Finished Manx square projects...

Finally, I finished a couple of projects using Manx squares I created months ago.  

One square had been completely stitched before I realized the directional fabric I'd used for the back side had not been placed going in the direction that corresponded to the front.  Not exactly an end of the world problem, but it bugged me enough that I just put it aside and contemplated never doing anything else with it.  Until last week.  Watching a tutorial on how to sew an envelope pillow cover, I was inspired to try it.

A super simple, but very effective back to use when you want to be able to remove a pillow cover.

You can't tell from the first photo that the pillow is really too small for our largish blue sofa, which at first seemed to be the obvious place to park it, but it looks kind of cute on the red recliner in the same room:

The only problem is, it's not a practical pillow.  I'm not going to want people sitting against it, smashing all those folds made by hand-stitching every piece of fabric. Since I'm not into having pillows I have to move just to sit in a chair, I'm not sure how long it will take up residence in the red chair, but for now I'm enjoying seeing it finished.  It will probably float around the house for a while looking for its perfect home.

I also finished the project I made with the four coordinating Manx squares I was working on a couple of months ago: 

This, I decided to finish into either a table-topper or a wall hanging.  I added triangles to the back corners where a dowel or even a flat piece of wood can be used to hang it.

Can't see them?  

Here's a closeup of one:

Now, normally, one would only need to put these triangles into the two top corners, but some may recall me mentioning how my Manx squares skew into something less than square by the time I finish making them.  I can trim them down more or less square so they look decent individually, but they are not perfect matches of each other. Well...  imagine sewing together four imperfect squares, and you may understand how my finished project can look more or less wonky depending on how it is hung. Since it was nearly impossible (holding it out at arm's length) to figure out which side would be the best to hang it from, I decided to just sew a triangle into all four corners so I could figure it out later - when I can hang it and stand back to see if there is a better side to hang it from.

Ah!  Another idea just popped into my head!

It is only just now occurring to me as I'm typing that this may actually look better (and less obviously wonky) hanging diagonally.  In which case, I should be able to place a wooden slat (maybe a dowel, or even a sturdy piece of carboard) going across the middle into opposite corners, that can hold this taut as the whole thing hangs from a ring sewn into the top corner.  

Here, I just snapped a picture of it on the diagonal (though I think it looks better held up on light wall):

Oh my goodness!  I like that idea a lot!   I just went from being glad it's finished, but not sure what to do with it, to being downright excited to find a spot for it!

That's all I've got on this blustery Sunday.  Snowflakes are falling, but melting as soon as they hit the ground. We'll see 50's and 60's again next week, but today I am (too soon) feeling in a wintery mood.  Brrrrr...