Surrounded by Love

Despite everyone's best efforts I didn't finish my Hugs and Kisses table runner in time for Valentine's Day...  the incredibly awesome Virginia of gather here literally offered me the shirt off her back, OK, the dress out of her window, to use as a backing but it just wasn't meant to be.  Since I couldn't let the occasion pass without making something to commemorate it I decided to whip up a pillow during yesterday's snow day/sew day.  Like all my really good ideas, this one started with my good friend Aimee...  she did something similar and after seeing hers, and an adorable reverse applique bag shared by one of our new members at the BostonMQG February meeting I knew what I wanted to do!

I'm really trying to use up my pre-cuts so I grabbed these adorable Surrounded by Love mini-charms to make the patchwork panel.

Once I quilted the panel on to batting I cut a heart out of linen and used reverse applique to layer it on top.

From there I added some hand quilting with perl cotton.  Big stitch quilting goes so fast!!!

I didn't have any zippers on hand so I went with an envelope finish and used this adorable polka dot I had in my stash to bind it.

Shown with: All You Need is Love, Have a Heart Argyle and Chocolate Valentine 

Obviously I needed another Valentine pillow cover... but when you're here you really are Surrounded by Love;-)

Linking up to the fabulous Finish it Up Friday by Crazy Mom Quilts.

Quilt Stats:
Finished pillow cover is 16" x 16"
Fabrics: Surrounded by Love by Deb Strain for Moda, Essex Linen by Robert Kaufman
Thread: Aruifil 2021, Valdani purl cotton, size 12 in Magenta(50)