 inch seam allowance on long side of each back piece.

Stitch

Should look like this.

Lay one back piece over the other. Over lapping about 3 to 4 inches.

Place right side of pillow top piece on the back of overlapped pieces.

Cut off excess on each side.

Should look like this.

Pin around edges.

Stitch a 5/8 seam around pillow cover.

Raise pressure foot up with needle in down postition and pivot at corners

Clip each corner being careful not to clip seam.

This is what the back side will look like.

Turn pillow cover right side out and put pillow form into pillow cover.

And there you have it. So don't throw away those decorative pillows just because you are redecorating. Just transform them to match your new decor. 

Once you learn this simple technique for covering a pillow form you can get creative with various styles.  Print This Tutorial

Other similar projects:  DIY Pillow Forms

 

Don't Trash Your Treaures

Don't trash your treasures!  Instead put them to a different use.  An old vintage window shutter might become a unique way to display Christmas cards.  Old glass canisters will take on a new look in the bathroom.  A glass door knob could be just the perfect touch to tie back your curtains.  Display your family photos on a vintage wooden ladder.  Ideas are limitless.  So move it around, paint it, repurpose it, transform it, but definitely "Don't trash your treasures"!

Approval From the Little Birds

I shared my thoughts and ideas with my girls about becoming a "blogger" and developing an outlet for my thoughts,  ideas, expertise(if you will) and projects.  They seemed to be excited not only for me I might say, but maybe for themselves as well.  A little focus off of them gives them some room to grow and breathe.   I read my first blog to them and approvalling they said, "Mom that's actually really good".  They were giving me tips an ideas.   And of course that made my heart swell.  So in ""Emptying the Nest" could I actually be creating companions, friends, with a common interest.  Hmmm...Time will tell. 

I hope all of you empty nesters will feel free to share your ideas and thoughts as well.  Maybe we could be in this "nest" together.

Fly Little Birds Fly!

So where did this blog come from?

Well, as I watch my daughters, ages 17 and 19, start to become independent young women ready to take on the world I realize I needed to find my way back into the world. Most of my time an energy has been devoted to being a mom. Approaching the empty nest is sad an exciting. While I choke back the tears as my daughters talk of moving out and moving on, I am told I need a hobby. So here I am. My attempt at fulfilling my days as I "Empty the Nest".