Pillow Palooza

Published on by Our Humble Abode

Up until yesterday, we still had very summery weather.  I’m a little late, but I’ve started decorating for fall.  Usually I don’t go all out on seasonal decorating, but I like to switch up a few things.  I started with new fall colored pillows for the couch.  Thus, pillow palooza was born.

Red doesn’t often make an appearance in our house.  However, I can’t get enough coral lately.  Spurred by a towel I bought for the bathroom, I figured dark coral and gray could replace red nicely.

I happened to have half a yard of light gray duck cloth in my stash, so I cut it to an 18 inch square piece.  Wanting a simple design, I taped off two-inch wide random stripes.  Then I mixed up a batch of dark coral using apple red, orange, and a dose of pale pink.  Painting went quickly, covering in one coat.

Peeling off the tape is such a fun moment.  A few areas of bleed through, but nothing terrible.  Definitely fun color.

For something even more fall-ish, I had the idea to add a leaf design to a pillow.  Preferably, I would have used fabric for the leaves, but I had my heart set on metallic.  Sadly, our little fabric stores don’t carry much in the good-looking metallic department.  Again, I turned to craft paint, this time in a metallic copper finish.    Freehand leaves appear to fall and settle at the bottom.

Later, I went back and added a few metallic gold leaves, too.  Yellow is a great fall color, so I kept the fun Target pillow.

For the other side of the couch, I started dip dyed a piece of natural colored canvas in a tangerine dye bath.  Just a simple dip and wiggling to get an ombre-ish pillow.

To incorporate orange, yellow, and gray to temper the bright colors, I had my heart set on a triangle pattern pillow.  I cut a 7 inch equilateral triangle template from card stock, then traced it to scrap fabric left over from other projects.

Pinning the pieces together to create a line of triangles.

After completing the strips, I sewed them to each other.  Randomly placed colors made a fun mix.

Of course the yellow arrow pillow fit in, so it’s still around.

So that’s our fall-ified couch.  Nothing ground breaking, but I’m happy with a change.  Both the pillows and weather.

What have you been changing up?  New pillows?  A fall mantle?  How do you incorporate fall colors in your home?

24 thoughts on “Pillow Palooza”

    1. Hey Esther!

      Ben always asks what I’m sewing. When I respond ‘pillows’ he mocks me, because, you know, we don’t have enough already. I guess I go ahead and make pillows often. 🙂

      Thanks!
      Amanda

      Reply

  2. I went fall crazy this year! I decorated our mantle and inside our fireplace (it doesn’t work so it’s a perfect decorating spot). I also added new fall football themed wreaths on both of our doors.
    I love your new pillows! I just got a new sewing machine and I’ve been seriously thinking about some fall pillow covers.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mary,

      Sounds awesome! I wish I had your energy for fall decorating. Perhaps next year. 🙂

      Thanks!
      Amanda

      Reply

  5. Amanda, these pillows are gorgeous! Love how you can take stuff you have lying around the house, mix up a little paint, and make something truly unique. I think my favorite is the leaves pillow. Such a fun design!
    Will you add any of these to your Etsy shop?

    Reply

  8. You always make the cutest pillows! It’s really so inspiring, and I’m not really sure how you make the time for fun crafty stuff with all that you’ve got going on! We’ve been working on our house for almost 3 years and I feel guilty if I work on crafty things as opposed to the remodeling projects we are constantly juggling.

    Nikki Kelly @ the ambitious procrastinator

    Reply

    1. Hey Nikki,

      Aww, thanks! I love quick crafty things, which is what I’ve been doing lately. Really, the triangle pillow took the longest, but only about 1 1/2 hours. I should be taping and mudding sheet rock seams from the windows, but I’m not. Ha. Crafting keeps me sane.

      Thanks!
      Amanda

      Reply

  9. Wow! I love them. I can’t decide which is my favorite. Are you using regular craft paint or fabric paint? I have to make all of these. I’ll be sure to send you a picture when I do; just beautiful!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Frances!

      Thanks so much! I use regular craft paint, but you could definitely use fabric paint if you want a softer feel. It gets a little crunchy, but I don’t mind. 🙂 Please do send me a picture of you make some. I’d love to see!

      Thanks!
      Amanda

      Reply

    1. Thanks, Sara! I should probably decorate our ‘mantle’ (our entertainment center until we get a real mantle) for fall. 🙂

      Thanks!
      Amanda

      Reply

  11. I have an Etsy shop and make pillow covers! But, guess who has the most uninspired throw pillows on their sofa? ME! Yep, I still use the ones that came with the sofa. Think I’ll pick up few yards of muslin this weekend and try to remedy that. You have a knack for mixing your patterns and your sofa looks like an invitation for a nap to me. Thanks for the inspiration to try something new.

    Reply

  13. Wow those are so creative! I especially love the one with the leaves. I was wondering how you made a leaf template…then you said you freehanded them! It looks awesome.

    Reply

  15. I wish I could sew! When I first saw the picture I assumed these pillows were purchased for atleast 50 a piece. I love the color combination!

    Reply

  16. I’m in awe of your sewing/crafting abilities, Amanda!! I love the coral-striped duck-cloth pillow best. Love the design!! Happy Fall!

    Reply

Now it's your turn! Share your thoughts and opinions, stories and links. We love hearing from you!