For Emily
 

Hi Quilters, well I didn’t want to make this but it’s now done so I’m glad to be through. Emily asked in March when I made my granddaughter and my sister’s if I would make one so she could give her friend for Christmas 2024. I said yes bc I had plenty time to make it ahead. Little did I know, right? First she told me she wanted the pictures of their cow, bulldozer etc printed on fabric. She just knew she could get another friend to do that. So I waited all summer. Once in a while I’d mention I’d like to start. Well then she says she also wanted a deer, a flag, a rabbit, blueberries, LSU , squirrel, daffodils etc. I stressed to her everything had to be small bc the pillow might be 18 inches but the state Applique wasn’t. So about 2 weeks ago I asked her could I go ahead and make RoAnn’s pillow. She then sent me directions how to print pictures on fabric! I told her I don’t even have a printer. Then she said she needed to mail me the blueberry piece . It took a week to receive. So yesterday I pieced everything she sent and sent her a photo asking her if it looked ok so I could put the heat and bond and cut out the state. I hadn’t put the daffodils. I didn’t forget. I just didn’t want them in, nor did I want the toy bulldozer but I took the piece out and added the yellow daffodil. She hadn’t seen it but I will give it to her tomorrow. Oh and she asked me AFTER the piecing what I thought about it. I hedge around saying I didn’t have to like it, it was hers to like. She said well what do you not like about it?.. Oh goodness , I told her. I said for one I didn’t like the toy bulldozer nor the night yellow daffodils in with the colors. I didn’t mention the LSU colors or the rest, but I hurried up and said I knew why she wanted them in and they would realize too bc those things mean something to them. She then said, well I like it now so I breathed a sigh of relief and ironed the heat and bond so no turning back or ripping pieces off now. I embroidered the word home on my embroidery machine. After I fused the state on I stitch around the outer edges 4 times. A straight stitch, 2 different size zigzag before a final satin stitch. I then sandwiched it for quilting and straight stitched around the state and the word home, before meandering around. I just meandered the back piece, added a zipper at the bottom seam and finished the pillow cover.
Why is it when you’ve already stated you don’t take in sewing, you don’t sew for the public, your friends still expect you to make for them bc they want it? I love to sew. I love to quilt. However, I love to make things ‘I’ want to make, something I like when I’m done. I’m a pushover I guess. My neighbor also has it in her head that I’m to make her great grandchild a baby quilt. So I told her to chose the pattern, her to get the fabrics and not wait till the last week. Baby is due April so I reminded her last week the shower will probably be in February. The holidays are coming up too. Do we will see how this goes. Anyway here is the quilted, appliquéd and embroidered pillow cover. …oh when I was telling my sister all this and how the toy bulldozer and yellow pc stuck out like a sore thumb, she told me the yellow daffodil shape looks more like a broken chicken leg! That really made my day! ( sarcasm)

You are a saint to go through what you did to make this pillow. I'll agree that the bulldozer looks completely out of place, but it probably holds memories for the person receiving it. Good job toogie!

Another wonderful project! People that don't sew have no idea what we go through making their ideas come to life. But you did it beautifully!

I just tell my friends I am much to busy sewing things for myself to sew for them too. If pushed , I give them a price for my work and that seems to end the conversation. No, is a powerful word.

That's a wonderful job Toogie. She got what she wanted! When people ask you to make something, the ones who don't sew often want to include colours, patterns or stuff YOU know will look awful. I don't need such stress at my age (???), so I just say I don't sew for others, my lifespan doesn't allow it. End of.

Well done you....however -
I always tell myself and my friends: NO is a complete sentence.
We only have so much time to work on our stuff and stuff we want to do. Why waste it making stuff we don't want to or don't like. Quilters are just too nice...

Good job. I, like you, have a hard time telling people no. Those that I really don’t want to do I say I will put them on my TO DO list. And say it is a long list. Hopefull that they forget or just give up waiting

I love it! Your attention to detail is amazing and remarkable!
With the specific instructions you know this has a tremendous meaning.
If you can Let us know after it was gifted, her response.

I usually don't make anything for others unless it is my idea to do it. I've heard people criticize quilts that someone has made for them and I don't want others critiquing my work. When you make something for others they can be very demanding and expect it to be perfect and I don't need that at my age (79).

Someone just asked me if I could "take in" a pair of hunting pants for him. It's a size 44 and he wants it to fit someone with a 38" waist. First of all denim is hard to run thru a sewing machine and secondly I'm not going to spend hours on a project and he will take all the credit. Not that I need to be credited for a project but come on now. Because I have altered clothing in the past for people, they think I will fix anything. No thank you.

Karamarie, my sister would wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments. Over the years, to make ends meet and later, out of the goodness of her heart, she would do alterations and mending. But she drew the line when one of her customers asked her to mend his underwear!!! That was the last straw!