Nursery Versery Pillow

When I first saw Heather Ross' new fabric line, Nursery Versery, I immediately fell in love with it (which usually goes without saying, when it comes to her fabric), but I didn't need to buy it - I'm trying to be better about buying fabric, and only buying what I absolutely need.  Trying being the key word.

But when I heard about the Nursery Versery contest that Rachel over at Stitched in Color is hosting, I finally had needed to buy it!

As far as which print to pick - it was a hard one.  I love "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", but currently, I'm singing a lot of "This Little Piggy" to Tucker, who's 6 months old, because I can't resist his little laugh at the "Wee wee wee" part.  It's just too cute.  So I went with those little pigs and the patchwork print in the yellow and gray colorway, and made this pillow.

I fussy cut each pig, and made two strips out of them along with this gold linen blend I found at Joann's, in kind of a wonky, improv style.

For the middle section, I used Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen in Black, and quilted "This little piggy..." and just left it at that.  I thought I would quilt more all over the pillow, but I liked it just the way it was.

For the back, I used both prints, and put in a hidden zipper.

I have to give a huge shout out to my mom for this pillow even happening!  Along with trying to be better about not buying fabric, I'm also trying to really stick to my "must-do" list...and it's a long one!  I'm still new at this three-kids thing, and I'm finding that my sewing time is not that often.  I cut the fabric on Monday, started piecing it on Tuesday (but only got one of those piggy strips done), and finished the whole thing yesterday, while my mom was here, watching the kids.  I could not have done it without her!

I was so proud of actually finishing something quickly and before a deadline (the contest ends this Sunday)!  You know that high you get?  Well, right after I stuffed the pillow form into the cover, I showed it to my oldest daughter, Kendall.  And that's when I felt like I got punched right in the gut.  I was explaining that the fabrics used in the pillow were designed after the nursery rhyme, and I started saying it to her while pointing to the pigs.  I said, "This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed....oh."  I realized that I put one of the pigs in the wrong order.  Not once, but twice!  I kinda felt like that last little piggy.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement!  However, Kendall assured me that it was still really beautiful, my husband said it could be a statement on post-modernism (he was being funny), and my dear friend Melissa encouraged me to use this as an example to my girls (who are showing an interest in sewing) that mistakes happen, and it's okay!  Isn't she wise?

So, I'm okay with this mistake!  At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Hope over to Rachel's blog to see the other entries in this contest!