Treasures On Thursday

February is almost over.

 So, I have a couple of days to post a few more hearts!

These hearts are on needle rolls from my collection.

I stitched them several years ago.

A friend and I both stitched quite a few of

Shepherd's Bush needle rolls.

Needle rolls are just elongated pin cushions.

She placed hers in a milk glass dish

 and I placed mine in this beautiful dish

that I picked up at a flea market.

It's called Iris and Herringbone.

 The dish and needle rolls sit on a

vintage handkerchief.  I also like to

pick up handkerchiefs at flea markets.

Yet, another collection I have!

Since it's February I place the needle rolls that have hearts on them with my Valentine pretties. 

The needle rolls are done wih 

 fancy stitches,

little bits of lace,

 beads, charms, and ribbon.

So fun to stitch and beautiful to look at.

The one on the right is done in "white work"

 even though it is ecru.

White work is when you stitch in a color of thread

that matches the background fabric, usually white,

but sometimes ecru.

As you can see in the bowl

I have several more needle rolls.

I'll show  you those up close in future

Treasures On Thursday.

Hope your Thursday is a great one!!



Treasures on Thursday

My treasures today are really special.  My daughter and her husband were in Alaska this year and brought me back these wonderful souvenirs.

The spool pincushion is handmade from beautiful Acadia wood and the center part is made of beeswax.

The quilt pin, designed using polymer clay, is the Double Wedding Ring pattern. The pin measures about 2".  The design is assembled with extremely tiny pieces of colored clay. Those small pieces, some less than 1/16 to 1/32 inch squares have not been painted.  I cannot imagine anyone having the talent or patience to put those small pieces together.
 
The bear is handcrafted of jade and has as a tiny fish in it's mouth.
 
The gifts they brought me were beautiful and just perfect for my collections...pincushions, quilts, and bears!

Bee Skept Pincushion

I've finished another pincushion. I've had this kit for several years.  It has a copyright date of 2007. I wonder why I put off making it for so long?  It only took a few hours and I enjoyed putting it together. 

Oh well, at least it's finished now.

This is  kit by designed by Robin Kingsley for Bird Brain Designs. It came with the wool fabric, pearl cotton, and the vintage-style clamp. It was the clamp that really sold me. It is just so different from any of my other pincushions. I have the pieces all cut out and and ready to assemble.

This turned out really cute.

I have a small collection of bee skeps. Ive heard that anything you have three or more of is a collection. I guess if you count the little Boyd's Bear dressed as a bee skep I have a collection. The other bear is also a Boyd's. I have quite a collection of them.  I'll show you someday.

The adorable wooden bee is a gift from my daughter and her family. He is so funny with all his dangling parts. There's another bee skep in there,. This one is a wax candle.

I like bees and their skeps. they're just as sweet as honey!!

BEE SWEET AND HAVE A BEARY GOOD DAY!!

Hat Pincushion

First off, we're chillin'!!!       Air conditioner is now fixed and cooling well!!!

I wanted to share one of my pincushions.  This one is made with felted wool.  I found the pattern in a magazine and made three, each a different color.  I made one for my Mother, my sister and myself.  I like working with wool and I really like to embroidery. 

Isn't this the cutest little bird hat pin.

I tried a little experiment. I wondered if I could tell any difference in the quality of a picture when I reduced the pixels. It makes uploading pics so much faster. Can you tell which one is reduced? The one on the left is the reduced pixel one. I learn something new every day.

Seeing this little Robin reminds me of Sunday morning. I was outside watering the front lawn about 6:30 a.m. Our water hose has a leak in it that causes a small fountain. There were six Robins in the fountain bathing. What a wonderful site!!  Brings joy in the morning to see God's creatures having such fun!!

 HAPPY DAY TO YOU !!!

Watermelon pincushion

I realized that I took a picture of the "wrong" side of my pincushion. This is what I call the "right" side. I like the light reds that are showing on this side. The other side is mostly dark. That's it for today.

Have a wonderful day!!

Watermelon Pincushion Finished

I love my Viking sewing machine. I use if for machine quilting and any sewing projects I might be working on. The sound of this machine at work is like music to me. I shopped around looking and trying many machines. I almost bought a Brother which I did like, but it was a little complicated to use. Then I found this one. When I first heard it as I sewed on it in the store, I said, "THIS IS IT!!" Very simple machine to use. I've only looked at the owners manual a couple of times. And that was when I couldn't remember which way the thread started on the bobbin. Everything is at my fingertips. No menus that you have to scroll through. Love it!! Love it!!

Now, on the pincushion. I quilted the rind section with a meandering pattern. I'm new to machine quilting, and my meandering looks a little rough, but I think it turned out nicely. I definitely need more practice!!

Then I quilted the fruit section of the watermelon by cross hashing. Much easier, just sew point to point! How to you like this hand shot? I like the self-timer button my camera. But you should have seen the setup to get this angle. Ironing board, box and leaning camera. Where there's a will there's a way!

After the quilting was finished , the pieces were cut out and beads added for the seeds. I didn't have any large beads, so I attached two together. I like the look, it makes them longer like a seed.

Here's the finished pincushion. It is rather large, but I like it. I won't really use it for collecting pins. It's just an addition to my collection! I'll post some pictures of my other pincushions soon.
The old machine in this picture is a treadle machine. It is one that my Grandfather had. It's not my Grandmother's, but just one he picked up some where. He was always bring something home. It doesn't work, it needs a new belt. Someday I may see if I can get it to working.

I enjoyed embroidering around the edge. It's been awhile since I've done any.

I've already begun my next project. It's another pincushion. This one will look like a bee skep, with a couple of bees on it, It also sits on a clamp, so you can attach it to a table.

Pleasant day to you!!

Sewing photos

My Featherweight Sewing Machine, which I love. It's a 1952 model. It sews such a straight and consistant stitch. I have always wanted one and then I found this one at a flea market. Had to have it. It was in really nice shape and it sews like a dream. I do all my piecing and assembling on this little beauty.

Strips for the fruit of the watermelon.

Seven strips sewn together and now I'm off to piece the strips for the rind.