The best laid plans of mice and men

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The best laid plans of mice and men get derailed by their 9 year old daughter coming into the sewing room, rummaging around in the stash baskets and announcing she will spend Sunday making a pillow for her teacher.  So my Sunday plans of making up a quilt top got elbowed to one side as I helped her ladyship to put together the pillow top she had in mind.  I tried to suggest that there are easier things than pinwheels but she had a plan and my opinions were pretty irrelevant.


I suggested she cut the HSTs using the HST die on my Accuquilt Go Cutter.  This is a great tool for kids who are old enough to use the go cutter carefully but could not yet be trusted with a rotary cutter.  She cut, she sewed, she pressed, I trimmed.  At one point she tried trimming, it went wrong, there were tears but we regrouped, retrimmed and were back on track.


We auditioned most of my stash for the sashing and then most of my stash all over again for the backing and hey presto, she got it made in one day.  And we hope Miss Smith likes it.

Comments

  1. ✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾18 December 2011 at 17:41

    The pillow looks fantastic. I'm sure Miss Smith will love it!

    We made a pillow for each of my daughter's teachers (she has 2) and they were a huge hit.

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  2. Reene@Nellie's Niceties18 December 2011 at 17:53

    It looks lovely! What a lucky teacher!

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  3. Jan18 December 2011 at 17:56

    This is so great. Your daughter is so lucky to have you for a "helper". I started sewing a 8, with no supervision. I'm still sewing, at 67.

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  4. Sarah18 December 2011 at 18:06

    Really nice job - great effort for Miss Smith!

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  5. Gill18 December 2011 at 18:16

    Clever girl! Miss Smith will love it!

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  6. mammafairy18 December 2011 at 18:18

    wowee!Impressive pinwheels, Well done Daughter!

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  7. Trudi18 December 2011 at 18:28

    Very impressive, that child will be posting her own bakeshop tutes soon! Now you just need a 'secret stash' lol :) Miss Smith better love it!

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  8. Annie @ The Village Haberdashery18 December 2011 at 18:30

    Beautiful! Lucky teacher.

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  9. Janine @ Rainbow Hare18 December 2011 at 18:44

    I'm sure Miss Smith will love it!

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  10. Sheila18 December 2011 at 18:53

    And you are so lucky to have a daughter interested in sewing!

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  11. verykerryberry18 December 2011 at 18:53

    Nice present! Super talented child, she obviously needs to be in gifted and talented textiles group, here sense of colour also excellent!

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  12. {Leila}Where the Orchids Grow18 December 2011 at 19:04

    She's got talent!! Excellent cushion, lucky teacher!

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  13. Cille18 December 2011 at 19:09

    I'm impressed... good idea and perfectly carried out :)

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  14. Shelley: the Dread Pirate Rodgers18 December 2011 at 19:11

    Please extend my most sincere and admiring congratulations to Her Ladyship. Sewing HST are *not* easy, especially if they are pre-cut; that bias edge is *very* challenging. Her points are simply awesome and the centers look fantastic! She made an excellent choice for the sashing (those teeny tiny strips give a subtle life to the pillow). I *love* the backing! It's so doggone cheerful! All in all, a most *wonderful* *wonderful* project. Be sure she puts a label on it! Congratulations!

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  15. Anne18 December 2011 at 19:13

    It looks fantastic! I'm sure her teacher will love it. It's awesome that you daughter knows what she wants to do and she has done a really lovely job.

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  16. MariQuilts18 December 2011 at 19:21

    So bright and cheerful...I love it!!!

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  17. Patti18 December 2011 at 19:27

    A lovely, thoughtful and talented daughter! You must be doing something right!

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  18. Paige18 December 2011 at 19:32

    3rd grade teacher checking in... It's fantastic and Miss Smith with love it! starfishlover615@hotmail.com

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  19. Anonymous18 December 2011 at 19:45

    Lucky Miss Smith
    fabulous present


    from a former Miss Smith

    now a Grandmother

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  20. Katy Cameron18 December 2011 at 19:56

    WTG to the budding cushion-producer extraordinaire :o) (I've never even tried a pinwheel yet) Miss Smith better love it after all that lol

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  21. NancyinSTL18 December 2011 at 20:12

    The pillow is pretty awesome and it's pretty awesome that you have a quilter evolving right before your eyes. Isn't is funny that your other daughter does not share her sister's interest? Give her time, she may eventually come around.

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  22. fiberchick18 December 2011 at 20:22

    "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow"... Impressive work!

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  23. rolleiflex18 December 2011 at 20:33

    Hey Amy Quilt, that is a fab cushion and I reckon you should give it to your favourite aunt (a reminder - that would be me).

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  24. Mrs Flying Blind...18 December 2011 at 21:00

    Very cool! Why do I get the feeling you have a 'hidden' stash and a 'do what you like' stash!

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  25. Jopsy18 December 2011 at 21:15

    Gosh, I wish I taught your daughter! My fave gift off a child this yr was a home made Xmas cake :)

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  26. Jan Maree18 December 2011 at 21:28

    How gorgeous is that - that she thought if doing it and then completed it - lucky teacher!

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  27. Debbie18 December 2011 at 21:40

    So sweet! I love that she thought a handmade item was the perfect gift!

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  28. Amy18 December 2011 at 21:44

    I wish it was mine and I wasn't giving it away now!!! Thanks for all the kind comments!!!

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  29. Quiltjane18 December 2011 at 22:06

    Mrs Smith will weep tears of with joy at that magnificent pillow you have made. The pinwheels are perfect and the solid colour choice are incredible. The striped sashing frames them beautifully. I wish I was Mrs Smith, it would look great on my lounge. Move over mum, I think your young prodigy will be taking over the sewing room.

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  30. Tiffany18 December 2011 at 22:09

    Lovely! What a sweet gift! Can't wait til my girl is old enough to sew with me.

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  31. Dan R18 December 2011 at 22:09

    Such a cheerful pillow. Your teacher will love it.

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  32. Nancy18 December 2011 at 23:10

    She did a fantastic job! And she finished it! Most kids get bored after they make a boo boo...lol I assume this is the same one that made the PJ pants? You have a seamstress in the making!!

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  33. LisaG18 December 2011 at 23:11

    A wonderful bright & cheerful pillow, I'm sure Miss Smith will love it.

    PS, is that a Piece n Quilt design I see in the background there?

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  34. Pam @Threading My Way18 December 2011 at 23:25

    Looks fabulous!!! Miss Smith will most certainly love it...

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  35. Nicky18 December 2011 at 23:31

    Lucky Miss Smith - and clever daughter! I was similarly derailed by youngest daughter making a turtle for eldest - what every 18 year old needs!

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  36. Annaliese19 December 2011 at 00:04

    your daughter is talented, stubborn, and has a great eye for color. quilters everywhere should be shaking in their boots! and i'm quite sure that miss smith will be a very proud recipient!

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  37. Mary on Lake Pulaski19 December 2011 at 00:07

    What a Queen Mom to her highness! It will be worth it down the road when she picks up sewing as her passion too.

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  38. Unknown19 December 2011 at 00:19

    When will you be taking orders missy? That's a fab cushion!!!

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  39. Lauren19 December 2011 at 00:59

    Your daughter looks as proud as punch, and rightly so. She's created a lovely cushion.

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  40. Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet19 December 2011 at 01:14

    Woo Hoo, teach em young.They will be the next big sewing star!

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  41. Arita19 December 2011 at 01:40

    A very lucky Miss Smith. Great job both of you!

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  42. Madame Parfait19 December 2011 at 02:26

    What a wonderful pillow! It looks fantastic! I love the colors, the pinwheels look super awesome, and the whales are super cute! Yay!

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  43. Suzanne19 December 2011 at 02:36

    It's so hard for me to let my kids make their own projects without interference, I mean, guidance. :-) But I can see from your example, good things DO come to pass when kids get to take the reins.

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  44. Megan19 December 2011 at 04:20

    Wow that pillow is awesome! Great job!

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  45. Dawn19 December 2011 at 07:10

    Impressive! She will become teacher's pet with this gift.

    Merry Christmas!

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  46. MulticoloredPieces19 December 2011 at 07:51

    This is so cool. Lucky teacher to have such a motivated student!
    Happy holiday stitching!
    best from Tunisia,
    nadia

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  47. Justine19 December 2011 at 08:02

    Amy your cushion is great! I'm certain your teacher will love it!

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  48. Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes)19 December 2011 at 08:35

    Utterly impressive! I love the green sashing and am in awe of how perfectly it's been pieced together! What a very lucky teacher.

    Florence x

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  49. Catherine19 December 2011 at 08:43

    Brilliant, well done to your daughter!

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  50. Sew Create It - Jane19 December 2011 at 08:54

    What teacher wouldn't love that pillow! It is fab.

    So glad to hear that we are not alone in the tears dept. My two daughters are the same and I recently saw this video that put it all in perspective.. http://youtu.be/PbC4gqZGPSY hope you might find it interesting :o)

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  51. Lucy | Charm About You19 December 2011 at 10:22

    Fantastic! Well done! So colourful and I really like the fun design :)

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  52. Karen Lewis Textiles19 December 2011 at 11:44

    Miss Smith is certainly going to be putting Amy to the top of the class! I did have to laugh however about your experience of own sewing plans getting scuppered by an oh so determined little girl...and not to mention the tears when all doesn't quite go according to plan!

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  53. Lynne19 December 2011 at 12:06

    Miss Smith would be Mary Quite Contrary if she didn't! The pair of you did a great job.

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  54. Shari19 December 2011 at 12:08

    Miss Smith is going to love it! Your daughter definitely has an eye for colour! What a wonderful mother/daughter activity... enjoy - they really do grow up way too fast!!

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  55. Pat Merkle19 December 2011 at 16:29

    Awesome pillow!

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  56. Archie The Wonder Dog19 December 2011 at 17:56

    Wow, she did a great job - love the colours she chose and Miss Smith will treasure it for years to come! Please pass on my compliments!

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  57. Manda19 December 2011 at 18:20

    I am sure Miss S will love it! Your daughter did a great job!

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  58. Tezzcan19 December 2011 at 19:08

    Wow, like Mother like Daughter.
    She definately takes after you, it's wonderful.

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  59. WandaFish19 December 2011 at 19:40

    Now it's not just bloggers putting me to shame - it's their children too!!
    What a lovely gift Amy has made for the lucky Miss Smith :)

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  60. Poppyprint20 December 2011 at 07:50

    Oh no you dit ant!!!! Amy!!! Brilliant pairings of those solids Missy and the backing fabrics? Well, those adorable whales are an inspired choice and the pink ties perfectly into the pinwheels on the front. You've really done an incredible job. I'm sure it's worth a letter grade boost in at least 2 subjects (I know that's not why you made it, but hey, take what you can get, I say). Well done you!

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