Starfish Alley

Tag: favorites

Pin cushions

November 15, 2011 /

As any seamstress knows a pincushion is your friend.  I own many types of pin cushions and have made pin cushions but recently when I was cleaning out a drawer I found a pin cushion that a friend  brought me many years ago.  She had traveled to Switzerland to visit with relatives that were temporarily living there and brought me back this wonderful pin cushion.  As I’ve mentioned before I struggle to use special things and for many years have put them aside for safe keeping.  One of my recent decisions however is to live life with intention.  One of my intentions  is to cherish these special items but also to use them so I can get pleasure out of them every day.  This pin cushion sits on my sewing table and holds threaded hand sewing needles. Although I don’t do a lot of hand sewing there are always finishing touches that require a needle and thread.  So Sarah, every time I use this pin cushion I think of you and am thankful for  your years of friendship.  What a gift!

Uh oh!

October 29, 2011 /

It happened.  Late at night of course while I was picking up and finishing the last of the evening projects.  You know how it is. You’re tired and in a hurry and suddenly.. oops!  I was cleaning off the top of the sewing table and pushed on a pile of stuff so I could organize my other piles when it happened.  I heard a loud plop and my magnetic pin cushion slid off the back of the sewing table and crashed on the floor.  The floor is tile and you can imagine what happened.  My lovely magnetic pin cushion lay in pieces and there were pins splattered all over the floor.  Not in a convenient place to pick things up either.  So I got down on my hands and knees, scooted under the machine and gathered up all my lovely pins and the remaining pieces of this pin cushion.  Although this is not my favorite color pin cushion it is a favorite because of the function. If you’ve never used a magnetic pin cushion put it on your next birthday/Christmas any occasion gift list.  Once you’ve used one you will not want to be without.  I do use several pin cushions including a wrist pincushion, a small pin cushion just for sewing needles, one for machine needles that’s marked with sizes and then my magnetic pin cushion.  This is so handy when you’re pinning taking pins out of things and you can just lay them down.  They all stay in one place.  When you pick them up they are easy to grab as well.  I’ve relocated the pins for a time and have the glue out to see if I can make repairs.  If not, then it will go on my Christmas list.  Next time I want a red one please. Or even a blue one or a purple one or I guess any one would do.

A quick gift

October 26, 2011 /

A friend is having a birthday and I wanted to make a quick gift.  One pair of fleece socks was included but also some pouches for carrying things.  It seems everyone has a phone and various ways of carrying their phones.  When you get a new phone invariably it’s a different size than the last phone.  That creates the problem of transportation.  Now with  smartphones and the big screens, how do you carry them if you don’t carry a purse or have the right size pocket. The kids often travel with a backpack or book bag and throw the phone in the bottom of the bag. The goal here was a little bag to add some protection to the phone and the screen.  I made three different kinds of pouches not knowing for sure which the  recipient would prefer.  I also don’t know for sure if they always have a plastic cover on  the phone as this too will determine the fit.  I also am guessing on the exact size of the phone.  I think it’s about the same size as mine but I don’t know for sure.  Although I started with the same size pattern for all the pouches they all ended up different sizes due to the construction process.  Two of them have zippers and the other is a snap type pouch.  I’m thinking at least one of them will work for the phone and the others will have other uses. This was a fun project and I think I’ll  be making more pouches.

A new shawl

October 16, 2011 /

My dear friend Gretchen knit me a pair of slippers last fall.  She knew that my office floor can be cold in the winter and the cozy felted slippers would keep my feet warm.

Now this wonderful friend has knit me a lovely warm sea-foam colored shawl.  It’s very lacy and warm.  I’ve never had a shawl before so I’m looking forward to using it.  It’s soft and lightweight and very pretty.  I’m sure that I’ll get a lot of use from it.  I did show my bridge friends the other night and they were impressed.  Thanks Gretchen, I’m pleased!

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