Painted panels...

Hi Everyone!  I've been waiting a long time to share this with you.  Back in January I started working on a project that was finally completed today when a package arrived on my front porch.  And I'm so excited to share this with you!

So most of you know that I make a lot of headboard benches each year to sale at fairs that I attend.  And I've always thought about making some pillows to go along with them.

I decided that the pillows needed to be really special.  So I painted them.

I hand painted 8 panels to coordinate with fabric that I use for the seat of the benches that I make.

 I wanted each pillow to be 16x16" when finished, so I cut the panels I painted on roughly 18x18" to allow plenty of fabric for the seams.

 The painted panels are either drop cloth material or cream duck fabric.  I washed all the material so there wouldn't be shrinking later on.  Then I ironed it all and got to work painting the panels.

 I tried to make sure that what I painted on each panel went with the fabric that was going on the back of the pillow and the pipping.

 When I finished painted on each panel, I set the paint by ironing it.    Then I asked the very sweet and talented Amy from While Wearing Heels if she was interested in making some pillows for me.  If you haven't seen Amy's blog, you really need to stop by and say hi.  She also has an Etsy shop that has some amazing things in it.  I knew by what I had seen on her blog and in her shop that she was the gal to turn my panels into pillows.  And I was right.

 I haven't had a chance to have a photo session with them as pillows yet because I just couldn't wait to share them with you.

 Each pillow has an envelope back so they can be carefully washed if need be.

 When I bought the welting for the piping I got a really thick welting so there would be plenty of the back material on the front to frame out the painted panel.  And I'm really happy with the way they turned out!  I can't wait to put the pillow inserts in them and then have a photo session with them.

I also asked Amy to make some pillows out of just the fabric, no painted panel to go along with some of the other benches.  Amy does amazing work and I'm just thrilled that she was willing to turn my vision into a reality.  Thank you so much Amy!  So that's just a little of what I've been up to.  Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/2013/02/catch-as-catch-can-112.html
http://www.504main.com/2013/02/tickled-pink-135.html 
http://madeinaday.com/2013/02/28/made-u-look-linky-62/ 
http://www.oneartsymama.com/2013/02/shine-on-fridays-69.html 
http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2013/02/link-up-with-me-liz-marie-38/ 
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2013/02/link-party-93-and-les-features 
http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/2013/02/rock-n-share-30.html 
http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/2013/03/simply-creations-link-party-features-90.html 
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcome-week-56-of-scoop-link-party.html