Odd Fellow Pillow Collection

You can make a custom, one of a kind pillow
 from just about anything.  

It only takes a fragment...

At the turn of the century there was a 

fraternal organization called

The Oddfellows. 
I had never heard of them.

They are like the Shriners with

religious overtones and devotion 

to their community.
There are still chapters active today.
Check out their ceremonial garb...

(With all the crazy costumes and

swords and items that were incorporated

into their ceremonies these folks
in the farmlands were having
some fun too!)

I found a batch of these costumes in Indiana

years ago and thought all

the embellishments would make

great pillow details.
It became an obsession.

These costumes were usually trimmed in high

end French metallic bullion and

embroideries to die for.

  If you can find the real stuff today 

it prices out

at about $12 a yard!

You cannibalize each piece

and fit them together like a puzzle.

It's like my ex husband used to say...

"Parts is parts."

These costumes were in very good condition

 so they were easily cut and 

pieced to make

the overall design.

 

Every scrap counts.

Many times you have to use a

stabilizer to keep the fabric preserved

and give it strength, but any piece

is worth saving.

You just iron it on the back

of the fragment.

 This can be found at 

any fabric store.

This collection I even included furniture

pieces and I still live with one of

my favorites today.

Start looking at items in a different way

and you will see the world is

filled with embellishments for

one-of-a-kind pillows

 and other projects!