Each Christmas, my mom coordinates a gift exchange between me and my three brothers. I drew one of my younger brothers from the hat this year, and I wanted to make him something that will both warm his new home and appeal to his love for wildlife.

The photo shoot took place on my mom’s farm in Michigan, where I grew up and spent my early days riding horses and playing in cornfields. The antique stool that holds the pillow was my mom’s from childhood. Look closely and you’ll notice a missing rung. The slightest breeze would throw the stool off-balance, and within seconds of the photo shoot, I was picking the pillow off the soggy ground. Photoshop did a good job cleaning off the mud spots!

The deer silhouette is hand embroidered with a dark gray floss on a cotton quilting fabric. A plaid trim finishes off the pillow. Many thanks to my very talented older brother for being the photographer behind many of these shots – let’s hope he can keep this a secret until the gift is opened tomorrow!