Progress on the pillow portraits/fabric collage

I have taken these apart numerous times. I think the top one is about ready to be backed and stuffed. I want to stain it as well...but that is flat out terrifying! This pillow....I think I need to remove the circular poofs! I am pleased with the piping, though! And I like the circle within the square.

It is so slow! and uses so much thread ! What you see on the second pillow is over 4 hours of sewing, starting with the circular cut out, some of it just waiting to be taken out.