Friends, today’s UFO is a old one. Like two years old. It was in my vintage seventies prep phase when I HAD to have a Bargello needlepointed pillow for my sofa. Two to match my Denyse Schmidt quilt that I love so much that I couldn’t leave it in the bedroom, but needed it in the living room on the sofa. I know. I’m weird that way.
Anyhoo. I was on my maternity leave and knew that crafting and my sleep deprived lifestyle might not lead to the most charming finished pieces. I needed an easy craft that I could do while zoning out watching TV. Bargello needlpoint seemed like the perfect solution.
And it was. And two years later I finally finished my pillow fronts. But after you spend two years on a project, you really don’t want to screw it up. Friends, there is a time and place to call in the professionals and this was one of them.
I took my two lovely finished pieces to Needle in a Haystack, a mammoth store dedicated to all things embroidery. People it’s seriously HUGE. People travel from miles to go to the Embroidery mecca for good reason. They know everything there. And most importantly they have nice people who can turn my pieces into pretty pillows. So, I handed my baby twins over to these kind people along with a hefty check and waited six weeks for the call.
And the call came. My pillows were ready for me to pick up. I nearly wept when I saw the final pillows. Oh. So. Pretty.
Oh, I’m so happy with the results! It’s amazing to see something you worked on for two years finally be done.
I am so enamored with this technique of having someone else finish the project that I think I’m going to try that with a couple of quilt tops! Whoohoo!
Stay tuned for more adventures in UFO attacks!
They look amazing!! And you were right to have someone professional finish them, I’d be so scared of ruining all that work! Good job. Makes me want to finish my baby xstitch things I have for the kids. Ingrid’s seriously has like five stitches left…
You really should, Amber! I be they are both stunning!
And yeah, sometimes you gotta call in the professionals!
Beautiful! I love the depth of the 3-D design!
Looks great! I have a similar pillow that my mother-in-law found at a yard sale. I had not considered all the work that probably went into it!
Wow, lovely, but god, tough! It is not like knitting where you can only occasionally look at what you are doing 😛 Have to keep a close eye on this type stuff! I ve only done it in primary school i think. Oh the patience!
Fooxoo, I hear you on the knitting thing. That is one of the things I miss the most about knitting. Sigh!
oh girl, as a crafter that has MANY a UFO, you should be PROUD of yourself! these are absolutely stunning. I’ve never done needlepoint so i’m so in awe of what you accomplished. they are gorg!
You are too kind, Danielle! But you are doing the Alicia Paulson crewel alphabet sampler, right? I think that is tougher by far! You, lady, are a craft goddess!!!
Those are some gorgeous pillows!! 🙂
And Needle in a Haystack sounds like heaven – wish I were closer!
Wonderful Dottie I would love to try something like this
Dottie, I can’t stop looking at your pillows. I would love to make them. Would mind sharing where the patterns came. I can find similar pictures but without patterns. Thank you, J Lynn