Egg Hunt

The realization came to me today as I was deciding which desktop file to place this photo of a newly made pincushion that I have lots and lots of files filled with lots and lots of projects. Do I file this cute as can be pincushion under "Think Pink", "Easter Cute", or "Pincushions"?

When I realized I didn't even have a file titled "Pincushions", I knew it was time to organize. Did you even know I make pincushions? My blog has become so deep, thick, long, .... what word do you use for a blog? that you might not even know this.

I know the day will come when my crafting journey has come to an end, and I want to leave a blog that will be a place to inspire others creativity.

I am working diligently to go through my many posts to find long forgotten projects, tutorials, or information that might be of interest to someone who loves to craft as much as I do.

I am adding a list of crafts for easy access on my sidebar so that finding the project you perhaps are looking for won't be such an ....

egghunt.

Pincushion Tutorial

The part of creativity I enjoy the most is interpreting original work in my own crafting style. I hope you will enjoy my process for creating the most simple form of pincushion that anyone can make and enjoy!

Draw a circle on the backside of your chosen fabric placed on a co-ordinating piece of felt. Sew on your line leaving an opening for stuffing. Fill until there are no puckers when you pinch the pincushion between your thumb and forefinger. Stitch closed the opening.

I use 3 strands of embroidery floss, about 2 feet, thread my needle, and come up through the center of the pincushion from bottom to top. Notice the tail I have left. Divide your pincushion as you would a pie. First one half then the other, repeating from side to side around the circle. I keep the pincushion pinched between my fingers as I go to create tension and pull the thread tightly.

When all of my sections are complete, I come up from the bottom again and thread my button both on top and bottom.

On my last pass, I will go under the button, make a loop, and tie a knot. I will then tie a knot with the tail piece and cut the thread.


Now for the fun part!

I do hope you will enjoy creating a pincushion for yourself!

A Couple's Dance

The most romantic couple I have ever known were my Uncle Howard and Aunt Mildred. Howard had been an airplane mechanic in War World II and continued in that field after the war. Aunt Mildred was a homemaker. I never wanted visits to their home to come to an end.

Their home was quintessentially 1940's Americana. Knotty pine walls yellowed with age, oval braided rugs, pipe stand and fringed lamps. High backed couch and step down end tables, walk around fireplace. Starched white Priscillas and Miss America glass pattern. Big open kitchen, bread and butter pickles, homemade biscuits, Uncle Howard at the sink. Every evening after supper he would wash the dishes for Mildred, happily whistling. He said he loved washing dishes because he could really get his nails clean after a day working on airplanes. Aunt Mildred at his side quietly drying and putting away, the light above the sink in the darkening kitchen, just for them. Dishes done, a breakfast spot set for Uncle Howard's early rise, his coffee cup turned upside down on it's saucer, their quiet dance done for the evening.

My last visit to Uncle Howard and Aunt Mildred's house was the same as my first visit as a child. The simple sharing of the routine of the day showed me the type of love I wanted for myself. Aunt Mildred was very ill on that last visit. Uncle Howard slept on the floor by her bedside so as not to disturb her painful sleep. He said to me, "I have never spent a day apart from her. She has given me so much, I am happy just to be near her." Uncle Howard would pass away very shortly after the death of Aunt Mildred. I have always loved to wash dishes. I know this is because of this most romantic couple.