No-Sew Pillow Part 1

I know I am not alone when I say I wish spring was here. I'm sick of these dreary sunless days. Even more so today, as there is no good natural light to help me photograph the super-cute pillow I made! Does the sun not realize it also influences the blogging world?

I have been wanting to make my own pillows for ages. But, since I don't have a sewing machine, that has put a damper on my ideas. I finally went out on a limb and bought some Steam-A-Seam and created this little guy here:

Isn't he cute? I made the little fellow above in about 20 minutes. I started it when Mr. VB went to take a shower and was working on the last seam by the time he was done. Now that's a project I like!
 Supplies
fabric
an iron
ironing board
Steam-a-Seam

I cut two pieces of fabric the approximate size I wanted the pillow. I made sure to have at least 1 inch extra to fold in all the edges. I started by ironing down one of the long edges on a piece of fabric, making it easier to put the Steam-A-Seam on. I did the same to the other piece of fabric.

 I cut the Steam-A-Seam to length and put it on top of the edge. It doesn't stick very well, but was fairly easy to hold in place.

Pull off the paper on the Steam-a-Seam and place the second fabric on top, matching the top of the folded pieces together. Iron the area (15-20 seconds).

This is what it looked like when I turned it over. As it cooled, the seam set and became stronger. I could tug it and it wouldn't come apart. I was pleasantly surprised!

I let the seam cool for about 5 min. before I moved on to the next seam. I worked on one of the short sides next. For the corner, I just had to tuck it in a bit and it made a nice corner.

I left a short side for last. I stuffed it (trying to push the stuffing down to the far end so I had room to iron the last seam.

The last one was the hardest as I had two corners to take care of. As you can see, the seam isn't as straight as all the others. I had to cut some small pieces of Steam-a-Seam to slip in areas where it wasn't sealing...and it worked fine! Once I got the stuffing down there, you don't even notice.

Stay tuned...next on my list is to make some Pottery Barn inspired pillows!

Progress & a New Room

Progress in our new study is coming along. Yesterday I painted and distressed the chair and the magazine rack (which I picked up at a thrift store for $8!). Today I plan to get some new fabric for the cushion and, if I can stop rearranging things on the bookshelves, it should be done!

In the meantime, I wanted to show you our dining room. This is next on our painting list (Glidden's Forest Khaki). We also plan to put up the board and batten in this room. The plan is to put it up in the breakfast room first and then bring it into this room (the wall you see here goes into the kitchen and the corner wraps into the breakfast room.

  

The chest above is actually a dresser. At first, I was tempted to paint it, but I am starting to like it just the way it is.

  

Our dining room table is actually an old door that Mr. VB refurbished before we were married. We had a piece of glass cut to fit the top and then I painted and, of course, distressed the legs!