Mini Pincushion

For far too long I have been using a scrappy off-cut for my epp pincushion. Difficult to find due to its size and requiring two hands to add or remove pins and needles, it was becoming a source of frustration.

I'd thought long and hard about what to replace The Scrap with. It had to be free standing, not too light weight, yet small enough that it would fit (lying on its side) into the flat food container I keep all my hexie goodies in.

Searching through the kitchen late last night I found this small measure from the top of a medicine bottle. It was just the size I was looking for. Then I discovered that 20 cent coins fit inside perfectly to weight the base.

This morning I used double sided craft tape to fix some fabric to the measure, quick and easy. No doubt a glue gun may work just as well.

After some trial and error regarding size, I completed the pincushion top. I needed a circle of fabric about 14.5cm /6" in diameter. Filled with polyester fibre, a quick running stitch pulled it into shape. I also used a few stitches to create bit of a neck to better fit the base.

I pushed the top into the base and was pleased to discover it fits so snugly that no adhesive is required to secure it. Three coins in the base add sufficient stability and weight.

Here it sits with the three new hexie flowers made over the last week, along with little stacks from previous weeks. One day soon I'll set out all the completed flowers for my Fresh Fields quilt and see how they are beginning to look together, until then I'll keep adding slowly to their number.

 I really like my mini pincushion, it reminds me of a potted plant - and if I'm ever really stuck for a little more money, I'll know where to look!


Sharing at WIP Wednesday.

Can it be?

The daily countdown is over, Miss E turned 6 this week. For the first time ever she lit her birthday candle - so carefully - then blew out the candle instead of the match! A few weeks ago she lost her first tooth - she drew the face on her balloon with a missing tooth also.

Our littlest princess loves animals and Super Heroes! She is now the proud owner of the largest animal in the world, along with Toothless the dragon, multiple dinosaurs and Iron Man.

Miss E holding Miss E when she was just a few hours old....back in 2008.

Less than 24 hours old, surrounded by her siblings at home (Miss N is just out of picture). I'm amazed at how much everyone else has grown and changed over these six years too.

Her first birthday without all her siblings, but she is having fun including Master J in the birthday drama via facetime while he sits in his room at uni/college. The joys of modern technology!

She helped me make our favourite lemon cheesecake  and decorated it with......

DINOSAUR SPRINKLES!

All Things Nice

The countdown and preparations have kept us all well aware that another birthday was almost upon us. This happy focus has helped us adjust to the recent departure of our eldest two for uni. More to share soon....

Minute Catchers

Just a minute here and there, and soon the little piles start to grow. Glue basting my one inch hexagons is a great activity for those spare minutes between tasks or when the mind just needs to idle a while with the hands busy, or even when the light isn't good enough to work those fine stitches needed to sew the hexies together.

Above are my minimal supplies which work so well for me. I have found that a small flat lid from a plastic food container is the perfect platform for glue basting. As I quickly glide the hexagon paper and fabric over the rim of the lid it becomes so easy to flip the fabric over onto the glue-lined paper.

I use a pin to help tuck the last corner neatly under which is then secured with one final dot of glue.

Carefully packed together into a snack sized ziplock bag, they make the perfect mobile kit to slip in my compact handbag. While out and away from home I have found the small plastic lid makes a great mini table to work from, even on my lap. The same lid offers some stability to the mini kit once stowed away in the ziplock bag.

Only two flowers have been completed Fresh Fields quilt over the last two very busy weeks but my eyes delight in the gorgeous stacks of fabric hexies which have steadily grown over the same time, evidence of minutes captured here and there.


Sharing at WIP Wednesday, In Hand EEP.

Backyard Ecosystems

Backyard Ecosystems was the study topic yesterday afternoon. The children borrowed my camera to capture their discoveries. I was there too, busy answering questions and weeding the garden. However when I looked at my camera this evening, I seems they had enjoyed studying each other even more!

Now that last one made me laugh! We certainly have some interesting specimens in our backyard!