I am not a tea drinker at all. But I find myself inspired by tea quite often. This little cup has been lingering around the house for a while so while I was writing up the pillowcase tote tutorial I decided to turn it into a pincushion! I move my supplies around a lot while I am sewing and so far this is an easy way to do that. Before this I had been using the very first thing that I ever sewed on a machine years and years ago which was just a square that I stuffed. It was inevitable that I would always get stuck with pins. I was tired of it.
I saw this idea somewhere (where? does anyone know?) I know Martha has filled stray vintage tea cups with candle wax. (Am I the only one who finds her site incredibly difficult to navigate?) I love that idea too! I am a sucker for stray, adorable, vintage tea cups.
All you do is wrap a good sized bundle of poly-fill in a piece of fabric and hot glue it into a tea cup or at least that is what I did. I really overstuffed it so it is nice and sturdy.
We're on 'vacation' right now, whatever that means in a house with three kids, 58 chickens and two alpacas to take care of, two home based businesses, house guests and one sun-of-a-gun fox that has me sprinting outside and across a field a few times a day! Whew. So, I may be a bit quiet here for the rest of the week or at least I am going to try to be but honestly this blog is a very comforting space for me to take a break from it all, so we'll see. Perhaps I should sit down for a spot of tea? ;)
oooxx
Spidey
I follow Mimi Kirchner's blog, she does the most wonderful dolls and pincushions....they are so fantastic!
http://mimikirchner.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/fairy2b.jpg
Kieran
Posted by: Kieran | April 14, 2010 at 10:18 AM
So cute & functional! I may have to copy this idea...right after I make that pillowcase tote.
I have to totally agree with you about Martha's website...it really is a pain. Too bad since there is some great stuff there.
Enjoy your week, vacation or not;)
Posted by: jess | April 14, 2010 at 01:50 PM
There's a pincushion kind of like this in a book called Uncommon Crochet. You crochet a litle baskety thing out of jute twine, then fill with the cushion part. Just in case you're interested. . .
Posted by: Elizabeth D | April 14, 2010 at 02:28 PM
That is so adorable!!! A little suggestion: I had a friend who made pincushions for fun, and she would fill hers with extra fine sand and a couple drops of mineral oil, along with the polyfill. The sand would keep the pins sharp and free of burrs, and the oil would prevent rust.
I could really use a pincushion, especially one filled with sand, but I have silly cats, and I just know I would come home to a big disaster. So I have to contend with fiddly boxes of dull pins...
BTW, MS's website is a handfull, I've basically given up on it!
Posted by: Dahlia | April 14, 2010 at 06:40 PM
oh my goodness, i just spent a ridiculous amount of time looking through her blog and etsy shop! amazing and SO inspiring. thank you so much for sharing the link. her dolls are incredible. wow.
Posted by: Abi | April 14, 2010 at 08:46 PM
thanks jess! let me know if you make a tote (or a pincushion) i'd love to see :)
i feel like ever time i try to find a link on her MS's site i am left empty handed which seems so weird b/c you'd think it would be organized more intuitively. oh well. that is pretty much why i still subscribe to her paper magazine.
Posted by: Abi | April 14, 2010 at 08:48 PM
thanks elizabeth! i'll have to check it out :)
Posted by: Abi | April 14, 2010 at 08:49 PM
what a great idea! some of my pins are very dull :(
i'm glad i am not the only one who can't navigate that site. i try to find the appropriate link to share in my posts but i can never find what i am looking for!
Posted by: Abi | April 14, 2010 at 08:50 PM
I love all of Mimi's things as well! I smile every time I go to her blog. The girls at Purl Soho in NYC love her as well. She did a free doll pattern for them and it's posted on their blog...
http://www.purlbee.com/hand-sewn-felt-dolls/
I still make the occasional doll for myself. I love them, even at my age....
Kieran
Posted by: Kieran | April 14, 2010 at 11:00 PM
I love tea, and that pincushion idea is creative and artsy, I like that.
Posted by: Sense of Home | April 14, 2010 at 11:32 PM
That is so funny - I am not a stalker I promise but I did a pincushion too (http://mousybrownshouse.typepad.com/poised-to-take-flight/2010/03/pincushion-present.html) - great minds think alike?! :D
Posted by: Mousy Brown | April 15, 2010 at 02:47 PM
it gets even weirder because i was just looking through your blog and guess what i have stacked up next to me? a pile of vintage napkins that i want to make into a quilt! i have been saving them up for some time now and might have enough to give it a go.
seriously, we just might be soulbloggers! this is too funny! great minds indeed ;)
Posted by: SpiderWomanKnits | April 15, 2010 at 08:59 PM
thanks brenda!
Posted by: SpiderWomanKnits | April 15, 2010 at 09:04 PM
Brilliant! Can't wait to see it! I'll keep looking.....:D
Posted by: Mousy Brown | April 17, 2010 at 11:18 AM
I made a grocery tote using your tutorial this evening. Your instructions were easy to follow, and I'm pleased with the outcome. Thank you for the idea. oxo
Posted by: Judy | July 09, 2010 at 11:43 PM