Earth Day has always been one of my favorites days. I strive to fully embody the “Earth Day is Every Day” ideal with my day to day life, from adopting a whale in third grade and frequent stream clean ups as a child, to majoring in environmental science in college, to aiming to instill a love and respect for the earth and all its creatures and functions in my children. The earth is our home, and it is our responsibility to help nurture and care for it. Today seemed like the perfect day to share my newly finished pillow featuring my bean sprout foundation paper pieced pattern.
I’m calling this pillow “Grow” and it will be donated to a fundraiser auction/raffle at our local school. The theme for the fundraiser is “Growth & Gardening” so it fits perfectly!
I used my coveted Carolyn Friedlander bright green Architextures fabric (Robert Kaufman) for the sprout, with little leaves of lime linen leftover from a previous project and a dotty dark green that was in my stash, but has no selvedge. A light turquoise modern Indah batik by Me + You (Hoffman Fabrics) makes a perfect summer sky for the background. Alison Glass Sun Prints 2016 Sphere (Andover) as the border rounded out the pillow nicely. It’s bound in the remainder of the lime linen blend and backed in that same mystery, beautiful dark green fabric. I quilted the pillow front with coordinating 50wt Aurifil thread in 2800-Mint Ice, since it blends right in with both the background and the green bean sprout.
I was hoping to release the Bean Sprout Pattern today, too, but lo… life got in the way and it’s not quite ready yet. Soon, hopefully. The pattern finishes at 12″ square so I added 2″ borders all around to bring the pillow to 16″ square.
I also inserted my very first hidden zipper in the back of this pillow, which is SO exciting! I used a fabulous tutorial by S.O.T.A.K. handmade and it worked like a charm. I am definitely installing hidden zippers in the backs of all of my pillows from now on.
Now that this pillow is finished and photographed, it will be delivered to my daughter’s school for their annual fundraising auction/raffle. Last year’s donated project taught me a lot about the art of giving, and this year’s gift seems no less serendipitous. A quilted item was needed for a growth-themed fundraiser, right as I had tested my bean sprout pattern–perfect! I’m curious to see what next year brings, and I hope this pillow is able to raise some money for our local school!
I’m linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday, and TGIFF, since a finish ALWAYS warrants celebration! Now, off I go on a hike to celebrate this gorgeous Earth Day! Head on outside and love your mama!
Night Quilter 
Exquisite. If I was there I’d bid on it!
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I am about to step outside for a mid day walk with my husband to enjoy one of our last warm days before another cold front rolls through (ah, spring). This is a beautiful finish and I just love how the right color thread can blend in with a full project. 🙂
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I love this. So appropriate for an elementary school fundraiser — didn’t every school kid do the experiment of planting a bean seed next to the edge of a clear cup of soil, wrapping it in dark paper, and peeking every couple of days to see the roots and the leaves start to grow. So simple and yet so realistic. Wish I were there to bid.
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Such a lovely pillow! I love the pattern, it’s something my sister-in-law would love, so a pillow gift may be in her future! I will look for your finished pattern!
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I am definitely going to try the hidden zipper bag. Thanks for the info.Betsie
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Kitty, it’s beautiful! Perfect for Earth Day! The different fabrics work so well together! I have not seen the Indah batik in that colorway, love it with the commercial prints.
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Neat! Fun pattern makes beautiful cushion!
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Alas, Earth Day was drizzly and cold here, so no walks for me. Today was better, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the birds while out for my run this morning 🙂 Your pillow is beautiful. I love the fabric choices and the pattern and the hidden zipper and the quilting, lol! I hope it’s successful as a fundraiser.
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Interestingly, our day was spent at the grandkids’ elementary school fair, raising money by spending it on the kiddos. Hope you guys have as much fun at your fundraiser. That fantastic pillow will definitely do its share of the raising! How smart to come up with a bean sprout idea. I’m watching for the pattern, too. We have a couple of backyard farmers in the family.
Thanks for linking up with TGIFF. Love your pillow and all of the other finishes in the linkup.
Mary @ http://fleurdelisquilts.blogspot.com
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Cute sprout!
I am a big fan of the S.O.T.A.K. cushion zipper method too. No one wants to try fitting a zipper along an edge that also has piping or other edge trim. This is the perfect way to hide the messy zipper and get a neat finish.
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It’s fabulous! I’m missing hiking at the minute. The first 4 months of this year have been so busy and so turbulent we haven’t had a chance yet.
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Kitty, this design is simply beautiful–you are one very gifted designer and quilter! And congratulations–I just saw this pillow front and center on today’s Aurifil post 🙂 (Isn’t the weather amazing this weekend?? Do we dare hope winter in Maine is gone?)
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