I ♥ You!

I am obsessed with the color scheme from my Sweetheart pillow.  All those yummy pinks and reds with Aqua...  I just can't get enough! All my scraps were still out so I decided I had to make another pillow, this time using an old favorite, the Heart and Soul block by Katy of I'm a Ginger Monkey.

I was so sure I had enough of the aqua to pull it off and even did some cutting origami to make it all work...  until I realized my notes were off and I really needed 12 2 1/2" HSTs not 9 like I had written down.  I had 10 cut but there was really no getting around those last 2.  Seriously, foiled by 5" of fabric!!!  Luckily this is a problem I'm well equipped to deal with and in no time at all (thank you Hawthorne Threads!!! ) I had enough fabric to get it done all without having to brave the arctic chill that has settled over New England.  (True confession:  I drove to the mailbox so I could retrieve my fabric without actually going outside:-)

With my supply problems solved and another day of highs in the single digits it seemed like the perfect time to crank up the heat, queue up an iZombie marathon on Netflix and get sewing.  It was almost too quick to whip up this little block, slap some borders on it and get quilting.

I was torn on what thread color to use for the quilting so I used the extra HSTs to whip up a little mug rug and audition my choices.  I really liked the Blossom Pink (2530) but in the end decided it would be overpowering and stuck with Light Turquoise (5006).

Lately I've been obsessed with simple cross-hatch quilting and the Xs seemed appropriate for this project.  I love Jacquie Gerring's tips for straight line quilting using masking tape that is offset by 1/4" so you don't accidentally sew over the tape and have to waste time picking it out of your stitches.

Now that it's done I can't quite decide where to put it: An ode to aqua in the foyer?

Or all the Valentine's pillows together in the window seat?

It doesn't matter, I ♥ it everywhere:-)  Hope your Valentine's Day was sweet!!!

Pillow Stats:
Finished pillow is 16" x 16"
Pattern: Heart and Soul by I'm a Ginger Monkey.
Fabrics: Assorted reds & pinks from stash,  FSDS Aqua.  Binding Shelburne Falls by Denyse Schmidt.
Batting: Quilter's Dream Cotton Natural Select.
Thread: 50 wt. Aurifil in Light Turquoise (5006).