A Green Pillow for Spring
Last fall I found a piece of embroidery at a thrift store which I repurposed into the prettiest throw pillow for my blue chair (see here for that post). I love it, the pops of color and pheasants just make me smile, not to mention someone’s painstaking hours they spent with needle popping up and down, embroidery thread making a colorful path in its wake. The only problem with it is, the colors with orange accents and brown pretty pheasants lend themselves to fall. I have been scouring thrift stores ever since for another masterful piece of crewel or embroidery and haven’t found anything that would be right.
I have been thinking about pops of green though, in particular a cheerful mossy green in a soft velvet. If you hadn’t noticed, I kinda like velvet. It has a vintage/antique likeness about it, and it’s soft, which all the men in my house seem to think is necessary in a pillow.
I almost bought some moss green velvet when I ordered the velvet for the newest tufted ottoman from fabric.com, but decided against it, until I knew exactly what the velvet was like. Because, really not all velvets or velveteens are created equal, and I am a bit picky.
So I was at my favorite thrift store a couple weeks ago when I spied a moss green velvet king-sized pillow sham for only $2. I snatched it right up! It was perfect for my vision!
So, I have a thing for throw pillows. And I love changing them up. And when you add a slick zipper, and repurpose thrift store finds, a new pillow can easily come in under $5 every time, and that’s including the cost of the zipper.
It was my intention to do an invisible zipper tutorial as I shared this, but my first zipper broke, because the velvet is quilted and so thick, making an invisible zipper not ideal. I made another work, but I will share how I install invisible zippers another time. They are my favorite. They are so easy to put in, and they’re virtually invisible, if put in properly, they look like a seem with a little pull tab.
I am pleased with the cheerful pop of spring green, and the boys are pleased with the softness. So I guess it’s a win, win.
Thank you for stopping by!
Blessings,
Cheryl
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Nice new pillow and just the right pop of green. It seems like you think up something and it just shows up at your thrift store!!!
Could you tell a bit about that gorgeous antique sewing machine in the pictures? I love old sewing machines, I have 9 of them!!! Many of them were given to me. Others were from garage sales or family owned.
God Bless!!!
Addie
Thank you, again Addie, for your encouragement. Oh the thrift stores, sometimes they are knock your socks off perfect, but most of the time, I walk away with nothing. And I have a whole list of things I’m still waiting for! Ha. But there is fun in the “hunting” and thinking up creative uses for old junk.
As far as the old sewing machine, that story can be found here, http://www.rufflesandrifles.com/an-old-white-treadle-sewing-machine/
She is gorgeous isn’t she? My cousin named her “Little Miss Pretty Pretty”. I’m rather smitten, and very grateful. 9 is a lot of them! Wow! How fun.
Blessings,
Cheryl
Hmmm, now I don’t feel so silly for my thoughts of changing my throw pillows again…..already. Inspiring again, Cheryl! 🙂
You’re not silly at all! 🙂 (If your hubby ever thinks so you can just blame me! Ha!) Seriously, we can dress our pillows for the change of seasons, with the beautiful invention of a zipper. So fun!!!!
🙂 Cheryl