Cheating on the resolution

I've been trying really hard to stick with last year's resolution of not starting any new projects but like all resolutions, it's not always possible. I spent a wonderful weekend at the quilting retreat with friends and as I'm going through the UFOs to find one to work on, my husband said that the bench he'd been working on was finished and he'd really like the cushions covered by crazy quilted covers. Who am I to say no to someone who doesn't say no to the bags and bags of silks and brocades I drag home. So that's the project I worked on for the weekend. Here the bench is completed.

This is the left hand cushion. I had a chance to dip into my stash of earthy luscious fabrics and trims. I used trims and braids exclusively to cover the patchwork seams because this is going to be sat on everyday and I didn't want to use embroideries that could snag or wear. I also didn't want to do motifs in the patches for the same reason. So in drafting the piecing pattern I used really big patches. I love the way it turned out being able to highlight the actual fabrics.

This is the right hand cushion. The bench is almost as long as a queen sized bed. It is a vast improvement on the 80's-era country blue and pink folding chair it replaced. It took longer to do than I expected because I handstitched all those trims. Since I wanted to really secure them they're stitched to within an inch of their life. I'd estimate it took longer than if i embroidered the seams. All together I worked for three solid days at the retreat to complete the first cushion cover and two weekends of free time to finish the second. But it's worth the work.