lot's of matryoshka pincushions

i think these are going to be my big seller in

2012

this was the first pincushion i made this year

because i have shops on Etsy and on Folksy

i often list the same item in both shops

this time it backfired and i sold the item twice!

So i had to make this one to order

and fast as it was to be a birthday gift :)

whilst i had all the gear out i decided

to make a few new dolly pincushions

i have such a collection of russian dolls

that it's hard to choose who gets an upgrade!

i tried out some different doll styles this time

i love this happy polka dot lady :)

and here's a little one

great for sewing on the go

i have one like this but even smaller

great for a holiday project

available in my Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91206082/mini-matryoshka-pincushion

this is my favourite of the new dollies

very vibrant colours - i'm guessing she is from the 60's or 70's

loving the orange!

i made her pincushion with a vintage orange floral pillowcase fabric

very funky!

"we all carry scars from our pasts"

i love the little scars the vintage dolls have

i think it adds to their charm

I was lucky enough to get the last photo featured

in the Craftzine blog

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2012/01/craft_flickr_pool_weekly_round_168.html

and she sold already

and is on her way to her new home

in europe :)

matryoshka sewing kit!

i cannot resist russian doll sets
and went really crazy buying them
like they were going out of fashion a year or so ago
i have sold a few sets in my Etsy shops
but i also have quite a few sets who have sadly lost members of their families
:o(

poor Mama here has lost her littlest baby,
her other daughters are growing up and getting underfoot
what they all need is a vocation in life . . . .

Mama gets to be pin-cushion

big sister the spool keeper and
little sister is in charge of buttons!

no matryoshka were hurt to create this set and
they are very simply reverted to a stacking doll set

Mama and her girls are heading off to Etsy
to find a new craft room to live in
:o)

i've got pins and needles . . . .

i've been thinking about making this for AGES

today i had literally minutes to make something
so i gathered up my ingredients
and jumped in with both feet!

ingredients:
an orphaned russian doll
a scrap of fabric
some plain pins
some fancy pins
a styrofoam egg

open up your doll
cover the egg with the scrap of fabric
you want to pull the fabric tight - i used stretch velour
pin fabric to bottom of the egg
cut of excess fabric

pop the covered egg into the doll body
i didn't use glue as it was a perfect fit

load with a few pretty pins
and you're done!

this was so simple
but
i love her!

nice cup of tea?

last night i made this felt brooch for my Auntie Jane's birthday - she is a tea addict!

i was completely inspired by cute designs

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5387167

http://cutedesigns.blogspot.com/

who makes super cute felt brooches and crochet creatures.

photo in natural light

photo in artificial light

look at these nice buttons - i found them in the ELC for 80p !!

some new girls

this set is little, she stands at just under 3"

unusual colouring and pattern too.

They will live in my new cabinet.

don't know what's up with blogger but it has refused to let me tidy up this post - grrrr