A few days ago, I got a new toy from Artograph and I couldn’t wait to put it to work.
I’ve been eyeing a light box for a long time, but it was always bumped down the priority list after lenses and sewing machines and other tools of my trade. My new Artograph LightPad A930 arrived on my doorstep last week and I knew my days of taping things to a window to trace were over.
Can you hear the angelic choir?
I have loads of ideas for how to use this, but I started out with something simple. A hand painted poetry pillow.
I started off by selecting a pillow, fabric, poem and a font. I chose the very last paragraph of a Wordsworth poem called “Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.” I printed it in a free downloadable font called “Jane Austin.” Once the poem was printed (in 100 pt. font for a 13″ x 19″ pillow), I cut it out and taped it together and in place on the LightPad.
I spread a piece of linen (cut to the size of the pillow, plus one inch added to the length and width for a seam allowance) over the poem on the LightPad.
I then used some tape to secure the fabric in place to prevent shifting while tracing the poem.
I then traced the lettering lightly with a pencil…
…turning the LightPad off after each line to make sure I was tracing all of the lettering.
After removing the fabric from the LightPad, I used a 1.0 liner artist brush and charcoal gray latex paint to paint over the pencil marks. If you’re not comfortable with a brush, you can use a paint pen.
Once the paint was fully dry, I pinned on a charcoal grosgrain ribbon in a pleated pattern to act as the pillow trim when turned right-side-out after the front and back of the pillow are sewn together.
I didn’t measure or anything. Just pinched and pinned.
I sewed the pillow together the same way I did in my Ruffled Pillow Tutorial.
I’m really happy with how it turned out.
In case you’re curious about the paragraph I used, it reads…
“Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys and fears,
To me the meanest flower that blows can give,
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.”
Man, that Wordsworth knew how to string some words together.
Thanks so much to Artograph for giving me the opportunity to “play” with their LightPad A930. If you would like one of your own, you can buy it in variety of sizes and price points on the Artograph website.
68 Responses
So cool! Thanks for sharing this product! I love this pillow!
Wow!!! Beautiful. I want one of these Lightpads now! xoxo
Shut. Up. First the chalk paint and now THIS? You're killing me here! Is there no end to the tools in your creative arsenal? Keep 'em coming!!
Really gorgeous! So latex paint works and I wouldn't need to use fabric paints, huh? Cool.
That is one gorgeous pillow. Think of the personal things you could write on a pillow to make special mementos.
LOVE the pillow! Just wondering where you order your grosgrain ribbon in bulk?
Very pretty pillow. You're so creative!
Super cool, and I love the verse you chose. I have a whole light table, so will definitely be trying this soon. Well, maybe after a couple practice runs with the paint brush!
Oh, my! I do love this! I've got a little light "table" that I've had since I was 10 years old in 1964. The lighted area isn't terribly big, but I could make it do. Got to try it!
Marian I actually saw that lying on the floor in your craft room clean up and meant to ask you, so glad you posted about it, I have a teeny tiny light box that's barely useful. And PS after seeing all the Silhouette posts out there today about the new fabric transfer I'm so happy to see someone going old school! Thank you.
This came out very pretty. I've been interested in a new way to write words. Paint pen sounds good.
I love that! Both the pillow and the light pad! What a great tool to have on hand!
It's just lovely. I think you can pretty much do it all!
Thanks for the LightPad demo. A multi-use tool I think. The finished product is lovely.
– Joy
Simply beautiful..I love the words and the pillow is awesome..That light pad might be the one thing I just found out that I needed..LOL
What a wonderful artist's tool…just amazing what you can do….so many possibilities.
I sure like the end result too.
Rose
Hey!! I own a lightbox…. I see a project in my future!
Absolutely beautiful, Marian!
Oh, I just love that pillow!! Especially the trim…
whoa I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the paint tutorials, but that's okay, hopefully I will receive my book tomorrow!
Love that pillow,now I need to pray for the strength to stick to my budget and not buy myself another tool. LOL
You are a woman after my own heart. I adore Wordsworth, and that is one of my favorite poems. The pillow is fabulous. I wish someone would drop a lightbox on my doorstep!
Its looks so easy, the way you've written it! BEAUTIFUL!! I looove the thought of keeping this cushion on my lap while I watch TV, reading the poem over n over again, and then dozing off with it under my head :))
Très original et très chouette!!!
Bisous
Oh, that's beautiful, Mairan. I love the verse and the ribbon trim is a lovely touch.
Beautiful. Simply Beautiful.
You are amazing Marian…you are – you are!
Can you share the site where you downloaded the " jane austen" font?
Thanks
Tammy 🙂
JUNK WILD
Absolutely darling! The grosgrain ribbon sets off the whole pillow so perfectly. A wonderful touch for a chair….
Nice work! That is a pretty handy tool. I really love the font you chose for your pillow!
Erin, A Little Something, Too
http://alittlesomething2.blogspot.com/
I loooover this!! The ribbon around the pillow is very unique and different. so cute!
i can't wait to see what other fun things you do with the light pad. Your pillow turned out so pretty.
xo,
Cheryl
I love the pillow and the trim! So beautiful!
Love your pillow…so personal and beautifully handmade!
Deborah xo
Love that JA font… ahhh for handwriting like that! you did good!
ohhhh gives me an idea.. a twist to be sure but …well, we will see 🙂
Got a call about my paint.. you sold out the second place too!
Maddie- the Domestic Anarchist
http://www.domesticanarchy.blogspot.com
What a beautiful pillow altogether! You continue to inspire! 🙂
this turned out so good! love it!
xo
I really want to do that..but I don't have a light box..I was wondering if a glass table and a light would do the same thing..
Great pillow! The possibilities are endless (:
I have a lightbox from my college days. I love that idea. You've got me thinking now!
Wow. Another successful project from the master!
How did you get to be so Amazing?
Awesome pillow! Can't wait to see what other creative ideas you come up with using that light pad!
very beautiful.
Light pad come in very handy and I am glad I am not the only one that uses a window for tracing.
stunning!
WOW, Miss Mustard Seed,You have way to much talent for just one person. You make everything look so easy, send a little talent this way. The PILLOW is lovely. Great Blog
~Emily
The French Hutch
Such a great idea. Now this I will definitely try.
Wow that LightPad is really awesome. Beautiful poem too and I love the pillow.
I have to say that I just recently discovered your blog …not sure why it took so long…but I am so inspired by you! Not only are your projects beautiful, I just love your comfortable conversational blogging. You seem so personable, and you give me courage to try things – like slipcovers! I can't wait to try the welting. I have a chair I want to reupholster but the welting on the seat cushion kind of scared me. You have really encouraged me to try it! I am intimidated by zippers. Have you blogged about sewing zippers before?
I love this! Such a wonderful idea for gifts ~ with words or poems specifically chosen for the person. Thanks so much for sharing!
Pat
I love the lightpad! In the past I have used an old computer scanner. I ripped out the "guts" of the scanner, inserted an inexpensive flourescent light and voila, a light box. This version is not as square shaped, more rectangular, but cost effective and easier on the neck than the window pane and more reliable than sunshine during Canadian winters!
I agree with anonymous….you're amazing. I love this pillow too.
Thanks for all of your tutorials. You make everything look sooo easy. I finally made my first slip cover today thanks to you (I posted it, with all it's imperfections) . It's not perfect but I am so excited that I see another slipcover already. Thanks for inspiring me!
mickey
What type paper did you use to print the verse on? Is it semi-transparent or just plain ole paper?
Lucky you! I have been asking for that for Christmases and Birthdays for years! I'm going to have to break down and buy one! I used to think it was cheating, but after much experience I realized it saves so much time and many artists use that!
I'm giving you a standing ovation…can you hear me? This is so lovely…love the subtle colors. It's almost like a whisper. Gray is my new fav this season…which is good since my bedroom has been that color for over a year now.
What a fun toy. I want one!
Your work is always professional looking. The pillow is sweet and elegant. Love that contraption. I had no idea it existed. boy am I in the dark. Guess I will still be using the old window method for now.
Caroline
I just did the same thing for some flower definitions for pillows and I think we even used the same font. Jane Austen?
Love your ruffle trim! I am going to check out the light pad now. 🙂
That pillow is so lovely!
they look adorable… esp the font and the frill… definitely going ro use that somewhere around the house
Awesome idea! Thanks so much for sharing. Your blog is such an inspiration!
haha cool! i didn't even think these existed!!
Love your blog! Really enjoyed learning about the light pad… and how to add the ribbon. Watched your custom piping tutorial video and learned a lot! Thanks!
That's a really good use of a lightbox! I'm now hunting around for more uses, mine has been in the spare room for years, I'm inspired, thank you x
gorgeous!
Magda
I love love love this pillow and want to make it,but don’t really want to spend the money on a lightbox,considering I don’t think I’d have much more use for it after all. Would love to hear some alternatives to use as a lightbox! Love the trim on the pillow too.
sorry,meant to put that I wouldn’t have much use for the lightbox after the pillow project. I didn’t mean to put “after all!”
That is gorgeous!
I am so excited to have found you! I am beginning a new business and have not sewn for years, but I’m not about to let that stop me. I can not wait to try this out. Thank you for your inspirational thoughts, dear Mis Mustard Seed.
I just love this pillow. I would love to include it in a pillow post I’m doing on my blog. May I use a picture from this post and link back to you?
Thanks!
Lindsay
What is the font size
What font is this?