When I rented my first house in college, I stayed awake nights decorating it in my head.
I should have been concentrating on Physics or Latin or World Civilization.
But I wasn’t.
I spent every waking hour designing rooms instead.
You could buy a cup of coffee now with my decorating budget, but I made it work. I shopped yard sales and bought these random sheets and stapled them to the purple couch that came with the house and sewed giant pillows to cover all the other rented furniture in the house.
Somehow those pillows made everything seem like home.
If you are looking for a little refresh for your living room or family room or office or study or rented room with a purple couch….
….I have the perfect pillow project for you.
This pillow is over-sized and full of spark and personality with the tiniest little pom pom trim.
And the best part?
This is a FREE pillow pattern from Amy Butler.
It’s made from the gray fabrics in my Simply Eclectic line.
You can get the fabric online here and get the pattern here.
Here’s the same pillow pattern except with a dark and moody personality.
It’s layers of indigo and florals and geometric patterns with tiny pom pom trim.
It’s made from the navy/indigo fabrics in my Simply Eclectic line.
You can get the fabric online here and get the pattern here.
This is the easiest monogram pillow (and you could even make it no sew if you want).
Simple start with a blank pillow form (IKEA has the best ones).
Then cut out a letter for each person in the family and sew or glue to the pillow form.
The edges of the letters are raw and they are left to fray.
It’s kind of like shabby chic meets pillow meets monogram.
Here’s the same concept as the pillow above, except it’s a house instead of a monogram.
You can see all the instructions for the pillow here.
My sister made this for me with linen scraps, but drop cloth would work as well.
It’s a perfect present for someone for a wedding or a housewarming or Christmas.
And for anyone who loves a three-letter-monogram, this is the pillow for you.
It’s so much easier than it looks.
This fabric is from the Simply Eclectic line, too.
You can find the fabric here and the instructions for the pillow here.
Here’s to all the pillow makers.
Here’s to all the decorators.
And here’s to that college student with big dreams….
….that came true. 🙂
PS I’m sharing a fun post today over on Homes.com with some creative ideas to use color in a space. You can check it out here.
I too think pillows make the room. I love making pillows from scratch or even adding a little extra something to a store bought pillow. I bought some velvet pillows and added some pom pom trim to them that just makes it that much more special. I'd love for you to look at on my fall tour today. Your fabric line with that pom pom edging around it is perfection. Pillows make the home. By the way, I still lay in bed dreaming of how I'd decorate. When I have redecorated my house too many times in my head, I start decorating my friends' houses. Happy Friday friend!
I'm on it! Making the monogram pillow this weekend! I happen to know somewhere to get a blank cover. ;)
Thanks for the great Amy Butler pattern. I am a big fan of hers and this was a great treat. Your the best!
These pillows made from your Simply Eclectic line of fabric are gorgeous, love the little pom-pom trim! The other pillows are awesome, I have always loved the one with your house on it. Pillows do add the finishing touch to a room. Right now my 2 1/2 yr. old Grandson likes them best on the floor! Thank-you for this creative post! P.S. Pumpkins also add the perfect finishing touch to any room or place!
Your fabric is divine Karianne!
Kari Anne, Iove that open weave basket!! Where did you get it from?? Always look forward to reading your blog!! You and Miss Marion are my favorites!! Denise
Denise, Thanks so much friend. I actually got it at Birch Lane! Happy day! karianne
I love the pillows!! They really do make any place feel like home!
All the pillows are wonderful and I love the teeny tiny pompom trim! I spend many a sleepless night, even at this late date, decorating -- I'm completely on board with the I-should-be-doing-something-else syndrome. :-)
Love these!! : ) #pillowlove <3
Of course, I love the pillows~ you are absolutely a genius when it comes to creative decorative touches and placing color into a room~ goes without saying, although I just did... :) BUT, what stands out to me the most ? YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY! Seriously, I look at some of these pictures and think, 'this could be in a frame and be magnificent'. So, in your spare time (wink wink) do you think you'll ever add some of your photos for downloads or purchase???
WOW...just WOW!!! I came here thinking I'd see ONE pillow...what a surprise to see a whole, huge sectional sofa full of pillows! I LOVE them all, but in particular, I LURVE the ones made with your fabrics...they are just soooooo fresh and beautiful...and oh m'gosh...POM POMS...are you serious here??? I LOVE how the pom poms give these sophisticated-looking beauties a sense of fun...and you gotta LOVE that the pillows are oversized, too...they look sooooooooo comfy cozy, I just want to lay my head on one! Your college roommates were some very lucky ducks and I am completely envious of your current roommates! :) I'm not a sewer, but I might be able to manage pillows...I am zeroing in on that grey one at the top...wish me luck, k? *crosses fingers and bites lip*
You may be interested to know that my sewing machine and I are finally at peace with each other. I now realize how silly I was sewing pillows by hand when I could stitch them up in 3 minutes. LOL Signed, A late bloomer
Swoon☺️ I love them all but especially the first one with all your lovely fabrics and that cute Pom Pom trim. I am a pillow addict and need to make all of these. Luckily my neice also has this affliction and I can make a few for her !
Those pillows are lovely. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing. Marilyn
I'm in love, love, love with your fabrics. Any chance you'll have black & white designs any time soon????
Love pillows! And that house one...my FAV!
You are so encouraging, and I am READY to make some pillows! What a great Christmas idea!
P.S. Can you recommend a good "starter" sewing machine? I might need one!
When we first got married we had a couch someone gave us, a rug we found on the street and a kitchen table my husband made. We have added a considerable amount of furniture since then. This Sunday we will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. I have told you before that I also married my sailor. I finally have my craft room and I cut some fabric to make pillows for the living room and my sewing machine is giving me fits. The tension is giving me tension. When things calm down here, I will sit and fix it and hopefully get the pillows done before Christmas.
Thank you for sharng your awesome ideas. I have to make a bunch of pillows for my living room and this is just the ticket. I never thought of the diagonal detail but I seem to be adding pompoms to everything, lol. I really miss those coral reef walls (sniff). I should show you my coral reef hallway. :)
Looooooove these pillows! Your fabrics are stunning, and I can see so many possibilities for personalizing pillows for gifts. Thanks so much!
So much pillowy talent! I love the diagonal pillow made with your fabrics. :)
I love anything with pom-poms! You are so right-pillows are an inexpensive way to change the look of a room. Can't wait to get my autumn pillows out soon!!!
The pillows are all great looking.