The Parade of the Pincushions

 

People who craft need crafting tools.  No question.  We can't make beautiful handmade items unless we have the tools of the trade and, depending on what the craft is, there may be scissors or cottons, hooks or needles needed in your handy box of tricks.

But here comes a little confession, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, so do tell if you are like me ... I like to collect lots of bits and bobs for my tool box, many more than I actually *need*.  And a perfect example of this is : pincushions.

I definitely need one near my sewing machine, and I need one next to my favourite chair.  I also need one in my portable supplies, and one handy on the bookcase to grab as I go by.  I need one in several different rooms so that I don't have to go searching and besides all that, they're just so compact and cute!

Some have been purchased while holidaying, like the one above from Bali and some have been lovingly made by hand and given from friends [thank you Claire for the gorgeous Daisy pincushion!], and some have been made by yours truly.

While we're here in confessional mode, there is something else I would like to share with you ... I like to co-ordinate the coloured pinheads to the pincushion!  I know.  Quite mad.  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  Oh, you do that too?  No, you think I'm quite crazy?  Okay, I can live with that.

Do you like to collect sewing bits and bobs?  Do you have more than one pincushion?  C'mon, it's time to 'fess up!!

Before I finish up, thank you for all your well wishes on the job-front.  I'm arriving home each night very weary and foot sore from standing up for most of my 9-hour shifts, but if it means I can go to gift fairs and buy lots of gorgeous stock in the way of stationery and books and puzzles and things, then I am very happy indeedy.

Trudy

Barn Sale

Girl 2 and I had some time to ourselves recently and headed out the door, jumped in the car, and drove down a dirt road to go to an advertised Barn Sale.  I was full of excitement for what that little barn in the bush might hold and I wasn't disappointed.

When we pulled up outside the given address, I even found the barn to be enticing.  Just imagine what fun could be had if we had a barn like that to play and craft in.  And just have a look at the beautifully peaceful view.  *Sigh*

Inside were goodies in every direction I looked!  Some I wanted to bring home, others were fun just to look at.  A little corner of kitsch Australiana, tall and slender coffee pots, some earthy '80's ware which was all too familiar ...

... and there was one item that simply jumped out at me, wanting and needing to be taken home (with the perfect place already in mind).  Fortunately I had a little bit of pocket money with me, and we beamed, did Girl 2 and I, as we skipped out of that barn and home to put our new-old globe on top of the piano.

 

It had to be really, didn't it?  Look at that lovely teal colour!!  You know how much I love teal.  I think globes could become a serious collector's item in this house (this is the second globe we have now) as I simply adore them, for their roundness, for their colours, for their dream potential, for their learning.  And a centrepiece on a table - gorgeous!

 

Photo by Natasha www.beautifullysuddenly.blogspot.com.au, via Pinterest

And now to Reverb 12 and today's question :  What was your most significant expenditure in 2012?

 

That's an easy one!  Our piano.  We had such fun all year saving up as a family for this major purchase.  And we love it.  We all have a bit of a play, by ourselves or crazy duets.  Next year we may consider lessons, but at the moment it is all about the fun of it, and having music *of a different kind* fill the house.  And I'm finding the joy of playing far more than I ever did as a child.

 

What about you, what was your most significant expenditure?

Do you have a love of old globes too?

 

Trudy

 

A Little Gift Idea

Is two a collection?  The beginning of a collection, yes, with the potential to grow into a collection, but two?  Not sure.  I have two yellow rice canisters from the 1950s - 60s.  Especially adore the rounded one at the front, such a lovely shape.  I'm always on the lookout for them, but they are often found in sets, but just occasionally you may find one lonely, little rice canister.

 

But I don't keep rice in them as was originally intended, nor do I keep them in the kitchen.  Is that what you thought?  No, I keep my ribbon stash in them!  R for ribbon.  Which is leading me, very slowly you must be thinking, to my little gift idea for a crafty friend.  This is easy, quick and good for popping in with something else perhaps.  All you need is wooden dolly pegs, ribbon and a pin, voila!!

 

Meet Felicity, Harriet and Margaret, who once they were spruced up wanted a bit of a photo shoot and were not satisfied with the mere backdrop of the rice canister.  "But it's ribbon, you love ribbon, you drape yourself in ribbon!!"  They stood firm, or should I say, lolled around requesting champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

 

 

 

I wouldn't say they were cheap, I can hear the outcry already, but they are definitely fun and worthy of giving away!

 

Cheers, Trudy