Before I jump into any crafty-ness I have to share a pic that RonChops took last week of our big 2009 Ice Storm (read that with a loud voice (in your mind ok...we don't want to scare anyone now do we??)). This will help convey more impact and drama!!!!
There was actually not any ice on the ground..(pluuuease people.. this is North Texas). The ice was all in the trees. Since this might be all we get this year he figured he had better high tail it outside to get a few shots of the big event! I think he did a rather nice job myself.. I was proud of him and wanted to share a little bit of his crafty side with you all (I suspect that he secretly wants to hang out with me in the craft room and bead and sew.. I just know it!!).
He actually has his own man craft room upstairs (filled with all sorts of weird electronic gizmo's (it's a little recording studio)). I promise I'll take pics and do a RonChops :: Unveiled post someday! Heck I might even interview him!
Sew.. I decided to try my hand a making a felt pincushion! I have wanted to try something like this for a LONG time (ever since I saw my first one). It's not perfect by any means but it sure was EASY CHEESY to make! I am telling you.. if you have even an inkling to try making one of these.. DO IT! You will be so pleased with yourself! You can literally make one for less than $5.00 (prolly more like $2.50). Seriously.
I decided that I wanted to add some of my flower beads to the side of my pincushion - so I of course had to get them ALL out so I could play and match colors with my felt pieces (that was almost as much fun as making the little fella).
Sew...I can go two routes here.. a) just show you the finished pincushion and be done with it or b) draw this out into a little mini tutorial where I ramble on and on endlessly.
So when have I ever been short about something...anything??? Exactly.
I started off by cutting a two inch piece off of a rectangle of felt.
Not fancy felt..mind you...just regular ole cheap felt.
I then used a jar of Almond Body Butter from The Body Shop - as my circle guide!
(that stuff is awesome and I keep it on my craft table - helps with the dry hands - thanks Miss A!!!).
I used your standard blanket stitch to cinch the circle and the side together.
If you do not know how to do a blanket stitch...
check out THIS awesome tutorial from FutureGirl (thanks Alice)!
Your completely blanket stitched circle will look something like this (I did not know how long to make the beige piece so it's kinda hanging out there). I just cut it off.
I then made up my own special "Z" stitch (I wanted something kinda different for the side).
I am sure this is not some newly invented stitch.. but it was new to me!
Once I had the circle together it was time to decide what decoration I would be using for the sides. I knew I wanted some sort of flower something - so I played around with a few ideas until I found something I thought would work!
Ta da! Little orange stems with glass flower beads sewn on using a french knot!
You can see how to make one of those HERE (the blanket stitch and the french knot were new to me as of just a few months ago). Once you have them down you'll want to use them for everything!
After I had all of the flowers affixed to the sides it was time to stuff the center and sew on the bottom!
I pined the bottom to the sides so things would not shift around too much!
...and I also stuffed a piece of cardboard inside the bottom
(cut a little smaller than the base) to help keep things flat.
I know this is a pretty simple little pincushion, but I sure did enjoy making it! I can see making these as little gifts for friendly folks who sew!
If you think you would like a template or something to help you get the dimensions right, just let me know. I'll be happy to put something together for ya!
I'll have one more to share tomorrow and then we'll move on to something else!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway this week! You can read all about it HERE!
xo,
P.S. I have finally gotten through ALL of the recipe requests and have updated the Sunday Guest Recipe page with everyone who has signed up. You can see what slots are still open HERE (it's filling up FAST). You should have gotten an email from me last night confirming your date and recipe...if you did not and you volunteered (and can forgive me for missing your email).. let me know and I'll get you down!
