Recent Projects

Posts in Pillow
Karen's Mink Coat Transformed into a Throw and Two Pillows

Watch the video here: Karen's Coat Transformation

Repurposing Karen’s mink coat was a delight. The coat was in great shape. We made a lovely 50 by 58 inch throw. There was enough fur left to create two pillows. The 16 inch pillow used one inch strips with alternating fur directions. The 18 inch pillow came from the sleeve.

Eric's Rabbit & Mink Coats Transformed into a Throw & Two Pillows

Watch the video here: Eric's Checkerboard Throw

Eric generously sent me three beautiful furs to work with. The collection included one elegantly soft white rabbit coat, one luxurious gray full-length mink coat, and one exquisite brown mink shawl. He expressed a desire for a large throw to enhance his living space. After some consideration, we decided on a classic checkerboard pattern, incorporating the rich brown mink as a stunning border. The hood of the gray mink was quite substantial, allowing us to utilize the leftover fur to create two matching pillows, each measuring 18 by 18 inches. The final measurements of the throw came to 54 by 65 inches, making it a perfect statement piece.

AI Generated Song About Dinah's Quilts

Watch the video here

My daughter made me a AI generated song about my website! You tell the program a few things about the topic and it writes a song!!! It was so good I had to make a video showing many of the custom orders I made over the years. Believe me this only scratches the surface. See if you can find your project amongst the rest. Let's make some more memories together!

Gloria's Silver Tipped Racoon Coat Transformed into a Throw & Pillow (Copy)

Watch the Video Here: Gloria's Silver Tipped Racoon Coat Transformed into a Throw & Pillow

Gloria's Racoon coat was a joy to work with. It was about 30 to 35 years old. The fur was in pristine condition. The lining of this fur had a film of dirt and oil. It took four washes to clean all the dirt out of the fibers. The final measurement of the throw was 48 by 50 and we made an 18 inch pillow to match.

June's Mink & Fox Coat Transformed into a Throw & Two Pillows

See the video here: June's Project

This transformation was a challenge. The amount of fur to work with was limiting, but I was able to do what the customer wanted. The throw was 45 by 46.5 inches with the Fox border on top and bottom. I was able to make one 18 inch pillow and one 12 by 14 inch pillow, also mirroring the design on the main throw. What a joy it is work on a well maintained fur! Boy was this fur coat filled with sawdust!!

Mike's Mink Coat Transformed into a Throw and Two Pillows

See video here: Mike's Aunt's Mink Transformation

What a great project. Mike's coat belonged to his Aunt. He wanted a new lining, but we used the old lining on the pillows and used the monogram on the throw. The monogram was placed in the upper right corner of the backing. This coat's hood was so large I was able to make the throw 54 by 70 inches and even had enough to make two 18 inch pillows!

Ellyne's Beautiful Furs Transformed into 3 Throws & 2 Pillows!

See Video here: Ellyne's 4 Beautiful Furs Transformed

The customer sent in five fur coats to be transformed into throws and possible pillows. Before I started the project, I contacted the customer and described what we could do with each and every one of the furs. While reviewing the furs the customer decided that she wanted to hold on to her Silver short waisted mink coat. It was absolutely stunning!!!  So, it does not appear in the video. The first throw that I worked on was the full-length Beaver coat.  From this coat, I was able to make a throw as well as an 18 by 18-inch pillow. The next fur that I worked on was the full-length fox. It was a light-colored fox. I have a love hate relationship with fox. The fur is soft and luxurious to touch, but the fur flies everywhere! The next project that I worked on was a combination of two short waisted coats. One of those coats was a darker fox as well as a white mink coat. I offered the customer several design variations. The customer chose to have the white mink in the center portion of the throw and the darker fox around the outside border of the fur throw. I had enough smaller pieces to make a 16 by 16-inch pillow. The inside portion of the pillow was a combination of the darker brown fox as well as the light-colored fox from project #2. On the outside of this pillow, I used the white mink trim that went all the way around the collar area. Unfortunately, the leather portion of the white mink trim was slightly damaged and dried. I used a specialized oil to help soften the leather. And for the majority of the fur, it worked, but there were portions that had to be taken out because the leather was just too dry and brittle. I used an additional leather stripping on top of the old leather stripping. And on that pillow, I also added an additional leather stripping all the way around the border of the pillow. And then I hand sewed the white mink trim onto the additional leather stripping. Here are the following sizes of the projects mentioned above:

Beaver throw: 51 by 55

Full Length Fox throw: 52 by 55

Short Waisted Fox and Mink Combination: 51 by 53

Beaver pillow:  18 by 18

Fox / Mink Trim Pillow: 16 by 16

Beverley's Beautiful Mink Coat Transformed into a Throw & Pillow

Watch the video here: Beverley's Beautiful Mink Transformation

Beverly's Mink was made in the 1990's. It belonged to her mother. I love being able to take a loved one's beloved item and turn it into a family heirloom. The original lining was use, but the monogram was left out. A copper brown silk crepe was used on two of the outside panels on the lining. Final Measurements: Throw: 52 by 54 Pillow: 14 X 14 with pillow and zipper installed.

Stunning Beaver Coat Transformed into a Throw & Pillow

Watch the video here: Marsha's Beaver Coat Transformation

Beaver Coat Transformed into a Throw (48 by 53) a & Pillow (18 by 18). Coat was in excellent condition. 3 inch border using graduated light to dark tones. Customer's lining was used as a backing for the pillow. Original monogram was cut out and saved for the customer, as directed.

Virginia's Mink & Seal Throws and a Pillow Too!

See video here: Virginia's Mink & Seal Throws

The customer sent in two beautiful fur coats. She wanted to make a two throws.

The Brown Mink was in rough shape and needed a support material on the side of the throw. It was torn, was repaired multiple times prior. The original lining from the brown mink and monogram was used.

The Black Seal was in great condition and was so soft to the touch.

Final throw measurements:

Black Seal Throw- 44 by 50

Brown Mink Throw - 46 by 57

18 by 18 Pillows made from the leftover fur from both projects.

Susan's Mink & Beaver Project

Watch the video here: Mink Jacket & Beaver Coat ~ Transformed to a Throw & Pillows

Fur: Mink, Beaver, Calf & Fox

 

The customer wanted to transform her Mink Jacket and her Beaver Coat into a throw and two pillows.

The Mink Jacket would make up the main throw, and the Beaver would be used as the border. The Mink Jacket was a short waisted jacket, so the amount of Mink that I had to work with was limited. The throw measures 47 by 48 inches.

The front of the two pillows were made from the Beaver Coat. They measure 16 by 16. I used the bottom Checkerboard Calf that was on the Beaver Coat as an accent to the zipper area of the pillows. The checkerboard Calf on the sleeves was too damaged to be used.  The Fox was not used in the final product and was returned to the customer.


Mini Memory Bear

See Video here: Mini Memory Bear

Memory Bear made from three  T-Shirts

Customer wanted all the words that were printed on the gray shirt to be part of the bear.  The other two shirts where black and dark blue. I forgot to take the before photos (ugh).

 

It was a challenge as bear is Tiny.

The shirt read:

“World’s Greatest Farter Father”

 

The How: I used Pellon 911FF to stabilize the T-Shirt material.  I used Wonder Under on the gray shirt.

I carefully cut out the all the letters except World’s.   I wanted to keep that whole.   I ironed the letters to the pattern pieces. Used monofilament to tack the letters onto the bear as well.  The customer wanted the FARTER as the focal point.  Due to the size of the bear, that was almost impossible.  I had to separate the word.

Here is how I divided it up.

World’s- Tie

Greatest – Two letter on each arm and leg to spell out greatest.

Farter FART on the back &  ER on the front

Father -   Belly/Butt area

 

It was a fun project.

Making Fur Beaver Pillows from a Beaver Coat

A customer asked me to take their Beaver Coat and to create some pillows from the fur. It was requested that I used the lining of the jacket as well as the monogram on one of the pillows. The Beaver coat has both long fur as well as sheared Beaver fur. It's a lovely soft malleable fur. I was able to construct four pillows incorporating the sheared Beaver pelt as the center focal point. I hope you enjoy the process.

Click here to see: Making a Fur Pillow from a Jacket Lining

Memory Pillow for a Baby Girl

This Memory Pillow was made with the deceased Grandfather’s shirt. Made a Heart that goes into the back pocket. You can order one here: Memory Pillow