Pillows with Faux Sherpa and Mosaic Mystery QAL Prep

It seems like more of last week was spent outside working in the garden than sewing. We had a bit of cooler weather which was a treat. I joined Ray in working outside several mornings and got several areas of the yard cleaned up. When you have a big yard it must be tackled in smaller sections. If I look at the whole, it is overwhelming and I just avoid it completely. By taking it in small portions, it is more manageable. Much like looking at a quilt top and thinking of all that needs to be quilted. Better to just start with one section and keep going, right?

I did get a few fun things done in the sewing room though. Julia and I have been shopping for fun things for her dorm room. She found out who her roommate is (a girl from Maryland) and also that she was placed in a double dorm room rather than a triple. The campuses in California are overcrowded and many of the dormitory rooms have been converted to triples with three students in them and yikes, that is a tight squeeze. She was really hoping for a traditional double and is so relieved she got one.

When we were shopping she picked out her comforter, sheets and towels. She wanted some throw pillows too. She selected a black and off-white pillow and was looking at others. Her (very) frugal mother was slightly gagging at the price of $25 each for dorm room throw pillows. Then I saw a faux sherpa pillow case at Target for $5.00. I explained I could cover a pillow form with it and she would have the same sort of pillow as the one she was looking at. Yay! Not like I needed another sewing project but this would be so quick. It was easy to convince myself to add it to the list!

As it turned out, the pillow case had an invisible zipper already placed in one end – better yet! So one pillow form fit the width perfectly – I only had to trim off some of the length and stitch up the end. Does it get any easier?

The length that was left was just enough to cover another form I had. This one had to be taken in about one inch on the width and I sewed about two inches of the long opening shut on each end. Then I hand stitched the opening shut after stuffing the form in. Hurray – two more throw pillows for $5.00 instead of $50, which makes this frugal mama happy. A quick distraction from other projects but completed in one sewing session!

My other accomplishment of late was to cut the pieces for the Mosaic Mystery QAL. This is my second mystery QAL. The first one I did was with Tish from Tish in Wonderland and you can check it out here. Of course, I am a bit of a cheater. Because I sold kits for both QAL’s in my shop, I had the picture of the finished quilt ahead of time (to be able to create the kits). So for me it is more of a regular quilt along. The two fabrics on the left are Dancing Daisies and Wild Gatherings from Art Gallery Fabrics Capsule Campsite. From there I chose two blenders to round things out.

Anyway, I am thrilled to have the cutting completed for this project. I really like the fabrics I am using for it. They will be really nice in my living room as a lap quilt. Perfect colors! Cheryl’s Mosaic Mystery QAL goes at a very relaxed pace. July was fabric selection (but I didn’t commit to joining in until mid-August). Then she released cutting instructions in the beginning of August. The first steps for piecing will be released in early September. You can see there is plenty of time for you to join in still! I am enjoying all of the quilters that are actively involved in the Facebook group for the QAL. So many gorgeous combinations are being shown. However, if you are not one for pulling fabrics for a Mystery QAL, I still have kits available in the shop. Easy peasy!! (The collection I chose for my quilt is not listed as a kit but if you happen to love it and want it, let me know. I will happily create a kit for you.)

I have also continued quilting my friend’s memory quilt. I have just a few squares left to quilt and then on to binding. I will share that soon as I get it finished up. Hope you are all doing well. Have a wonderful weekend!

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13 thoughts on “Pillows with Faux Sherpa and Mosaic Mystery QAL Prep

  1. Wendy Tuma

    What a win on the pillow! Yippee! Those college costs really rack up, don’t they?! I just made my niece a little petit fabric bin in her favorite color, a little catch all for things. Good work on the quilts! You’ve had a good week!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thanks Wendy – I was quite pleased with the pillow project. I wanted to get the Mosaic project cut out as we have a vacation for the beginning of September and don’t want to get too far behind. This way I can jump on the sewing when we get home. I am not usually this organized! Haha.

      Reply
  2. Tracie

    A great win on the pillows! A friend told me that my daughter should only have stuff on her bed that could withstand spilled nail polish. Yikes! I hadn’t thought of that. So I wouldn’t let her bring the beautiful quilt that Grandma made for her bed. I like your selection of fabrics for the mystery sew along. I considered joining as well. But a new job will fill my time. I look forward to seeing your quilt!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      That sounds like just the right guidance on dorm bedding!
      You are starting a new job? What and where and when? I hope it all goes wonderfully!

      Reply
  3. Mari

    Fantastic solution! I wouldn’t want to pay that for pillows for my house, let alone to send to college. She must be getting really excited now. And her roommate is from Maryland! What a culture shock that will be. Hope you all are getting excited, too. Have a fun weekend!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      She is getting really excited. Another month to move in time! I was surprised by the roommate’s hometown too. Apparently her father grew up out here and she has relatives an hour from the university so that is helpful. I hope she doesn’t have too much difficulty adjusting to living so far from home. Julia found out her dorm building last night and she is in the complex she had hoped for. Also her one bff that is also going to this university was placed in the same building on the 2nd floor (Julia is on the 3rd floor). That made both girls so happy. So far, so good!

      Reply
  4. Rebecca Grace

    THREE students crammed into a dorm room built for two?! Yikes! Which school is she attending? Best wishes to your Julia for a wonderful and successful school year!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Yep! Unfortunately lots of the dorms in CA have been converted to three kids, one set of bunk beds and a twin bed. It makes it really crowded. She was crossing fingers she wouldn’t be placed in one. The university she is going to doesn’t let you select your dorm – you ask for a double room but they warn you over and over that you may not get what you are hoping for. I think she got lucky!! She will be at UC Davis which is a great school and is about 1.5 hours from home. So exciting!

      Reply
  5. Kathleen McCormick

    Love that you were able to make her some pillows (with the love attached) and save some $. Always a good move isn’t it and leaves some cash for other fun things. I don’t think you are cheating because you sold fabric for the QAL – which I enjoy watching unfold!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I was thrilled to make two pillows for Julia’s bed. The pillowcase couldn’t have fit any better with the two forms I had. So that was a win! I am sure we will be picking up more things here and there. We still have a list of all the practical items she will be needing. Exciting times!!

      Reply
  6. JanineMarie

    Ah, dorm sewing. Isn’t it fun that a bit of your creativity (not to mention the savings) is going to college? Is Julia taking her piggy quilt, too?

    Reply
  7. Karla

    I love your creativity with your daughter’s pillows! I too am extremely frugal 🙂 I helped my neighbor by making pillows and fabric baskets for her daughter’s dorm room– they don’t sew but I loved seeing their faces when I gifted the items to them — it was so worth it!

    Reply
  8. Sandra Walker

    I am BEHIND in reading about squirrels, so my apologies. I love that you got two sherpa pillows for a tenth of the price! With the cost of college mamas have to save the dollars wherever they can. Love you fabric pull for Cheryl’s MM; I still plan to do it… Just need to go rummage in the stash! Thanks for linking up with DrEAMi!

    Reply

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