Pincushion Prettiness I
November 22, 2011 I'm rescheduling Farmer's Wife blocks to Friday this week because I decided to run with the theme of my current giveaway (still time to enter - and Gigi has added a few more things to her shop since yesterday ... better go check them out ... seriously!) and thought I'd share a few little things I've made lately.
Pincushions.
I was a very lucky girl at Quilt Market last month and got a sweet little pincushion kit from the lovely Lynette Anderson. Here's the cushion all finished.
If you're at all familiar with this talented designer, you didn't need me to tell you this is her work. Lynette's style is very distinctive ... and incredibly popular.
(Can't you just imagine these 'lil guys in this cushion?)
I started this pretty little stitchery on the plane home from Houston - managed to get the border and almost one corner done before I landed (the movie onboard was terrible ... )
Can you believe all this embroidery is done with ONE skein of embroidery floss?
Dude! I know!!!
It's a COSMO Seasons variegated floss. The hues in this one skein range from light brown through dark brown and then a lovely purple! I'd actually been stitching away for a few hours before I had good enough light to even notice the purple. I almost squealed out loud when I discovered it, but I was in the audience of my daughter's string orchestra rehearsal (seriously, I WILL stitch just about anywhere) so good thing I was able to control myself.
And I got a good idea from someone (will share that tomorrow) to quilt the backing.
I filled it with ground walnut shells ... available at your local pet store as some sort of creepy reptile aquarium filler - which is precisely why I decided to have daughters instead of sons. ;)
(Honestly, I don't think my constitution would have survived boys!)
Reader Comments (23)
I'm probably just dense, but why did you fill the pincushion with ground walnut shells? I've heard of and used sawdust as a filler before, is the reason similar?
That's such a sweet little pincushion it's waaay too beautiful to ever use it as one;-)
Hildy
My eldest girl is often asking for a pet reptile. I've avoided that one so far (and don't plan to give in...ever!). I am in desparate need of a new pincushion. I have one lame, small, ugly pincushion, which is round and rolls away on me whenever I try to stick a pin in it. I do have a very sweet Fig Tree pattern that I plan to whip up (in between all that other sewing I'll be doing since a Fabric Elf came into my life-wink!)
Oh, I think the boys grow on you... having no choice and all... and you just get used to it. That said, I'm pretty sure reptiles aren't allowed in our house as pets (and I just hope they don't come in any other way!), but we'll see what happens as they get older. :)
By the way... I've posted my official (with my new working machine) first attempt at FMQ on my blog today. Promised I'd tell you when...
http://babychaser.blogspot.com/2011/11/actual-finished-project.html.
Blessings,
Babychaser
Oooohhhhh, I love this! This has to be one of the sweetest pincushions I've ever seen. I do have a son, nestled in the middle of three daughters, and he had a snake. Named him Fangs. Actually, I enjoyed Fangs. He was a lot easier to take care of than any of the traditional animals we had, especially since my son was in full charge of him.
Such a gorgeous pincushion! Love the fabrics by Lynette!
Happy sewing,
Laila
That is such an adorably sweet pincushion and the colours of the thread are wonderful! Oh, and the hedgehogs are gorgeous!
LOL - my boy (now grown and a Marine) decided he had to have a hedgehog when he was growing up. We got one and it was so much fun. I'm with you on the reptiles - no way!
Love the pincushion. I first thought you had to change the thread a lot until I saw you used variegated thread. How cool is that!
Blessings,
Darlene
The pincushion is adorable - and the hedgehogs are just so cute!! Boys are adorable - once they are old enough they take your hand to help you across the road ...... and kiss you on the top of the head to emphasis the fact they are 8 inches taller!!
That is one very pretty pincushion!
Oh my gosh, I've been back over to look at the new things...I'm so in love with the Shabby Teapot, the Cup of Tea Battenberg Cake Truffle and Pirolines Pin Topper, all of the dessert pin and oh the hedgehogs, I always look a them, I used to have a dog that looked just like a hedge hog so I love them. What a talent she has...absolutely incredible.
I adore your pin cushion too and I always fill my with crushed walnut shells. Keeps my pins sharp and I have a daughter that is a manager at Petco so I get them at her discount, always a plus, LOL. Hugs...
Gorgeous little pincushion. :)
Don't be deceived, boys are wonderful creatures!!
Vivienne x
Oh, what a lovely pincushion. If I keep seeing such wonderful pincushions my little room will be filled with them. ;)
And those hedgehogs, oh...my..word. Adore.
Kristyne, you might get me embroidering once again. :D
LOL!! Loved the comment about the ground up walnut shells..... just what I have to look forward to with 3 boys.....
Your stitching is beautiful Kristyne! Love the colors too!!
As a mom of 2 boys, ( now grown men) l have enjoyed my mothering life with them, but thank goodness for stitching so I can have "girly" things in my life, like cute pincushions. Yours is truly sweet. What color of Seasons did you use? It's lovely.
I am so glad I discovered your blog. Everything you sew is adorable. The sweetest little pin cushion.
:oD.... we have snake stories... (a friend who is a teacher asked if the boys would like to babysit "Marta" one summer when school was out. I said no. She said my husband already said yes... Over my dead body, I'm thinking.... but I'm still here...and we are still married! ha! My then 3 year old came out one day holding this huge snake that was longer than he was way up over his head and she was dripping wet, as was his arm and he simply told me Marta was 'thirsty' (guess he gave her a dunk in the toity to rehydrate her....) oy... another time I walked into their room, lid was off the aquarium and IT WAS EMPTY. I promptly JUMPED up on their school desk, screamed bloody murder at the top of my lungs and stayed there freaking out royally til the boys found her curled up in the corner of their closet. I needed CPR after that. I'm still not sure how I survived that summer! ha! I am looking forward to daughter in loves, though! And some grandbaby girls in the future! :O) The boys have been wonderful! I just am not cut out for creepy crawlies and all that they seem to be drawn to. That is hubby's department for sure! But, I do love tea, remember? And I found with boys that if you feed them... they will come! ;oD Hugs! Bari Jo
Oops, meant to tell you, I also had only daughters, however, we also raised our two oldest grandsons from infancy into adulthood...I'm telling you, the boys were easier, LOL. Of course, I did put my foot down on the reptiles after a bag of crickets *ugh* that were food for Max the tree frog, all escaped...I had the shivers for two weeks. Max was given to a friend and no more reptiles were allowed in the house.
Oh Kristyne! Your sitiching is beyond perfect and the pin toppers, is it possible someone has that much talent? And you have had her in your home? You lead a charmed life! Love taht floss and design, you willhave to do some tutoreials for us that are not that skilled in the fine points. Your blog is always a pleasure to read. always a surprise! remember, people who collect stamps do notlick them..,so it is ok you haven't opened that package!! I totally get that. I have a few pieces of fabric I cannnot bear to cut..
I love the Let Them Eat Cake pin topper by Gigi!!
Nice stitchin!