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!
Judy Clark says
The pillows are beautiful Rhoda. Getting to sew with your Mama had to be the best part. Such a wonderful thing to get to spend time doing something that both of you love.
Judy
Melanie says
Looks great! So much more special since Mom helped you . She is a treasure.
Andrea G Corley says
I remember that fabric well…. I was going to use it. Looks great in the bedroom…. ties all your colors together! Still so excited for all the newness and how great it looks.
brenda says
Nancy Zieman has a book for learning to sew that would be a perfect place to begin with easy projects. It is how our grandchild and i are beginning. it is geared to making it fun to learn.
Martha says
What a sweet memory you will have and we are never too old for special memories, especially with our Mommas! The pillows came out great, that fabric really looks good with your pretty colors in the Master. You will always think of her when you see them. 💗
Nancy says
Bless those sweet hands of your mama. My grandmother who lived with us, made almost all my clothes, even after I was married. I learned to sew, but never as beautifully as Granny did.
I love the Fabric you chose for the shams. Pulling a room together does take time!
Ren says
What a sweet Mother you have! She is a gem. I hope you share all of these comments with her so she knows how special she is, both to you and to your readers too! I think a beautiful monogram on the bolster would be the perfect finishing touch for your bed! Have a great day.
Cathy Hitt says
I have sewed my whole life and treasure the times I spent sewing with my Mom and Granny, quilting with my Granny and Great Aunt. Those sweet hands of your Mom that you captured, will always be a treasure. Sweet treasured times…
Sara says
Oh Rhoda, you need to frame that sweet picture of your mama’s hands sewing. My mother hand sewed quilts for years. Every stitch by hand and now I wish I had a picture of her hands sewing all those quilts for those she loved!
Love you color choice and the pillows!
Shari Gann says
sweet, sweet memories. I agree with framing a picture of her hands sewing your pillows. And, by the way, I love how the pillows look in your design.
Roxanne says
I look at that picture of your mama’s beautiful hands and just think “love”. Imagine all the things she has done and experienced in her life! So much fun to see your design in process!
Rhoda says
Thank you, Roxanne, she sure has done a lot with those hands, those precious hands that rocked me as a baby.
Becky in 'Bama says
How wonderful – the pillows AND your mother sewing them for you. MY mother was a seamstress extraordinaire. Alas, that gene skipped me, and in my 60’s, I still cannot decently reattach a lost button or hem a pair of slacks. When I have a needle and thread in my hands I become a bumbling dolt. Weirdly, after my mother died, my brothers and I could NEVER find her sewing machine, and my poor daddy had no clue (in his fog of dementia). To this day, we think it might have been taken in for repairs – but to where was a mystery that remains unsolved to this day. Your mother is a treasure!
PC says
The next time I go home, I am taking my machine and sewing with my girls. You are very lucky to have your mama!!
Teresa says
Rhoda,
Your new pillows are beautiful and they look so nice on your bed. I think your Mama enjoyed this day as much as you. My late grandmother sewed beautifully (I didn’t inherit that gene) and always loved to hem pants or sew something for me. I think it made her feel needed which she was and I miss her so much.
Bonnie says
So sweet of your Mom to help you out! I gave my sewing machine away to JOhnny’s daughter….the electronic one that I had to read the book each time to know how to thread the bobbin or what to do with it. Johnny got my old one back from his Mom I had since she didn’t use it & it is in closet for rips & tears. It is simple & easy. Your Mom & you both did a great job on the pillows! They look beautiful on the bed!!!!
Rhoda says
THank you, Bonnie! I have a sewing machine I bought at a yardsale but I haven’t used it much.
Faith says
Rhoda, I love the fabrics you have pulled together in your bedroom. There is such an art to this! I have to say your post with your parents are my top favorites. Oh the sweetness of a mom still wanting to take care of her “baby” and sew her pillows. A proverbs 31 Woman comes to mind. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Nancy Hamby says
Your Mom is such a treasure. I especially enjoyed the photo of her hands working to create those beautiful pillows for your bedroom. You will always have sweet memories of how she helped you with the decor for your new home. I do miss my Mom so very much. Rhoda, I enjoy your blog so much.
Rhoda says
THank you, Nancy, she is a treasure.
Muriel says
The photo of you sweet mom’s hands sewing…priceless!
Rhoda says
HI, Muriel, I knew you all would love those pics.
Cindy in NC says
Look great. They mean more because your mom made them. I agree with Muriel I love picture of your mom’s hands sewing. My mom sewed for me and my girls and yes, made my Barbie clothes. Even made Ken a black suit. Mom passed at the age of 63, way to young, Treasure yours.
Rhoda says
Thank you, Cindy, I definitely treasure them both.
Julie in Arkansas says
I agree with everyone about how sweet your Mom was to sew them for you and how beautiful they turned out. I wanted to add that I learned a new term when I was cutting out something to sew recently. When you arrange the pattern and center the design just so-so before cutting it’s called a “fussy cut”! (-:
Rhoda says
THank you, Julie, that’s a funny term I haven’t heard before.