Friday, August 14, 2015

Pillow Re-cycle, Downsize, Re-Do

That may not make any sense to all of you, but this was a little project that I'd been wanting to do since we moved in last Fall. So do you remember these pillows that I found at the antique mall a couple of years ago? No...? Don't worry if you don't, because they haven't been shown much here on the blog, because...well... they're just too big!




I was thrilled when I found them, and they were such a steal. The monster red fruit sofa was big enough to handle them, but not much else. I'd found 4 of them, so 2 went on it, downstairs.



I used the other 2 in the guest bedroom at the old house, also downstairs. I really like them on the bed as a European Sham sort of look, but after we moved here, my options have been limited.



Of the 4 pillows, there were 2 that were in better shape. One was splitting on a seam and the zipper, and another one had this yucky feather insert that was letting feathers escape, so it was kind of creepy. A lovely linen pillow with feathers sticking out. That creeps me out just thinking about it. It was gross. The 2 losers were stuck in my pillow and quilt closet, here at the new house. no problem, they were too big to fit anything anyway.



The Master Bedroom in this house is nice sized, but the other bedrooms are on the smallish side. This is the guest bedroom downstairs, where our kiddos stay when they're in town. This is our queen sized bed that we used until we moved here. We found a king bed at Haverty's that matched the wood in the rest of our bedroom set, so this one went downstairs. I'll get around to showing you the Master someday. promise.


As you can see, the good set of pillows works here. They don't really match the PB duvet, but it's not horrible. I need to find the antique white quilt and fold up the duvet for the bottom of the bed...that would be less busy than this combination. I'll get on that, since seeing this in a photo makes me dizzy.



So, I decided to cut down and remake the two misfit pillows into a size that I could actually use. I had some "ugly pillows" that came with the sofa, so I took out the inserts and used them in the new smaller pillow versions, which are 20x20. I centered the fabric image and just cut down on the edges. I couldn't salvage the fringe trim, but they look a little "cleaner" without it.



I only have the two, so I won't be using them here on the Living Room sofas. I think they'll look good on the kitchen sitting area wicker settee. I'm hoping to use them for my "Early Fall" look. you can laugh now, I have so many "looks" for each season, I have to make fun of myself.



I guess, my thought is to not sell or pitch good fabric. Even though the pillows themselves weren't great, the fabric was still nice. And it turned out that the smaller pillows were really what I needed all along. Thanks to the "ugly pillow" inserts, these ended up costing me nothing except a couple of hours crawling around on the floor trying to cut and match the fabric. I love this Bosphorus Toile and it's not easily found anymore. so yay, new pillows for Fall!

joining in here:

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,


25 comments:

  1. Love this fabric. They look perfect to me where they are. Great job!!

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  2. The pillows are pretty and now you have a different option as well. I'd call that a good idea! Have a great weekend.

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  3. Debra,
    I adore your re~cycling of the pillows, dear friend!!!
    Early Autumn, indeed!!!
    I, also, see a "Touch" of Christmas!!!
    Thank you for reminding us to see beyond the "flaws for possibilities!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  4. Those are so pretty! I like the large size on the bed and the smaller ones on the sofa. I think my sister has that fabric in her dining room too.

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  5. I can see how they were too large to use so cutting them down makes sense. That's a great pattern and I'm sure you'll enjoy them in various places. Did you try them on the bed again? Just curious :-)

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  7. Good for you! Lemons to lemonade! Sheila

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  8. I have always loved this fabric. I think I still have a little bit in my fabric stash saving for a special project. Your remodeled pillows look great. Sally

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  9. OH Debra I need those pillows! they natch my toile de juoy settee and ottoman in my living room I just posted a picture of the back of it
    I have extra material so just need to get busy this weekend and make me some pillows your post convinced me
    Your pictures are so pretty, I need a new camera also

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  10. I love that toile fabric. I have a small piece of it I'm saving for something - just don't know what yet. LOL

    Judy

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  11. Excellent down-size redo. Scale is so important and something that can be hard to put your finger on---but you are so right with this one…and they add a final touch of shabby love to the sofa! NICE!

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  12. I love the fabric also, and it reminds me of fabric I've seen at Hobby Lobby? I've love it everything I pass it but never know where to use it here. Love them resized down, I have two I want to do that to too! I think they look good with the bedspread seem like the shade of brown? is pretty close. Have a good, and cool weekend!

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  13. I love to recycle pillows too and you did great. The pillows look so pretty and perfect. Great job.
    Kris

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  14. They look great and it was a great idea to do that, Debra! This is one of my favorite toiles and I've bought it in this colorway that you have and in a blue/green for my master bedroom. Not a lot because it's expensive, but enough to do pillows and lampshades. Hobby Lobby does have it as Cathy said above (if you have one by you).

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  15. I love your 'new' pillows. I have seen that fabric and it's a beauty. Loving your red sofa with the fruit! Have a great weekend!

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  16. Debra, the pillows are gorgeous. I usually change out all my pillows for each season it's such a fun time to celebrate each. Jo

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  17. Good save of that gorgeous pillow fabric!

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  18. Excellent job! I love that fabric. Good idea to cut the other pair down!
    Blessings

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  19. Excellent job! I love that fabric. Good idea to cut the other pair down!
    Blessings

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  20. Great job. I like them fringeless. They look cute on your sofa but will great in the breakfast nook.

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  21. The smaller, no fringe pillows are SO much prettier than before. They look vintage instead of just old and the colors and print seem to "shine". Good job ...

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  22. Oh my gosh! Those are the same panels that Kim (Savvy Southern Style) used on her buffet ! I thought they looked familiar. I like them as pillows, too !

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3GXQLls6C38/Uup6NqOde_I/AAAAAAAAiGw/66XBZQK1sBQ/s1600/IMG_6775.JPG

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  23. I love the toile fabric on those pillows. They look beautiful on the bed and the sofa.

    hugs,
    Sissie

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