teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Sunday 21 July 2013

What Do You Think Of My Mini Adventure?

Been making cushions again - well just one cushion.  A batch of fat quarters arrived in The City Quilter last week - and as I was rolling them (for anyone who's new to my blog or wondering just what I was doing rolling fat quarters in The City Quilter, Manhattan then you can catch up by reading this post about my new job!) I just knew I had to have three of them - all England/London/America/New York related - they were meant for me and I knew exactly what I wanted to make with them so I bought them.

And this is what I've made using my own Quilted Pillow Cushion With Hidden Zipper tute: enjoy the front and back view!
Benartex Fabrics - London Bridge (Kanvas) Mini Coop; Pooch On Blue; News

I'm crazy about the Mini, I've owned 3 in my life - as a teenager, my first car was a red Mini identical to the bottom two Minis on the cushion front.  My second Mini was in my late twenties and was like the cushion's top red with white stripes Mini - I had to sell that Mini when I was ready to have Flicky - anyone who's ever owned an original Mini knows there's no room for a pram and three children under the age of 6 in a Mini!  In my forties the kids were grown and I wasn't always carting half a house with me everywhere I went so I went back to the Mini - meet Dolly, yes she was named after Dolly Parton, and she was my pride and joy until I had to sell her to move to the States - Flicky and I had our own 'Mini Adventures' in Dolly and lots of wonderful giggles and memories.


So now you know I love Minis, enough of all that reminiscing, let's get back to the cushion and some close-up details:


I'm loving the 'Best of British' and 'Soldier' ribbon details - I used some of the ribbon that Sarah @Quilt Candy sent me from one of her visits to Liberty, London (not been to Liberty, London?  Check out my photos/blog post from my visit last August, it's awesome!) and also the hidden zipper flap with all those cutesy dogs wearing the English and American flags.

And some front and back full shots:


 And here's some gratuitous front and back shots just because I kind of like the lighting!


I love this cushion - and I've got just the right person in mind to give it to, I'm pretty sure they're going to love it too and they can have their own Mini Adventure. :)


Disclaimer: 
This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

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38 comments:

  1. Very nice! I love the mini's too, but I've never owned one. One of these days, I'm going to get a 2008 hunter green one. :)

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  2. Well, I can see why you bought that fabric! My son is living in NYC at the moment, but London, where he did his year abroad, is still his favorite city. Can't wait to get some of this to do something special for Kyle.

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    1. Glad you like the fabrics - I've researched what they are and updated the post but fyi they are Benartex Fabrics - London Bridge (Kanvas) Mini Coop; Pooch On Blue; News (I hope that's the right names!) :)

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  3. Love the fabric and the grid-like quilting you did on it...nice! Cute mini, too!

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  4. It is brilliant! I also love Dolly Parton!

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  5. Great cushions! Great choice of car!

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  6. Thanks for sharing a little more about you - and your love for minis! That cushion is sew-weet! I love the grid quilting and the tags! Glad you enjoyed your lunch today, too! Ha, ha!

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  7. My first car was an orange Mini. Love the fabric. Glad you've stuck with calling them cushions now you're in the the U.S!

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    1. I try and try to hang on to my English roots but when you're immersed in a culture it becomes difficult - there's some words now that I really have to think is that what the English call it or is that an American word, it's getting harder to know the difference sometimes!!! :)

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  8. Lovely pictures of the cushion, a lovely reminder of your past cars.

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  9. Great looking cushions. I love them.

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  10. Can I guess who is it going to? :)))) It looks adorable! You're a magician even fitting 2 kids in that tiny car Chrissie! :))

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    1. You are probably soooo right Kati - Joe and Katie arrived yesterday and he's already fallen in love with the cushion and Katie loves her new quilt 'Roses For A Drama Queen'!

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  11. So extremely cute! They really are perfect....

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  12. Fabulous cushion! I would love a mini, my parents bought me one for my 17th but unfortunately it was only 3"!

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  13. The soldier ribbon detail is superb! I just love it peeking out there on the side. Awesome pillow!!!! I have never even drive IN a mini - crazy, right??!!I think I may need to change that!

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  14. AMAZING Fabric!
    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  15. Wow, that really is perfect fabric for you!

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  16. I love it! I drive a VW beetle and have wanted to make a VW inspired quilt for quite some time, your cushion is great inspiration to start it very soon!

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  17. Love this cushion! And I am so jelly! You have been to Liberty AND you get to roll fat quarters for a living!!! I can't remember not driving a mini, van that is! :)

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    1. You made me laugh out loud Jessica, especially with the 'you get to roll fat quarters for a living' bit, I looovvvvvveeee doing that but I have a feeling it's something only us quilters would ever understand!!! :)

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  18. Love your cushion! Great fabric and great work, very special and creative!

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  19. Love Dolly!!! the fabrics in the pillows are just wonderful!! What great timing with the new royal baby :)

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  20. Beautiful cushions and it was fun to read about your cars! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  21. I love Minis! My fourth car is a Mini (as in I've had 4 cars, I don't own 4 cars now, thought technically I do own 2) called Norbert. I love him. There's a photo of him on my blog somewhere...

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    1. I remember you getting Norbert and blogging about him Wendy, I remember how reading your post made me miss Dolly at the time. I don't have a car now, I don't drive here, there's just no need and given that I've never driven on the 'wrong' side of the road, I have no intention of starting now on the streets of Manhattan!!! :)

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  22. I love the cushions and my daughter has been begging for a mini!
    xo jan@sewandsowfarm

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  23. LOVE that fabric, and that pillow is great! I'm so glad you shared it at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  24. Look at you, rocking the quilted pillow scene!! This is such a fun one. Minis are awesome. We've have a red one with white hard top for about 4 years now. So very fun - agreed!!

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  25. What wonderful fabric, Chrissie!!! I love fabric with text... combine that with red Minis and you have a winner. Many years ago, I owned a red Mini Clubman GT, complete with a roll bar. The guy who owned it before me had raced it, so the racing harness had to be changed to a regular seat belt. The engine remained as is!!! I loved that car and drove it until I could no longer fit behind the steering wheel when pregnant with my first child. Sadly, we sold it and bought a Commodore; more suited to a family. Years later, I saw my mini parked down the street. It had been in an accident and the new owner hadn't fixed it properly... dings and pink paint in splotches. I cried. If there was one car I could magic back, it would be that mini!!!

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    1. Oh Pam, I can so relate - we sold Dolly to the parents of one of Flicky's friends when we were leaving England. After buying her they drove her home along the motorway and the boy told Flicky that his Dad had enjoyed racing her hard to see what she was capable of on the journey, it broke my heart. I don't even know if they still own her, though I doubt it, they bought her for a steal and I think the guy saw her as a toy to keep for a few weeks and then sell her for a profit - I told Flicky not to tell me any more about her again :(

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  26. So cute! Love your mini stories!

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  27. WOW WOW, I love your cushions, that fabric is perfect, I am going to have to buy some very soon! I would love to make the boys some cushions for their rooms using that fabric. We finally got internet today and are very slowly getting back to normal so I am trying to catch up a little on what has been going on!

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Chris Dodsley


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