Keeping the Crafting Bug Alive!

Above: This sweet little primitive bear is on his way to a new home.

 

 

Above: Thank you card. I tried to make a ATC card but the 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" size was a little too small for me. I do want to make alot of ATCs (artist trading card) so that I can fill my 7 gypsies rolodex. I have had the rolodex for about 5 years now and have never really made anything for it.

Above: Heart Pincushion that I made as a thank you gift. Sorry, I should have taken a picture of it before I sealed the bag. The plaid looks a little loud but it is not that bright. The brown "nest" in the middle is actually a rosette with a pearl in the middle. I used hand dyed ribbon, hand stamped tag, picture of my great grandmother, piece of vintage style lace and corsage pin.

Above: Little better with a white background.

 

I know that it has been a while since I blogged here but I just haven't been making as much primitive stuff as I have whimsy/cutesy stuff. I have finally cleaned up my craft room and it is a very whimsy one now. My house is decorate for the most part primitive, but I also love red, aqua, sunny yellow and cutesy stuff. This is why my craft room took on a brighter look. Now I can enjoy the best of both worlds and it no longer has to be a competition of Whimsy vs. Primsy!! So, if you haven't seen the pics of my craft room go on over to www.littleredhenstitches1.blogspot.com and check it out :)

 

Have a wonderful night and keep that crafting bug alive!! Go ahead....make something!!!

You'll be glad you did!!

Holly

On Pins and Needles...

Two new pincushions up on Etsy- http://www.cottonpickinfun.etsy.com/  .Nothing much to blog about today. I have spent the better part of the day photographing the pincushions and getting them up on Etsy. Two daughters stayed home today, trying to recover. D#1 still has cough and throat hurts, doing a little better. D#2 is feeling much better, can't wait to go to school.

 Little Mouse Primitive Pincushion and Thread Catcher

Little Jack Primitive Pincushion and Thread Catcher

Have a good night,

-H

Please Pass the Needles..

The primitive pincushions are closer to completion. I am not sure how to put them on Etsy. It is a whole different direction than my clothespin dolls. Should I open another store to sell them? I believe that they kind of frown on that? Not sure, will have to check that out. Anyway, here's the new pincushions. I have used a pattern from cheswick company for the little pumpkin man and the bag is from sew by photos.

 

Above: Little mouse pincushion. He is holding a very large button, sitting upon a ball pincushion filled with stuffing and rice for weight. The little bag is for trash, such as snippets of fabric, wool or string. The long hand dyed ribbon is for your scissors. Tie them on and then when they are not in use, place them in the little pocket on front. A wool heart and antique skeleton key complete the scissors pocket.

Above: Fabric and wool strawberry. Two wool heart pins. The mouse, ball pincushion, leaves, heart pins, etc are made from wool felt or wool fabric.

Above: The bag is made out of Jo Morton reproduction Civil War fabrics. The lining is made from the same line of fabric just a different pattern.

Above: Scissors using the pocket and ribbon. These scissors are 5". 4" and under scissors would work also.

Above: better photo, look at left hand corner in previous pic, can see gap of background fabric. bummer.

Above: side view.

Above: Mouse has little tufts of wool fibers in his ears. Oh rats....I mean...mice? I forgot a tail for him. Must cut a piece of leather cording and make tail asap!

Above: must be very windy in Miceville. I can't get his scarf to lay down. Wasn't sure how to adhere the button to him. I tried several different things for him to hold, but kept going back to button. He looked so helpful and cute holding the button. I knew glue, hot or otherwise wouldn't work. It would show and the button is so smooth, would probably pop off sooner or later. Thread worked wonderfully. I really don't like to glue my stuff. I try to always hand sew anything that is tedious. I think it looks much better than gluing. Not that gluing something is bad, sometimes it is very necessary.

Above: This is Little Numpnee. Numpnee is what my sweet little darling D#1 used to call a pumpkin. She was not quite 2 when she called all pumpkins Numpnee. It all started when her great-Grandmother Nell brought her a little puppet pumpkin with kitty cat. She loved that pumpkin and would call it "Numpnee".

Little Numpnee is by cheswick company. I did change the pattern some. The face is different and I made the arms and legs like my clothespin dolls arms. In her pattern he is a standing doll. So cute! Of course I haven't finished it. I am going to add some velvet ric rac to the ball, scissors pocket and scissors ribbon to the bag and stitch the saying "Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere". And something for Numpnee to hold.  

Above: Instead of a strawberry, he has a spider.

Above: I wanted his face to look vintage. His hat still need to be finished. The thready yarn needs to be glued down and a pom pom on top. I know it seems very early to be doing something for fall, but I just couldn't help myself. I have had this kit for a year and had planned on making him last summer but didn't get around to it. Now I am not sure if I want to sell him or not, he is so cute in person. He is only 4" tall sitting down, hat not included in measurement.

That's all I have for today,

-H

Pincushion Update

Here's the finished pear pincushion. I did add a little mat under the pear, my hand dyed ribbon and an antique skeleton key.

Above: The pear measures: 6" including stem. Bag measures: 8 1/2".

Above: antique key

Above: 2 woolen pins: one is a variation of penny like on a penny rug, and other is a wool catapillar.

Above: this is the little box. I placed a tuffet and small pear on it. The pear is 1 3/4" high.

Above: inside the box. I am going to modge podge the fabric inside on the bottom.

Above: The pins will be wrapped in black polymer clay and baked. The yellow is too bright.

Have a great rest of the day,

-H

Wool and Civil War Fabrics = Pear Pincushion

This is a little something that I have been working on. I just love prim pincushions, especially fruit and animal themed ones. This is a pear that I whipped up. Well...actually it took about 5 attempts before I got it like I want it. I still want to tweak it some, maybe make it taller. The little bag is something that I have been working on for a veeerryy long time. I just didn't like any of my bags. They didn't stay open, too floppy and the bottom was not wide enough. My sister sent me a link for a blog that has the most adorable bags with a tutorial to boot. All that she asks is that you give her credit for the pattern.
Gladly: www.newatnestings.blogspot.com
This bag was perfect. I didn't use her measurements or fusible interfacing technique-I didn't have any on hand. I just used regular interfacing sewn to the lining. Created my own measurements to fit my needs. Really the only things that I borrowed from her were: how she attached the lining to the outer shell and making the corners bigger. My old bags used the right sides together liner attachment which requires you to turn the bag inside out and sew the turning hole closed.
The pear is made from wool and civil war reproduction fabric. The bag is made from coffee stained linen and civil war reproduction fabric. Leaves, stem and 3 pear sections are wool felt. I haven't finished it. The skeleton key will be tied on some how and I am going to add a ribbon so that you can tie on a pair of scissors to keep them handy and not always lost. I should know, I am forever loosing my scissors. Might even make a small felt strawberry needle book. This will keep needles from getting lost in the pincushion--always happening to me.

Above: Bag is not attached to pear yet. I think that I might add a circle of wool to cover up where the bag attaches to the pear.

Above: small paper mache box. I painted it black and sanded it. I am going to add a stain to it and them maybe a mouse and tufted pillow/pincushion? Not sure yet. Will keep you updated.

Have a great day,

-H