My daughter and I attended our friend Hailey's 5th birthday party this afternoon. I'm always stumped at what to buy/make/give for birthday presents. Once this idea popped in my head I just ran with it. One scrappy patchwork pillow, complete with personalization! It measures about 18" finished and it has an envelope backing, so it washable. I was so thrilled when Hailey opened it up because she immediately hugged it. I think I have a new go-to gift for the next year of birthdays....hip, hip hurray!!! Now my daughter wants one. Come to think of it, I just might want one, too.
edited to add: the squares for the pillow were cut at 3.5" and finish at 3". For the name I first drew guidelines with a water soluable pen and then I free motion quilted it with 50 weight thread on white fabric. I traced over the letters twice to make them a bit more bold.
Very cool pillow!
ReplyDeleteAdorable and doable. Everything else you do, is just out of this world and plain amazing! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you! I think you've solved my birthday present woes too!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I want one for my sewing chair as well. :-)
OH!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMY birthday is coming up too....
and my name is much shorter to write!!!
love it!
xo
eva
Any girl would love that! And the name is what really makes it.
ReplyDeleteReally cute idea! And it will work for many ages - thanks for the idea. Hailey's is adorable! ~jeanne
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteWish I had seen this a couple weeks ago. My kids have already been to 3 birthday parties this month and this would have been a great gift. Now I'm ready for next time.
So cute, and so charming!! Definitely a pillow any little girl (or boy) would love!
ReplyDeleteIt's so pretty! I would love one too :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't think of any little girls who would be able to resist hugging a cushion sew cute! I think I want one too...
ReplyDeleteLove this , think I'll "borrow" your idea for the little girls in my life. Beautiful colors..love your blog!!.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift! Did you add the name by hand or by machine?
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! Birthday girl won't get two of those!
ReplyDeleteI love it, AJ! Awesome idea! My daughter has a friend turning 10 next week... I bet she would appreciate something like this... maybe a little more rectangular!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteCute! What a thrill to receive this for a gift. I want one too - hehehehe!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! i make personalised pillow cases for my daughter's friends and it's so cute seeing them go on school camp together..all carrying their pillows with my pillowcases!
ReplyDeleteThis is so adorably cute! How did you do her name so uniformly? Do you have one of those extra-awesome machines that synch up with your computer, OR did you embroider that by hand? I'm swooning over here! I'm so glad that I stumbled upon your blog yesterday. ;)
ReplyDeleteToo cute! Can I be an uber-cool mom like you when I grow up??
ReplyDeleteAnd can I say with more and more kids having either unusual names or odd spellings (I have a Kaelynn, a Lillian, and a Darien I understand) it is very special to get something personalized! My son even likes it when I put his name on things!!
ReplyDeleteI love it - and I agree, I want one too! I foresee some of these in my future.....
ReplyDeleteVery cute and a great idea for a present. Quick question...what were the square size before you sewed them together?
ReplyDeletejoyturner24@hotmail.com
Are you planning on posting the pattern? Or selling it? Because I would love to have it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet gift idea! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI want one, too! It's so adorable and the embroidered name adds such a loving personal touch. Very nice :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! Love the pillow!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! And kids (especially girls?) seem to just LOVE anything with their name on it. Will have to tuck this in my mental back pocket for our next birthday party...
ReplyDeleteYep...let's start them young appreciating the homemade gift...great job AJ!:)
ReplyDeleteOur daugther is 24 and her go-to gift for her friends is pillowcases...of course I have to make them!:)
I love it. Gonna have to try that soon with all the scraps I have!
ReplyDeleteVery cute!
ReplyDeletewhata a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteIt is so cute! And I just might borrow that idea! Love it! I can see why she hugged it. Any little girl would love that, especially with her name on it. My daughter would! May I ask how big the squares are?
ReplyDeleteMy niece opened up a doll blanket I gave her for Christmas. The first thing she did was hug it and say, "Mine!" That made me feel pretty good. I had made it to go with her American Girl dolls, but I didn't realize she had gotten this new baby doll for Christmas (one that actually breathes...weird!). Anyway, this turned out to be THE PERFECT gift, because she thought it was to go with her new doll. Whatever works! My sister says she has barely put it down!
What a super gift! Very, very cute CrazyMom!
ReplyDeleteThis pillow is a great idea and so simple. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteEtty
What a wonderful and perfect pillow! Love this!
ReplyDeleteGenius!! You are one clever designer.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely genius!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't I think of it???
I am getting some ideas of making pillows ahead of time for those oops I need a gift moments - then all I would need to do is stitch the name.
Thank you for sharing your design with us. :0)
How did you do the name? Is that embroidered, machine embroidered, or inked on?
ReplyDeleteJust Darling! Are you going to post a tutorial?
Is the back a plain or patchwork! It's beautiful, and I too am always looking for gifts to give.
ReplyDeleteno wonder you all want it, it's lovely :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. I like the name idea.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration. This would also be a great gift for the great nieces for Christmas gifts!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure we all want one!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this and for coming up with such a great idea. I think you just made birthday and Christmas present ideas easier for a whole lot of us. :-)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work. We sure do appreciate it!!!
This is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou are a genius with colours !!!
Thank you for sharing this.
What a fantastic idea - I'm going to put that one in my bank! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteperfect.
ReplyDeleteYou have a knack for making gifts that make people happy!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely terrific idea! Perfect for using up those scraps.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
ReplyDelete;)
Awesome idea for gifts! I will have to remember this one.
ReplyDeleteOh, it turned out so great! I'll bet she loved it!
ReplyDeletebrilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteAdorable gift! I'm sure Hailey loved it.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! What little girl (or bigger) doesn't love something with her name on it :)
ReplyDeleteThe most gorgeous pillow I've seen in a long time. :D Maybe just because I am so into taking care of all my scraps and this looks like it is made from a great assortment of scrap fabrics. Fab! What is not to love about this one .:D
ReplyDeleteGenius!
ReplyDeleteAnother great idea. I honestly can't think of anything that you've done that I DON'T like! You are very talented and creative - not to mention inspiring!
ReplyDeletejeri cleveland
Love this! I think I know what the nieces are getting for Christmas next year! :) Those squares must finish at about 3 inches or so? I have tons of squares already cut just waiting to be used!
ReplyDeleteHailey's pillow makes me smile...it is just so beautiful & colorful. What a special gift for a little girl (and big girls too!). I may be stealing this go-to birthday gift ;) Thanks for sharing. Smiles~Beth
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes the simplest ideas are the most fabulous. Yours continues to be my favorite eye candy blog.
ReplyDeleteLooks great you may need to make one for every one that sees it.
ReplyDeletehttp://richardquilts.com
It could also be used as a great way to store your PJ's. When I was a kid we had pajama bags, or an animal that you stored you PJ's in. Either way it is a beautiful pillow.
ReplyDeletehow did you do the name??
ReplyDeleteembroidery??
or??
its lovely!!
xo
eva
Amanda Jean--Beautiful!!! It's funny that you posted about this pillow, because I have been on a pillow sewing spree this past week. :o) Mine have been rag quilt pillows. However, I want to make one similar to what you made for Hailey! (Hint, hint...is there a tutorial on this pillow?) Thanks for sharing!! God bless...
ReplyDeleteTotally beautiful! I'd love a tutorial too since I'll be making my first ever cushions soon :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Will you come to my birthday party :)??
ReplyDeleteVery nice!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute!
ReplyDeleteMy 15 year-old daughter (with a little help from me) has been doing the same thing for her friends' birthdays for the last year! And her friends love getting something homemade from her heart!
ReplyDeleteI can't even tell you how much I love this! What a great keepsake! I have a birthday party coming up this weekend (for a 3-year-old and 5-year-old combined party). I may, in fact, borrow your great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love it, I want one too! ;) I'm always stumped on gifts too, this sounds great. And such a pretty way to use up scraps when there aren't enough for a quilt. The personalization is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI'll take a pillow also!!! I love the idea for all ages.
ReplyDeletei'm finally caught up in reading your blog. i'm sorry that i can't comment on all of them. too...tired...
ReplyDeletebut, know that i love you and i'm inspired by all of your works. this personalized pillow is a great idea. and your mini inspired by your book cover quilt is adorable. of course, my favorite is the EPP stars. mmmmm... the bobbin bin is a great idea, too. i hate it when i sweep those onto the floor.
well, i must, must go to bed now. we'll have to chat soon.
xo,
m
Love the pillow idea, might try it next for my go to Birthday present. Currently I make an apron, add it with a box of Brownie mix and a funky colored spatulata to go with the apron - my go to Birthday present this go around.
ReplyDeleteJulie M.
That is one beautiful and inspiring cushion. I read your post about your backlog of projects. I am very new to the quilting addiction but it was still hard to decide NOT to make handmade gifts for my friends this Christmas - although made easier by the fact that not all of the previous year's recipients understood the work I had put into the gifts.
ReplyDeleteI think the key is to get that four-year-old sewing:-) My 4yo loves touching and playing with the fabrics and says that she would like at least two quilts (I am currently working on a fleece-applique quilt for her and finishing a grown up quilt for our livingroom sofa).
Thank you again for sharing all your beautiful projects and your knowledge with the world.
Jenni
fantastic idea! Thank you now I have something else to make besides pillowcases....u-oh this may have changed my to-do-list for this week-dang! :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! The colors are wonderful
ReplyDeleteO no - you spelled my name wrong AND gave my pillow away? *sigh* guess I will have to make my own ;-)
ReplyDeleteso cute and such a great gift idea!
What a beautiful pillow. I am very impressed that you did the name free hand. Wow. I could NEVER do that lettering so well. I'm very thankful for my embroidery machine for things like that.
ReplyDeleteI like Hailey's pillow...simple, bright, fun! I should use some scraps to make a pillow for myself.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great pillow AJ. Genius! How can it be...you are crazy and genius at the same time???:)
ReplyDeleteWhat little girl wouldn't love a personalized pillow!? I've been considering making one of these myself. But of course, I must not forget the little boy who loves anything I make.
ReplyDeleteLove the colors you used!
I totally stole your idea for a party my daughter's attending this weekend...mine's not nearly as cute as yours, however I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. Thanks for such a great idea; I was dreading buying yet another Barbie doll.
ReplyDeleteI just love this idea! I think my daughter needs a few of these for her bed. Wonderful scrap idea too.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful gift idea, for a 5-year-old...or someone of any age, for that matter!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift idea. She will treasure it!
ReplyDeleteThis pillow is ADORABLE. I can't wait to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteLove it ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteVery cute!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea! I see Valentines Day present for my grandkids!! Thanks for sharing - we can always find great projects on your blog.
ReplyDeletedoni @ Oregon coast
Nice designer pillow covers.Pillows with unique cover give your room different and good look.
ReplyDeletestill hoping...
ReplyDeletehow did you do the name??
is it embroidery??
lovely font
xo
eva
Hi - I want to make this for Grandma's birthday in March.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to quilting and pillow case making - how do you complete this one? I can figure out the piecing, but I don't know the corner part or the back part so it folds over the pillow nicely.
Can you explain?
Thanks for sharing, Amanda! It is gorgeous! I was inspired to make one of my own for my boyfriend's little sister! I posted about it here: http://thekitschinista.blogspot.com/2012/04/too-many-works-in-progress.html. Thanks again!
ReplyDelete