Well, I was so excited to see how this pillow would turn out that I just kept working on it. And let me tell you…I could not be more in love with it. It’s not mine…it will go to someone in the swap, but I’m soaking in the beauty of this piece for now.
I just keep staring at it. I think I could stare at it for hours (which is a good thing! because I need to quilt it and still turn it into a pillow!). I’ve used bits of Flea Market Fancy here and there throughout my sewing career but mainly because someone was sweet enough to give me a scrap. And then gloriously, they re-released a number of the prints from the collection and I was able to get some for myself. So this is the first project that I’ve ever been able to do with unlimited access to this collection and create what I needed.
When a collection has been out as long as Flea Market Fancy has and been sooooo loved, I feel a certain pressure to create a piece that uses the fabric in a new way. Or makes you fall in love with the fabric all over again. This pillow certainly does that for ME, so mission accomplished.
I put together this little mosaic as a sort of visual guide for how I sewed the pieces together and to show the complexity of the pattern. Like any pattern, it’s all about breaking it down into steps that make sense and are not overwhelming. I chose the fabric, cut the fabric out using the templates, laid out the pattern on my design wall (crucial for this particular pattern). Then I sewed and sewed and sewed some more. Each block was broken down into one curve at a time.
One thing I did this time that I’ve never done before is sew my curves together without pins (with the exception of one pin where I had to get seams to match). I think the whole pattern seemed so impossible to me from the beginning that I was willing to try another thing that seemed impossible…curves without pins. And it worked beautifully. I don’t know why it clicked this time, but it did. And I won’t fight it. 😉
Next Step: Quilting.
I am in love with this pattern, and your fabric choices are just perfect!
It's lovely, I bet it's hard to give up. Good for you conquering the curves. I started sewing clothing many years ago, so curves are in my repertoire, but I'd rather use straight seams. After seeing this pillow I may try some, in quilting, too.
This is seriously gorgeous. Love the colors – – love the design!
wow, it's simply gorgeous!!! Everything about it is perfect! Lucky partner.
So gorgeous. I'm crushing big time on it over here! And thanks for showing how you did the layout…
Amazing! Also jealous of your stash in the background!
Wow, that is an absolute work of art! So very pretty.
I love the pattern. And it will be an awesome pillow. Thanks for sharing
Absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!
Wow, that looks even better than I imagined from the sneak peek!
This is fantastic! I have some FMF that I'm trying to figure out how to use. WOW!
WOWOWOWOWOW! I totally love how this finished up. You have an extremely lucky partner!
This is so gorgeous!! I have never seen this pattern before, but I sure hope I start seeing it more! I just started doing curves without pins and it's so freeing. Phew!
After the sneak peek yesterday, I was so excited to see this bigger version. Wow, I'm speechless! Every once in a while I see something that absolutely floors me–the creativity, the design, the color choices…like a perfect storm, all the pieces come together to make something of such visual magnitude, leaving me in awe-struck wonder. It's apparent that you went slowly–the curves are gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing this!If it's your design, you need to write it up and sell it, sister!
I love the color play in this… such a pretty mix, so fresh… just love it! Beautiful work friend!
So beautiful!
This is gorgeous! I think the color choices couldn't be more perfect. It's FMF, but it's evolved beyond the initial recognizability of the prints into something that is uniquely Angela. I would love to try this pattern as well. 🙂
Wow! I love this pattern. Did you design it? Is it available? You chose the fabrics to perfection. Wonderful!
Wow! Very nice! I wish I could do circles, I am envious of those that can!
Wow, so pretty! I honk this has to be my favourite use of flea market fancy.
*think* lol not honk! Sorry, I'm reading over breakfast… Either the iPad did an autocorrect or I need another coffee 🙂
This is beyond beautiful. Well done.
I would stare at that all day long too! It is beautiful!
too beautiful! Great job
so pretty, love everything about this from the pattern to the fabric. I am terrified of curves. Swaps are intimidating for me and I don't do them often. Good for you
Love,love, awesome quilt and the fabrics are just beautiful.Great job!!
Speechless…
Absolutely love this.
Brilliant and amazing! I wish I was your swap partner, the lucky lady!
It's just freakishly fantastic!!!
Amen and the end.
beautiful beautiful! I just love the mix of prints and solids. perfect!
Perfect! I can't believe those curves are without pins!
absolutely LOVE!!!
Your madness paid off perfectly (as I knew if would 😉 )
Great job.
Looks like it's going to be a massive cushion.
This is stunning! I've never really loved Flea Market Fancy, until now! Excellent work.
I am agog. I can hardly stop looking at the picture. You're a better person than I am, because I don't think I could give that away. 😉
This is stunning. So lovely to look at!
This is really amazing- really. So pretty. And good for you for trying something new.
This is so incredibly awesome! I'm not brave enough to try curves yet, but I will someday, and this is a pattern I'd be interested in! Looks fantastic.
Your stash is also beautiful, by the way.
This one is a show stopper!
Absolutely incredible. How I wish I was in that swap with you as my partner.
This is amazing!
It is a total stunner Angela! Beautifully constructed
It is lovely. And I love that you've used two shades of solids in each colour.
Exquisite just exquisite. Did you design this or is it a pattern please? You are such a clever girl.
Angela, this is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love it! You chose just the perfect solid colors to make the FMF just POP! Oh my goodness, I am staring at it in complete envy. 🙂
Karen
khauglan (at) [yahoo] dot com
Cindy W, Aus
Angela,
This is all over Pinterest already and is just Beautiful, OH to be in your mind for a day or 2.
Damm, would love to be your swap partner!!!
Definitely a winner!
I am even more smitten today than yesterday. I am not good about creating the same thing twice after creating the first for a gift or swap. You may have more stamina for intricate patterns and piecing. Edit. You definitely have more stamina for curves than I do. I would definitely take good photos and frame that pillow top for my sewing space!
It is gorgeous Angela! I've always loved that block and your interpretation is wonderful.
I presume this is a hard work, but it's worth the time, you made a masterpiece!
when I look at it, this quilt reminds me of girls (seen from up above) holding hands and turning with large skirts, quite complicated ^_^
I love your work!