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Sewing Pillows with Mama!

February 27, 2018 By Rhoda 55 Comments

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Hello my friends!

I shared with you my master bedroom plans and the fabrics I was using and that I was going to sew up some Euro shams. My mama sewed for me all my growing up years and I didn’t have store bought clothes until I hit my teen years, believe it or not. Well, jeans, but not other type clothes. She made them all! She also made Barbie clothes for our Barbie dolls too, so she’s always been a seamstress and over the years has made countless drapes, window treatments and pillows for me. But, she’s not sewing as much now, so I didn’t want to ask her to sew my Euro shams, so I asked her if she would guide me and I would sew them and of course, she said yes.

I was over there last week for lunch and after lunch we got the fabric out and I measured where I wanted the center of the pillow to be and cut it out on her dining room table and we started sewing. I wanted that round medallion in the middle, so I made sure I cut it the same for both sides.

In case you didn’t guess it yet, she sat down and started sewing the first one, while I cut out the other two. I helped hold the fabric in place while she sewed and we got it done. I had every intention of sewing them myself, but I think she liked being needed and so she said….oh, I can do it faster than you can, which is probably true, so she went to town and did all of them in a couple of hours.

I knew you’d all like to see her in action.

Her sweet hands at almost 90, still working the thread and sewing machine.

It was definitel trial and error and she ended up doing some of them 3 times to get them tight enough. We finally got it down to two time around I think, but to get them tight fitting, we had to keep taking them in.  They definitely aren’t professional, but they are good enough for me.

We left one end open and just folded over the ends and then she did a seam on the bottom with the sewing machine. That seam will be hidden behind pillows anyway, so it didn’t matter to me at all.  These are just for looks, I won’t be washing them and they will just sit there and look pretty.

I’m perfectly happy with how they came out and they make a nice addition to the bed and other linens.  I love them!

These are not the best pics, but you get the idea. I will definitely do a nice photoshoot when all of this is done, but I like to share as I go and I think y’all like that too. It’s a process to get a room decorated, isn’t it?

I love the pop of color and pattern they add and it’s been fun watching this room come together.

I picked up a bolster pillow form too and will get something sewed on it eventually, but I wanted to see how it fits on the bed and it works great.  I’ll decide which fabric to put on here and of course, I’ll be sharing more of the master bedroom as I move along in here.  It’s come a long way since we moved in!

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Filed Under: Decorating Ideas, House Renovation, Projects and How-To 55 Comments

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Comments

  1. KittyLuvr says

    February 27, 2018 at 11:03 am

    The pillows are just beautiful and your mom is still a great seamstress!! I hope she knows that she inspires your readers with all her many talents from cooking to sewing and loving her family especially those great grand-girls!! She’s someone I greatly admire!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      February 27, 2018 at 11:12 am

      Thank you, I tell her all he time how much everyone loves them both.

  2. Toni says

    February 27, 2018 at 11:22 am

    I love the picture of your mama’s hands at the machine….beautiful….and how they represent her serving her family. You should take a picture of both of your parents hands together. There is something telling about the character of older peoples hands….ones that have lived a lot of life. Oh, and the pillows are lovely!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      February 27, 2018 at 11:32 am

      THank you, Toni, you are so right about the hands. My parents both have precious hands.

    • Leila says

      February 27, 2018 at 2:25 pm

      Agree I suggest you get the photo enlarged, frAmed and hang in the bedroom somewhere
      Love the pillows – why not arrange in front of the white and prop on the diagonal for another look?

  3. Marilyn Parker says

    February 27, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    So sweet, seeing your Momma at the sewing machine. I like your pillows and look forward to seeing your bedroom all put together.

    Reply
  4. margaret says

    February 27, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    Seeing your Mother at the sewing machine brought back memories of me and my mother-in-law sewing
    pillow shams, curtains, and dust ruffles. Good memories of time spent at the sewing machine. My mother also
    made many of my clothes when I was a child. Beautiful fabric on your pillows..they look great.

    Reply
  5. Lauren@SimplyLKJ says

    February 27, 2018 at 2:34 pm

    I love the fabric, and they turned out great. So sweet your precious momma just went to town on them. I love that she is still sewing at her age.

    Reply
  6. Sandy says

    February 27, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    My mother also made all of my clothes until I learned to do it myself. I was tall and thin and I could never find anything to fit. I majored in home economics in college and continued to make my own clothes for many years – including suits and evening wear. I agree with the person who suggested you take a picture of your parents’ hands – it’s something you will treasure after they are gone. Those hands portray a lifetime of service. I love your pillows! They pick up the colors in the rug beautifully! Oops, sorry I’ve been so wordy!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      February 27, 2018 at 4:50 pm

      Thank you, Sandy, love all of your comments today!

  7. Lolly says

    February 27, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    Your Momma’s (and Daddy’s) hands are the hands of the GREATEST GENERATION. Please cherish them while you still have them. My relatives of the GREATEST GENERATION are all gone now.

    Reply
  8. Aggie Reynolds says

    February 27, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    What a sweet, sweet Mama. You are so blessed to still have your Mom. Beautiful pillows!!

    Reply
  9. Nancy Cox says

    February 27, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    It’s always a treat to see your family. It’s so special to see how close y’all are. Love the pillows. Very pretty with al your new bedroom things.

    Reply
  10. Deanna Rabe says

    February 27, 2018 at 6:59 pm

    I loved seeing your mama’s precious hands sewing those shams for you! She’s doing what she’s always done, serving and being a blessing.

    Reply
  11. Gina from TN says

    February 27, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    I rarely ever comment, but just had to tell how precious your Mom is (and your Dad) I agree with the others about a picture of their hands together & this one of your Mom sewing should be framed and placed in a special place in your room! You are so blessed to still have them, and I know you believe that, the love shines through. And what a blessing you and your family are to each other & all of us following along! Thanks for sharing Rhoda!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      February 28, 2018 at 8:01 am

      THank you, Gina, I love sharing my family with all of you and I’m so glad you love them too!

  12. Richella Parham says

    February 27, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    You know how we feel about your parents! I love seeing your mom in action. Remember when you were transitioning to making a full-time living blogging and she showed you how to make her chicken and dumplings and you ended up getting the contract with Knorr? I think of that every time I buy those little packages of Knorr stock concentrate. Maybe it’s because I lost my mom at such a young age, but I really love seeing a mother helping her daughter. 🙂

    As far as the bolster pillow goes, did you know that I have a tutorial for making a no-sew bolster? Let me know if you’d like a link to it–works like a charm and it’s so easy!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      February 28, 2018 at 8:00 am

      Hey, Richella, yes that was such a fun time with my mama and her chicken and dumplings! They were so excited for me that I got that deal with Knorr, such a fun start to my blogging journey back then. I haven’t seen your no-sew, but I’ll definitely go and look for it. I love no-sew, right up my alley!

  13. Tami C. says

    February 27, 2018 at 9:28 pm

    Her hands are Beautiful!

    Reply
  14. Joan says

    February 28, 2018 at 12:55 am

    You are so blessed with such a sweet mama! So fun to see your parents and their many talents on your blog!

    Reply
  15. colleen says

    February 28, 2018 at 10:56 pm

    I love how you let her do them and her “feeling needed”…so sweet. My parent’s lived with my family for the last 15 years of their lives in an in-law apartment we put in when we built our home. I am the youngest and only daughter so it made sense. Started out them being such a huge help with our 4 children. Then as time went on, we all were able to help them. My mom called my youngest son her “night nurse” as he would make sure she took her medication when I was at work, at night, actually being a “night nurse!!” Back to feeling needed, my Dad always took our trash barrels out for pick up each week. He did it well into his late ’80’s.with one arm!! (he was an amputee, right arm lost on D-Day!!) I had to explain to my neighbors that he loved doing it so they wouldn’t think we were abusing him!! His favorite gift one year was a metal “trash trolley.” we were so blessed to raise my children in a home with so many people that loved them. My parent’s always said the kid’s keep them young!! (I think my Dad was the only senior citizen who knew how to play Pokemon cards. 😉 Give your parents a hug.

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      March 1, 2018 at 8:32 am

      THank you, Colleen, that’s such a sweet family story you have. Family truly is everything!

  16. Brenda says

    March 1, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    I am one of three girls, and my mother sewed all our clothes on a treadle sewing machine, no less. I couldn’t begin to count all the dresses she must have sewn.. They were required school attire in the fifties and sixties.

    I love the picture of your mother’s hands maneuvering the fabric. Be thankful that you have had her for this length of time. My mother died at 72. She bore 10 children, 6 girls and 4 boys. I am number nine.

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      March 1, 2018 at 5:48 pm

      Hi, Brenda, I know I’ve very blessed to have had my parents this long. To reach 90 is a huge milestone for them both and we are grateful for every year after.

  17. Angie says

    March 1, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    I just bought myself a new sewing machine. And the first things on the list are new, pillows, I can’t believe how expensive they are now. I think I might make some for my bed now as well!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      March 1, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      Good for you, Angie, they really aren’t that hard. I’ve done them before too by myself, but my mom is a good helper.

  18. Dana Lewis says

    March 3, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    Love seeing your projects! I changed emails and got lost from you for a while. I missed seeing you and all your fun posts, so decided today was the day I would reconnect. However, not as easy to find sign up page, so have my fingers crossed you will find this and add me back to the list! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      March 3, 2018 at 5:10 pm

      Hi, Dana, thanks for finding me again! There’s a bar at the top of my page that should let you add your email. Did you see that? If you don’t see it, let me know and I’ll add you to my email provider list.

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Thanks for stopping by! I'm Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn't have to cost a fortune and I've spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I'm here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won't you join me?

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