One-of-a-Kind Pincushion!

I found this hilarious "Cherubs & Carriage" figurine at an antiques market in New Milford, Connecticut, and I knew I needed to make it into a pincushion! Wouldn't this make the funniest gift for your quilting buddy? Watch out though, she might "re-gift" it to you next year! Good laughs each time. 

The silk cushion has an appropriately upholstered look, don't you think? I bet my sisters read this post and thank their lucky stars that they're not getting this for Christmas. Heehee. Watch out, I may have something else up my sleeve!

This pincushion measures 8" long, 5" high, and 4" side-to-side. More info here. 

Gunpowder Pincushion!

Karin Peirce of Maine found this image (above) of a vintage gunpowder pincushion, and was inspired to make the one below. Nice job! She didn't say if she filled hers with with gunpowder. And like Karin says, you could always throw it into the fireplace if necessary!

I did a quick Google search for a connection between gunpowder and pincushions and didn't find anything.

Some vintage pincushions were filled with crushed walnut shells, straw, sand, rice, human hair or horsehair. Most of the vintage pinucshion ads on eBay don't say what's inside. 

Karin also sent this photo of two pincushions from Russia. Thanks, Karin!

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.

Nantucket Basket Pincushions With Rocks

Remember the photo I showed you recently while making the Nantucket Basket pincushions? The rock shown was too heavy. I had to go outside and find smaller rocks, but now the pin cushions have a nice weight. The bottom of the basket has a flat wood base so they don't teeter. The decorative pins add a nice touch; these have pearls and hematite beads. I love how this came out!

Visit my growing pincushion collection on Etsy.

New Pin Cushion Store!

Kelly in Springfield, MO has a brand new Etsy store where she sells her pin cushions: unDeniably Domestic. She's been open for only one week! Take a look and check out her Princess pin cushion. Cute!  Good luck, Kelly!

Rocks in Pin Cushions

No, this isn't some kind of "keep your eye on the rock" trick. Haha. I'm making pin cushions with little Nantucket baskets and they needed some weight. So here's my solution: rocks wrapped in cotton batting strips (so they don't jiggle around like there's some kind of a rock in there). This will be glued to the bottom, then the squishy business part of the pin cushion will be sewn or glued to that. I'll show you how they come out. Cute baskets, don't you think?

New Spiral Pin Cushion Pattern.

This new knitted and needle-felted pin cushion is my latest creation. It's remarkably soft and feels good to squish. It's knitted from Lopi wool from Iceland. The ivory roving is from Martha Stewart Crafts. The button is from La Mode.

Needle-felting is thought to be the oldest fiber craft, even pre-dating spinning and weaving. Basically you tangle wool fibers by stabbing them with a long needle that has barbs along the shaft. It's fun.

If you haven't yet tried needle-felting, take a look at my new pattern for the Spiral Pin Cushion.

 If you can knit, stab, and sew a button, you can do this.

I should call mine "needle cushions." I use my pins so constantly that I don't have time to "cushion" them. Pins go into a pretty vintage soap dish that my sister Eileen gave me. Without a "needle cushion" I'd be walking around with needles and thread stuck in the knee of my pants!

Needle-Felted Pin Cushion

This charming needle-felted mouse pin-cushion is the creation of Di Summitt of Nashville, TN and Felt of Dreams on Etsy. The mouse is 3" tall. Click on the link for more photos, including the vintage tureen that holds this little mouse. Nice work! Di learned to needle-felt when she bought a kit on Etsy.

This beehive pin-cushion is the creation of Sharon Constant of Oakland, CA and Backstitch Chicks. If Sharon and Nan aren't making something, they say you can be pretty sure they're asleep.

Pin Cushion Grand Finale! Day 5

Vintage ring box pin cushion by Lorri of All Vintage Sewing in Pennsylvania.

Lovely vintage crochet and linen pin cushion by Redesigning Vintage in Jacksonville, Florida.

Pink donut with sprinkles pin cushion (haha!) by Claire from London, England.

From Danamarie Hosler of the Small Craft Advisory in Baltimore, Maryland, here are three little felt pin cushions. She uses all her scraps, and each cushion is different. Should we tell Danamarie about selvages? Haha, I don't know! How many scraps can one person handle?

And finally, a whimsical pin cushion from Victoria Gertenbach of Lancaster, PA. See more of her work at Silly Boodilly on Etsy.

So, do you have a favorite pin cushion from the last 5 days?

Pin Cushions! - Day 4

Vintage tin toy tea pot pin cushion by Kelly of Whimsical Wool in Northern California.

Vintage egg cup pin head pin cushion by Barbara Rose MeConkey of Ollympia, Washington.

Charming cross-stitch pin cushions by Vicky in the UK.

 "Blooming Pin Cushion" by melissamoze of Austin, Texas.

Tiny World pin cushion by Mimi Kirchner. See more at Wee Folk.

Final batch of pin cushions tomorrow.

More Delightful Pin Cushions! - Day 3

Cactus needle pin cushion by Astrig of London, England.

Yellow egg in bird's nest pin cushion by Laurel Susan Studio from North Carolina.

St. Patrick's Day theme by Janie Johnson from Austin, Texas.

What a charming idea! Granny square pin cushion by Anna Hopper of Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

I'm having fun looking at all these creative pin cushions!

Noteworthy Pin Cushions - Day 2

This lovely embroidered pin cushion was made by Shelly from Victoria, Australia.

Red hand-felted pin cushion by Dealey Dansby Designs.

This one makes me laugh! Little hiking boot pin cushion by Joyce Tompkins of New York.

"Eat Your Veggies" by ADHD Knitting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ooh, nice and soft!

I love this one! It's from Sixes and Sevens in the UK.

Also, World Quilt winner annoounced Sunday!

Gallery of Pin Cushions! - Day 1

Watering can pin cushion by Taylar Hall from Omaha, TX.

Vintage baby shoe pin cushion by Seaside Rose Creations in New Jersey.

Hydrangea pin cushion by Love Laurie in Boston, MA.

Cocoa pin cushion by Dotty in Maryland, USA.

Aren't these imaginative pin cushions? More tomorrow.

Golden Delicious Pin Cushion by Heather Bailey

This is one of Heather Bailey's "Fresh Picked Pin Cushions." Isn't it beautiful? I love her color sense and her creativity! She imagines this as a parade of green apples carrying their champion on thier shoulders.

Heather Bailey is a talented designer of fabrics, paper craft items, and clothing. You really have to visit her fabulous blog: http://www.heatherbailey.typepad.com/ and her store: http://www.heatherbaileystore/ Her incredible photography makes me happy and inspires me to make something beautiful.