Roses Are Blue...

You Say Tomato, I Say Tiny Pincushion...

A while ago (and by "while" I mean years) I read about a couple crafters making pincushion rings from the inside pull-ring of drink containers. Immediately I wanted one and started saving pull-rings left and right. But I never got around to it at the time. I don't know, maybe the new baby had something to do with it (Willa would have been about 8 months.) But in the meantime, pretty much every time I pulled one of the rings out of a container, I would think to myself "Really need to make that pincushion ring..." So, yeah, once or twice a week for three years I had this thought. I win at procrastination.

Recently I started making a dress and found myself in need of a better pincushion and thought, IT IS TIME. I started out by needle felting a tomato. Or, more accurately, a traditional tomato pincushion. Side note: do you know why traditional pincushions are shaped like a tomato? I didn't know so I looked it up. Apparently  it used to be a custom to display a ripe tomato on the mantle of a new house for good luck. Since ripe tomatoes were often hard to come by people would use red fabric balls filled with sand. And then after a while they'd get pins stuck in them and become pincushions. The end. 

I chose needle felting because I like the way felted wool holds pins. But you could also stuff some fabric with fill or wool and glue it to the ring-pull. (There's a good tutorial here for that technique.) Needle felting is pretty easy to pick up and the supplies are simple and affordable. If you're interested in learning more check out this comprehensive tutorial I found.

I used Glue Dots (I swear I don't work for them) to affix the pull-ring but you could hot glue or probably use tacky glue too. Glue Dots worked because I was planning on felting over the plastic.

Gilding the lily a little, but it makes the ring more comfortable. If you use fabric you could glue or sew a cover over the plastic disc.

Voilà! I've been using it for a couple days now and it works great. I love the way it turned out.

Pincushion Power! 

How could you resist faces like these?

Ok, so nothing like a last minute invitation.  But, good news!  I am going to be a vendor in the super awesome Big Crafty Holiday Show in Asheville, NC Sunday December 6th from 12-6.  Which, yeah, is this Sunday...so if you are in the area I hope you will stop by and say hello.  Not just to me-there are a ton of amazing vendors participating.  And maybe even snow!  Outside, of course, but still very festive.  Perfect weather to get you in the mood for a little holiday shopping.  Hope to see you all there!

 

**EDIT: Whoops!  Were you wondering what the faces are for?  They are for the Warm Fuzzies.  They'll be waiting for you at the show!**

Happy Easter! What?

I SAID, "HAPPY EASTER!" 

Ok, just one more interruption before we get back to the simple fixes.  It's spring!  Well, tomorrow will be anyway.  And that means Easter is just around the corner.  If you were with me last year then these perpetual chocolate bunnies will look familiar.  But since last year the boys were, um, less than impressed with my clever faux chocolate, this year I have made them for y'all instead!  Now they are available for you to have your very own!  That is unless you'd rather have a roa-err, palmetto bug for your easter basket? 

Shameless, I know, but if I don't plug myself then who will?

We interrupt this program to bring you...

...Perry, the American cockroach (periplaneta americana), and his diminutive cousin, Mini P, starring at an Etsy shop near you!  Both Perry and Mini P are sweet, sensitive guys who enjoy surprises, shadows, and quick scuttles across empty kitchens at night...they are eager to find the right person or persons to take them home.  I mean, because they are roaches and all, it will definitely have to be someone um, special...

I made the original Perry, who I call Pal because he's from the south, some months ago but I haven't been able to part with him (much to Kevin's dismay).  I can't help it!  He's just too cute.  He welcomes our guests from his perch on the guest bed.  I mean, what could be more inviting than a giant roach, err, palmetto bug on your pillow?  Come to think of it, we haven't had many visitors lately...  Anyway, I made Perry and Mini P to put in the shop but they are not palmetto bugs.  They are New York roaches.  You can tell by the coffee cup.