Thursday, February 18, 2010

I'm the Pincushion Queen...........

Hi people! Yes I've been absent awhile again but I've been busy as the proverbial bee. In January I finally finished up an old UFO - I'm so thrilled! I started this with a class taken at my LNS in 2005 I'm ashamed to say. I finally got my rear in gear and got it finished in January. I'm very happy with 90% of it- but the lacis work was a little frustrating. It was my first time doing it and I'm not thrilled with the results. I didn't have any trouble following the directions or actually doing it, but it was very very time-consuming and I think it takes practice to get consistent tension with the dove's eyes and woven bars. (although seriously I'm not sure I'll want to do it again!)
Anyway, here it is and soon to head off to the framer. Click on the photos of course to see a better view. I shot a closeup of the whitework and lacis band -I put some fabric behind the open work to be able to photograph it better.


Earlier this month I went on quilting retreat weekend which is always a blast. I was running all over the week before getting all my projects together, packing up, and making runs to quilt stores and JoAnn's to get assorted supplies. I decided to work on several pincushions while I was there and each pattern had a different set of supplies. I am addicted to pincushions I guess! I got several made as you can see but I still have a couple of wool kits that I haven't gotten around to yet. My friends are now calling me The Pincushion Queen. :) They're all hinting about birthday pincushions now LOL.

This is probably my favorite one - it's from a pattern by Cindy Taylor Oates. I LOVE it. I was worried about it being too hard to do. It had a lot of steps but the instructions were good and just taking my time seemed to work out fine. Now I need to find a cute antique plate to keep it on.

Below, the slice of watermelon is from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company and the pear is from a pattern by Heather Bailey. I would like to make some more watermelon slices - but a bit smaller as this is sort of a big pincushion. I use the ground walnut stuffing in most of my pincushions and love the weight and feel of it.

These little round ones are called "Petite Gateau" (Little Cakes) and they're from a pattern by Fig Tree Quilts. I used up squares from some of my fabric charm packs. The only aggravating part was making covered buttons. I had picked up the little covered button kits at JoAnn's - evidently the manufacturers have decided you no longer need the little apparatus that helps you cover the button. It used to be so easy - you draped a little piece of fabric over the mold, then inserted the button form and snapped on the bottom piece. Voila- you could do them in no time. Now they just give you metal button forms with a serrated edge and expect you somehow wreck your fingers getting the fabric on it. Why can't they leave a good thing alone and quit trying to cut costs and make it aggravating?? I'd rather pay more and have it work right! GRRRR

Next up we have 3 'tuffets' from another pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. These were really fun and quite easy compared to some of the other pincushions. A friend turned me onto a great website source for wool bundles of fat quarters - its' called Dorr Mills. I see more pincushions in my future in different colors- I love using wool for the backings. Even after making all of these, I still have a couple of kits for wool pincushions I didn't even get to and I'm waiting for Shakespeare's Peddlar's "Jenny Bean Pin Tuffet" pattern and matching pins to arrive. I have no idea what I'm going to with all of these pincushions - I think I need to get to Ikea and find some kind of shelf or display box.

Not only did we sew 16-18 hours a day at our retreat but we had delicious food served to us, got to bird-watch all day and even enjoyed a light snowfall - that's a treat for us desert-dwellers. The best part is I'm going again in March. I feel so decadent!
In the midst of all this sewing, I have been sneaking in stitching time on Quakers & Quilts and Plymouth Sampler. I may be slow but I'm inching along.

This week I'm gtrying to finish up a baby quilt for our newest great-niece. She's a cutie and we can't wait to go back east to meet her. I'm trying to catch as much as I can of the Olympics - great TV for stitchin' & sewin' time.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to visit!

16 comments:

  1. Oh wow, you've been busy! I love all your pieces! The hardanger (?) on that first piece is amazing! And your fabric pieces -- wonderful! I love the Dorr Mill store for wool too, although it's been a while since I've bought from them. Your stitching WIPs are pretty too! I'd love to do the Plymouth Sampler someday.

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  2. Great to hear from you. As always your stitching is amazing. I love the pincushions as well. Quite the talent. I love the lacis work you completed, I have always been afraid to attempt it. Thanks for all the inspiration.

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  3. Jeanne,
    The sampler is amazing! Congratulations on the HUGE finish. Is this a Darlene O'Steen?

    Oh- and the pincushions are great, too. I really love the piece of cake!

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  4. You have been so busy and I love seeing all your projects. I have heard pin cushions are addictive but have yet to make any myself. What's the smallest bits of fabric you needed to use? I've been throwing out fabric if it's less than 1.5" but I think that might be a mistake!

    Love, Love, Love your Plymouth Sampler. I'm working on Q&Qs too and enjoying every second of it.

    The quilt retreat sounds fantastic. I have not experienced one of those either! Soon!

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  5. Wow your finish is absolutely gorgeous!

    Love all your pincushions!

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  6. Your pincushions are fantastic. And they look like real fun pieces. No wonder that you love doing them so much.
    Your stitching WIPs are gorgeous. The Plymouth Sampler is also on my list for thsi year.

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  7. great finish on the sampler. i absolutely love your pincushions. that slice of cake is adorable! you have been very busy! I just got a sewing machine and am learning a basic 4x4 square pillow. LOL start small and work my way up. :)

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  9. The pincushions are fantastic! They are too cute not to display.

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  10. My goodness! Such wonderful eye candy! Love love love the sampler. It's Darlene O'Steen isn't it? I have some of her charts and dying to stitch one but a little intimidated by the some of the stitches.

    And I adore the pin cushions. Just too cute.

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  11. Gorgeous, can't wait to see it framed :-). Love all your WIPs and pin cushions too.

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  12. Wow! All of the projects are great! Congratulations on finishing one of your older UFOs! And the lacis looks wonderful!! Seeing your Quakers and Quilts is inspiring me to get mine out again. Maybe if I ever finish Petit Sampling Etui it will be my next project.

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  13. You have been busy! Everything loos so great, ad the pincushions are adorable.

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  14. Congratulations on your beautiful stitching finish! And I am totally in love with all your pincushions - they are darling. The watermelon is my favorite I think!

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  15. Oh my! You certainly are the pincushion queen! I love each and every one of them (have made the Petite Gateux more times than I can count) but my favourite is that slice of cake. I just want to eat it!
    Congrats on finishing that beautiful piece at last. It is stunning and way too lovely to lie around as a UFO.
    Margaret

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  16. The sampler is just amazing! and I liked the pincussions as well, esp. the watermelon...

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