Tuesday, September 14, 2010

It's NOT Fetish

IT's a COLLECTION! Pincushions...I have this big love of pincushions!  Old ones, new ones, wool ones, cotton ones, glass ones, knitted ones..any of them, I'm not picky.  This is my little collection that has been growing since I was a little girl. A little girl first learning to embroider needed a place to put her needle for safe keeping so her mother gave her a pincushion that she had made...there it is, see it?, the faded yellow heart with the worn pink rickrack.  That was the only pincushion I had for years, then one Christmas, my grandmother made the knitted orange/blue/pink Phentex yarn one and gave it to me.  I think everyone got one of those pincushions that year! LOL! Remember them from the 1970's?

Two of my old ones....the little glass man with the pin cushion in his basket I found in a box full of whatevers for $2 at a yard sale years ago and the yellow tomato is an old one from the family.

The little black cat in this one was hand made by a Great Aunt who has long passed and it is made of silk and his ears are worn off but he's my favorite one!



And, of course, 16 pincushions is never enough so I bought this pattern a couple of years ago at the Maine Quilt Show to make wool pincushions.  I have the applique done one the fronts and plan to add some beading and buttons before I finish them :)  Lonely pincushions out there should know that they are welcome at my house LOL!
Don't you just love the crow!!  I used Woolies flannel as the background and they feel so comfy and inviting.

I just have to tell you about this little gadget a good friend of mine gave to me a week ago.  Today, when I was machine quilting on Lily, I decided my needle needed to be changed.  I dug out this little baby and decided to see how it would work changing the needle on my Nolting.  Was it ever slick!! It was like making my fingers longer and more stable....everyone who has a longarm type machine should have one of these gadgets!  And, you can see the cost is going to break you LOL!  NOT!

Once that needle was in there, it didn't shift around, which is important for as the needle has a front and a back!

Well, little chickies, that's it for today!  Happy Quilting!

13 comments:

Diane H said...

Lovely collection - isn't it wonderful how the little things can touch our hearts.

Sinta Renee said...

I love your your wonderful obsession... I mean collection! They are all cute, old ones, new ones... and the ones to almost done!

Kaaren said...

It's a disease, I tell you. Beware because there's no cure for the dreaded collecting of pincushions once you catch it.

But you know what "they" say, right?

You can never have TOO MANY pincushions! Just ask me. Tee hee!

Anonymous said...

mrs red quilt you are so talented! I love the collection! The anonomous quilter...

Anonymous said...

You can never have too many of a good thing!!

beth said...

I also have a little collection going. Love those pincushions!

Darlene said...

Fabulous collection of pin cushions.

Jandi said...

Beautiful pincushions! I have started my own collection of pincushion patterns. One day I may even make a few of them! ha! I am going to have to go buy one of those needle inserters. Thanks for the tip!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

What a fun collection! I have the same little problem here~ I rescue pincushions. LOL But mine are all over the house, I need to corral them for a photo. ;-) The needle holder looks like a neat gadget. Happy stitchin'!

Sparky said...

Hi Shelley, it is Madame Samm from Stash Manicure and Sew I quilt....I too love pin cushions and your collection is breath taking...Ohhh I am a new follower too...will love returning...
blessings ms

Cathi said...

What a great collection of pincushions!! I'm trying hard to avoid the addiction but can feel myself wavering! LOL

Stitched With Prayer said...

Shelly, I love your collection of pin cushions! You have one picture that just tugged at my heart. The heart shaped one in the first picture that is aqua with beautiful pineapple crochet over it...My grandmother gave me one just like that when I was 7 or 8 years old and learning to embroidery. When I started quilting 2 years ago I wanted to put it out but can't find it anywhere!!! I'm hoping I put it away in my cedar chest for safe keeping but won't know until we are up to spending a day getting to it and pulling it out. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed it is there. Ah well...Thank you so much for sharing the photos of your wonderful collection. I see several in there that bring back fond memories and that is always nice. Hugs...

Sheila said...

Great collection!!!!