I can't let spring pass by without bringing back my favorite pillow ever...my Ballard inspired Bunny pillow! And if you know what a pillow addict I am, you know that to say it's my all-time favorite is saying a lot! Besides being perfect for the season, the very best thing about him is that he is so versatile that he can be on display at my house all year long! The inspiration for him first came to me when I saw…
…these pillows at the Ballard Designs web site! I immediately fell in love with all of them, but especially the bunny! They were hooked wool and a little pricy for me at $54...and are now no longer available...so I decided to make my own version.
My main problem has been finding the just right bunny, but when I saw these little guys in this vintage print at Reusable Art, I knew that with a little work, I had found him!
And after some tweaking, here he is! I added the frenchy label as well. He is backwards so that he can be used as an iron-on transfer. Now I've got my bunny graphic, so I am ready to make the pillow!
First, I printed the graphic on transfer paper in 8 x 10 size using Photoscape (a free downloadable photo editing program). I trimmed closely around the bunny and cut the lettering away so that I could space it a little higher for my pillow.
Next, I cut my fabric one inch larger than my pillow form. On one of the pieces I drew a pair of stripes around the edges with a pencil. I taped the edges of the stripes and filled in between my tape with a fabric marker.
Then, with a little help from my handsome co-host Baby Kitty, I sewed the pillow cover on three sides with wrong sides together, turned it right-side out, pressed it and ironed on my transfers, following the package directions.
Finally, I popped in a down insert (a Goodwill find for under $3.00), hand-stitched it closed and voilà! What do you think? Not bad, huh? And for waaaay less than $54!Note: Since I created this pillow, I have begun using envelope-style closures to finish them. This allows me to remove the covers to store them and saves lots of space since I seem to have a pillow addiction as well! You can find a tutorial for envelope-style closures here.
Isn’t he just the cutest bunny ever? He looks right at home on my frenchy chairs on the patio! Now I am thinking about that cute sheep and the duck…hmmm…Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my bunny pillow! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday , Cedar Hill Ranch for The Scoop on Tuesdays , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures , Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , DIY by Design for Winter Blues Wednesday , The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays , Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits on Thursdays , My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday , Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special , French Country Cottage for It's a Spring Thing Linky Party
See you next time! À la prochaine!
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This is one of my favorites of yours, too, Debbie. Mainly because I am such a bunny nut. : ) You can't beat the price of yours either. I can't see paying $54.00 for a pillow.
ReplyDeleteHe is just adorable, Debbie. Love, love, love! Thank you for sharing the graphic too.
ReplyDeleteI think you are just the most clever lady around. Love him!!! xo Kathysue
ReplyDeleteI like yours better! It's really adorable!
ReplyDeleteGood job! Great project to save money and create a treasure!
ReplyDeleteI too love to collect pillows and Gulp..some of the prices I've paid..nevertheless I love them!
I now have a huge basket that I keep them in so I can pull them out whenever I want!
Debbie - How cute!! Thanks for the printable. I have already copied him off and am going to make myself one tonight. Thanks again for doing all the work!
ReplyDeleteJudy
What a super job you did on your pillow. I like it better than Ballards - $54.00 is to much to pay for a pillow.
ReplyDeleteMary
This is just so charming- I can't sew a stitch but copied this handsome fellow to use somehow!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this!
I love it! you make the most beautiful pillows.
ReplyDeleteThat pillow is absolutely gorgeous (and so is your furry helper).
ReplyDeleteDropping by from the Inspiration Gallery.
Love this and the graphic is fantastic!!!! Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteCynthia
Yours is even better than the Ballard version. Great job!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the pillow. Thank you so much for sharing the print. I have never tried the iron on transfer but will be buying a package because I want one of these for myself. You have an amazing talent.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Thank you for the tutorial.... I just love the pillow! Had a good laugh seeing your orange Kitty in the middle of the project..Ha! I noticed your French patio chair right away...love it!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend :)
I love bunnies, and your pillows are all adorable! I have just remembered that I need to pull out my needlepoint bunny pillow. I enjoy all of your creative projects..
ReplyDeleteThis pillow is one of my favorites for Spring! You are so talented!
ReplyDeletehugs, Linda
I love your pillows...they are great!
ReplyDeleteI found your "lapin" more beautiful than the original one ! You are an artist !
ReplyDeleteDebbie
ReplyDeleteLove it! I've pinned it for later. You have a cute helper, too!
I found you today on Featherd Nest Friday's Linky. I hope you can stop by my blog to say hello!
~ Megin of VMG206
www.vmg206.blogspot.com
I agree with the others--I think your pillow cover is cuter than the original! Always love to see Baby Kitty as well. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeletemy favorite too!! love it!!
ReplyDeleteI love ALL of your projects, but I would have to agree that this is one of my favorites as well. One of these days, maybe after we move, I am going to make one of your pillows.
ReplyDeleteWow...the one you made looks every bit as good as Ballards. Great work. Shanks for sharing Blessings Paula
ReplyDeleteThis is just wonderful Debbie.
ReplyDeleteHi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteThis pillow is one of my favorites for Spring! You are so talented! I hope you and your family have a Happy St. Patrick's Day.
XXOO Diane
I loved this so much I hopped right on it (pun intended). Just finished and it was a total disaster. I followed your tut, plus the print & iron on instructions included with the package I purchased from Hancock's (Purple Chimp). No where in any of the instructions nor referring back to your photo's did I think I needed to cut into the image to include cutting around each letter because if you don't the background of the sheet totally shows - not what I wanted or expected or as depicted in your photos. And reversing the image for the wording was totally incorrect according to the iron on instructions - I did catch that and got it right before I printed the iron on sheet out. This was my first attempt at an iron on transfer but what a waste of time and money. I'm sure I must have done something wrong but for us idiots wanting to replicate "beauty" we really need what you probably consider "stupid" because you are a PRO but non the less truly step by step "idiot" instructions are required at least for this idiot. I could have made 3 pillows in the time I spent on trying to make this beautiful bunny.
ReplyDeleteI did a little research, Old Crow, and I think I may have discovered the problem. You must have used a transfer paper that was meant for projects using dark fabrics instead of light fabrics based on the fact that it did not need a backward or mirror image. It seems that the dark fabric product shows up as white around the edges and needs extensive trimming as well. Since the bunny transfer is on a light fabric, the best product to use is the one for light fabrics. It requires a mirror or backward image as I indicated on my post and the fabric color shows through the edges rather than white. Here's a link to Purple Chimp's product page which gives you all the basics: http://www.purplechimp.com/products.html I hope that helps! Sorry you had problems!...hugs...Debbie
DeleteDebbie, thank you for taking the time to research. I was using drop cloth material very similar in color to what you used. I sure I probably did something wrong and as I said this was my first attempt. I was able to pull the letters off and then I trimmed very, very close to the lettering and with a little scotch tape was able to salvage a piece of the transfer sheet and with a little cut and paste I ran a piece back through my printer and successfully did the letters only this time cutting very, very close. Since the Purple Chimp comes in a package of 3, I did 3 bunny pillows which I worked on today (I do not give up). Two, I'm pleased with and the other bunny I had trimmed close and it's sorta okay but really doesn't meet my standards but that's just me as I am my own worst critic. I just hate to put anything in my booth that doesn't please me.
DeleteAgain, thank you for your response. I need tut's for "dummies" like me but everything we do is trial and error that's the way we learn and not fault to you. Just as a note; no where on the package of the Purple Chimp did they indicate whether it should be used for dark material or light material (I did read before purchasing) and also got advice from the clerks - they said it "disappears," but it doesn't. Before I purchase transfer paper again I'll open the package and make sure it's not white although maybe they all are white but I would think someone makes a translucent sheet which would fade more into the material.
Followed your instructions for making the borders and it worked like a charm. I am now most definitely a fan of fabric markers!
You have a wonderful evening. I absolutely adore and love everything you do! You have a magical touch and a perfect eye.
Thank you, Carolyn
Hmm...I am still betting it was meant for dark fabrics based on the fact that you didn't use a mirror image and there was so much white. Wonder why the package doesn't indicate that? In any case, if I were you, I wouldn't use that brand again. I use Avery brand for light fabrics. However, I understand that Lesley Riley's TAP Transfer Artist Paper is supposedly the best. As soon as I need more, that's what I will be buying! It's the one that the Graphics
DeleteFairy recommends. If you try it, keep me posted on how you like it. Thanks so much for your sweet words, Carolyn!...hugs...Debbie
Debbie, This is the cutest pillow ever! Thanks so much for sharing the image..I see a bunny pillow in my furture.
ReplyDeletexx,
Sherry
Love your bunny pillow...pinned!
ReplyDeleteWow this by far is the closest to the original knock off I have ever seen! Well done!
ReplyDeleteEkkk! So going to make one of these now!! Thanks for the bunny! I had the same problem find just the right little Peter cotton tail! U did find the perfect one! I love him I think I'm going to do a sheep one too!!! Hope you come by to visit my blog!!
ReplyDeleteToodles- Sarah
I REALLY like yours better! Perhaps Le Chat pillow would be appropriate. No? :)
ReplyDeleteSweet Kitties... such great helpers. :)
Have a great week!
~Liz
Thanks for sharing up this gorgeous pillow at It's a Spring Thing Linky Party - pinning it to our group pin board!
ReplyDeleteI realize I've already commented on your adorable bunny pillow, but I just wanted to let you know I'm featuring it today on Sophisticated Yellow. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYour Cat. Is too handsome for words!
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for an orange and white man....luv him!
This is brilliant Debbie! It is one of my favorite projects you have done!
ReplyDeleteIt is such a cute pillow!
Sherry
I still think yours is better than Ballard's!
ReplyDeleteIs there a link or file to capture this graphic? Thanks much.
ReplyDeleteNo...just save the graphic from the post. I use Photoscape...a free downloadable photo editor...to resize my pictures to 8x10 to use as iron-on transfers. Hope that helps!...hugs...Debbie
DeleteYour pillow is beautiful. What an awesome job you did! Thanks for sharing how you did it.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, your bunny pillow is FABULOUS! I love it! I am going to try and make myself one. I am addicted to pillows too! I have them stacked everywhere! Great tutorial on the envelope back.I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteLinda at The French Hens Nest
You're an artist, congratulations!
ReplyDelete