Little Turtle Pin Cushion

I made a "Little Turtle Pin Cushion" that I'm going to include in a beginner's sewing kit of items. I hope to add a lot of neat things and make a box for each of my GDs for Christmas. They will be both be 8 by then and I'll probably have the patience to teach them to use the sewing machine. In fact they may both get low end sewing machines to go with their beginner sewing kits. Hear that, Santa?

Tutorial for pincushion was from Kathy Shaw's blog but mine does not look as good as hers. I had to do a patch job on the head. I must not have sewn it in far enough and when I pulled on it to stuff it with leftover shredded batting I pulled it off! So, I had to open the seam and stitch it by hand back into place. I wasn't about to take all the stuffing back out that little hole, resew seam and then stuff it back up. GD won't notice.

Now I have to make a second one for the other GD. And it will probably have to be pink or she won't like it.

Kudos for Comments

Look what came in the mail Wednesday - one of Gerry Kruegers gorgeous victorian pincushions!  I visit her blog olderrose frequently and comment whenever I have something to say. Since she appreciates comments,  on her 1000th post she awarded the 1000th commenter this pincushion. That commenter was me! How lucky can a girl be?

It's Spring in my Mind

My stitching on Ritva's Spring block. Spring is my favorite season. I get to dig in the dirt, watch the birds make nests, pick strawberries, radishes and onions and curse the rabbits.

On another note...I think my kindergartner granddau. has some anal-retentive tendencies. I left my pincushion on the dining room table and when I came home from work found that my pins had been sorted. She certainly doesn't get that tendency from me! I am always in a state of disarray.

They Made My Day

I got home from work today to a load of mail. No bills - just fun stuff! Ramona sent me this pincushion she made for a swap with mailblocks yahoo group.

And LouAnn sent me these gorgeous, too-beautiful-to-use hotpads for a swap with the same mailblocks group.

What a pleasant surprise to come home to. It was almost like Christmas thanks to a couple of very talented ladies.

Small Stuff

I told someone the other day that I don't sweat the small stuff. I think maybe I do even though I say I don't. At any rate, I recently completed some small stuff as follows:

I made a winter biscornu for a pincushion swap but when partners were drawn I saw my partner wanted some "citrus accents" which prompted me to go through my stash and find some citrus items. I will send her both pincushions now.

Same yahoo group has a potholder swap going on. My partner has no preferences so I looked though my 30 scraps and came up with a pinwheel on front and small squares on back. I love 30s reproduction fabrics. They remind me of my grandma's quilts and make me smile. Hope my partner enjoys.

I completed this pansy pillow. Pansies and roses are two of the favorite flowers I grow in my gardens. This is made of rather bright fabrics I wouldn't have chosen but since I found the whole kit  (except for stuffing) for 65 cents at the thrift store I thought I would go ahead and buy it and make it. I haven't decided if I should add it to my Christmas present staff or keep it myself.

And finally, the Feb. fabric postcards for my granddaughters. I send them from "secret admirer" and they still, at age 5, haven't figured out who that might be. On the back I have written a quote from Braveheart (my favorite movie) - "Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it."

Winter Biscornu

I love biscornus. I made this one for a pincushion swap just in case my swap partner didn't have any preferences. I will put it in my Christmas stash box now. My partner likes "citrus accents" and I will whip her up something with some citrus fabrics I have instead.