Pinsies From Israel

Susan in Jerusalem, Israel is making pinsies for herself and her friends using my tutorial. 

Aren't they festive? She says they're really easy to make. Nice job, Susan!

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I love making these little pretties. Many different styles on sale here.

Shaggy Silk Pinsies

I'm playing around with the idea of using silk scraps with pearls to make colorful pinsies. You can see that the blue silk strip at the top is a selvage, so not as much fraying there. There's one pearl between each silk strip. Maybe 2 or 3 pearls would be better. Also, maybe the strips could be trimmed shorter.

These might look better on a design wall or bulletin board. They take up a lot of space on a pincushion. Of course a larger pincushion is another option. :) Any suggestions?

New Tutorial for Pinsies!

Have you noticed the beaded pins that decorate all my pincushions? They're getting pretty crazy, as you can see in the upper right corner. Haha. I've been getting emails asking for info about how to make these little beauties so here's a tutorial complete with supply list, photo instructions, and handy tips. 

Pinsies make nice little gifts to exchange with your quilting buddies too.

Good project to do with kids. 

I do tend to get carried away with projects like this. They are so much fun to make!

I've had beads waiting for a project like this for a long time. 

Thanks for all your comments yesterday about where you get your creative inspiration!! 

Do you remember this pincushion named "Endurance?" It originated a long time ago in Japan and was recently rescued in Connecticut and given a new silk cushion and two pretty pinsies. It has just been purchased by a woman in Victoria, Australia! What an exciting life this little guy is having! If only it could talk!

I've had a computer virus which has kept me off the Internet for a few days, but I'm back now.

Purse in Hand

 

I found this "Purse in Hand" at an antique market here in Connecticut, and it's really growing on me. I added the silk cushion and it's now listed in my Etsy store. The possibility of finding things like this is what drives me to search the antique markets. Okay, flea markets. :) I used to really dislike stuff like this; what's happening to me? First selvages, now this. What's next?

Notice the two pretty pinsies (beaded pins) in this cushion. They're made with pearls and glass beads.

Now That's Better! Pincushion Gravy Boat

If you were a little shocked yesterday with the Endurance pincushion, you might like this one better. I love the lime green silk dupioni cushion. The gravy boat is "old world," but the color is up-to-date. Nice combination of elegance and fun. I'd rather enjoy this every day in my quilt room than keep it in the china cabinet. See it here on Etsy.

I think the two pinsies with pearls and glass beads add a nice touch too.

The Pincushion Named Endurance

I recently bought a little silverplate cream pitcher at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market. The seller said with a chuckle, "You can have the matching sugar bowl for free." When I showed it to my sister Eileen, she said, "Don't throw it away! Make it a pincushion; it's interesting; it has history!" So here it is.

This bowl was made in Japan, probably mid 1900's. It may have been a wedding gift, and probably spent years looking pretty in a china cabinet. But it has seen hard times, that's for sure. It was pulled from the wreckage for some reason, and because of Eileen, is now starting a new chapter as a pinsuchion, complete with a peach-colored silk cushion and two fancy pinsies. That's Endurance!

It will be listed soon with the other 100+ pincushions on Etsy in case you want to see more photos.

Fenton Glass Shoes!

And here they are after the removal of the bandages. I'll make new pinsies for these cushions, although the blue one looks like a keeper. I would never have given these shoes a second look at the flea market if I wasn't keeping a keen eye out for pincushion containers but I like them. The man I bought them from said he has a thousand more at home. Uh, okay. Can you imagine? Do you think he was trying to get a date? Haha!

Thank you to Jean and Sandy for the info that these were made by

Fenton Glass in Williamstown, West Virginia. Fenton is no longer in business.