What a week it's been! As of this morning, I am done with my business taxes for the year!!! (Insert a HUGE party here!) If I could do cartwheels, I would do 100 of them. I find it highly challenging to run a small business, but I am also very thankful that I get to do this. If you've bought a pattern or a book, taken a class or attended a trunk show/lecture that I've given, thank you! Your support means so much!!!
Ok, now, on to some fun, crafty finishes!
Yesterday, I finished my 12th pair of socks to date. They only took me a month to knit, which feels super speedy! They are pretty unexciting, color wise, but they will match about 80% of my wardrobe. Funny how that works, eh?
Speaking of a growing collection...I made a few more pin cushions for my craft room "candy dish". (See this post if you missed it last week.) This is another little orphan block turned pin cushion. Slowly, one by one, I am cleaning up odds and ends around the craft room. It feels great! I love the dense grid quilting. So fun on a tiny project!
A note about pin cushion filling and construction: For the filling, I use crushed walnut shells that I buy from the pet store. (They are sold as lizard litter.) One big bag makes a BUNCH of pin cushions. For the construction, I make a quilt block, quilt it onto a piece of scrap batting (no backing required). For the other half of the pin cushion, I do one of two things: I use ticking (without interfacing) OR quilting cotton with a layer of Pellon SF 101 interfacing fused to it. The interfacing gives the back a bit of stability and prevents the need for an inner liner. I hope that answers any questions that you may have!
Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you for joining me for finish it up Friday!
finish it up Friday, 1/30/15
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I just love those pincushions! I'm going to have to make one this weekend. Do you fill all of them with Walnut shells? I especially love the one with the quilting grid. :)
ReplyDeleteYour pincushions are beyond adorable. And what a fantastic idea to have a "candy dish" full of pincushions, lucky visitors :)
ReplyDeleteHow can you not love that basket of sweet goodness! Adorable pin cushions!
ReplyDeleteThe cutest pincushions!
ReplyDeleteYour little pin cushions are so cute. Do all of them have crushed walnut shells in them?
ReplyDeleteLove those pincushions! Our guild is doing a swap next week so great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteLove the socks!
ReplyDeleteLove the socks, but love the pincushions even more!
ReplyDeleteYour pincushions are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteGirl, these pincushions are so cute and so tiny! I would call that a Candy Dish, too!
ReplyDeleteOh, you're socks are great! I love love your happy attitude!
ReplyDeleteI just started crocheting and I am in love! I love the socks that you made! The pin cushions are adorable! I really ought to make myself some soon!
ReplyDeletehad no idea you can buy walnut shells at pet stores!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to utilize scraps! =) And how nice for your sewing friends to be able to take one home!!! Thank you so much for putting together Finish it Friday! I've met some amazing ladies through this link! I appreciate you! ~ Aloha.
ReplyDeleteYour pincushions are adorable.
ReplyDeleteSweet mother of cuteness! Those pin cushions are darling! I think there may be some pinnie making going on around here this weekend!
ReplyDeleteThose socks are great. I'm working on my 11th pair and they are taking forever this time. Those little pin cushions are a great idea and look so cute.
ReplyDeleteI smile because I have a bowl just like your "candy dish", and it also has attracted pincushions, with the difference being, mine are all "pin hens"...chicken pincushions! I may have to change that up a bit, just for fun :)
ReplyDeleteI have never learned to knit, but I am so lucky to have a generous Mother-in-Law who makes socks for me, very much like yours. They are awesome and I show them off as much as possible!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting!
Thanks for the tips on filling the pin cushions. I was actually going to ask that question!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a blog so I'm not sure how to show you my quilt. I want to thank you for all the amazing advice you've given me through your posts and tutorials. I've completed my first quilt. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteLove those socks - I downloaded your free pattern - one day I will learn to make these!
ReplyDeleteNice socks.
ReplyDeleteAnd yea for finished taxes.
Sweet pincushions!!
ReplyDeletegorgeous socks! The bowl of pincushions is so cute! I can see why they'll be more ;)
ReplyDeleteAwesome, I love those pincushions and the candy bowl idea.
ReplyDeleteHappy Crafting!!!
Erica from Dresses and Spurs Blog
I like your pin cushions. I've been sewing some larger quilts lately and need to take a break and do some smaller projects and these pin cushions are the right size projects to have fun with. Thanks......Lisa
ReplyDeleteLove your fun socks...they look totally comfy!
ReplyDeletewhy do I suddenly feel overcome with a desire to make a pin cushion? Thank goodness its the weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the bowl of cuteness. I may do this! I just started quilting this year do I'm thinking I can make one every time I finish a quilt using scraps. It will be a cute and useful reminder of what I've done. Plus it uses scraps! And did I mention it's cute?!? Lol. Thanks for this idea!!
ReplyDeleteSuper Duper Adorable Pinnies!! Love Them all!!
ReplyDeleteAny ideas what to fill the pincushion with besides the crushed walnut shells. I am horribly allergic to walnut!
ReplyDeleteI love your bowl full of pin cushions. I've never been one to use them and only made my first one last year for a guild swap. Now I want a bowl full of color like yours. Thanks for the tips
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed by your socks, maybe someday I will knit socks!
ReplyDeleteI am super inspired by your pincushions! Thanks for the tips. :)
ReplyDeleteThat grid quilting looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a hard time doing my quilting because I have been busy knitting socks! I joined Addicted to Sock Knitting, and started my February socks last night.
ReplyDeleteyour pincushions are adorable! i have to ask, does anyone find the walnut shells dull their needles. i find my needles to be dull and almost sticky. my hubs suggested the humidity here in the south. anyway, just curious if this is a one-off experience.
ReplyDeleteyour pincushions are adorable! i have to ask, does anyone find the walnut shells dull their needles. i find my needles to be dull and almost sticky. my hubs suggested the humidity here in the south. anyway, just curious if this is a one-off experience.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a hard time doing my quilting because I have been busy knitting socks! I joined Addicted to Sock Knitting, and started my February socks last night.
ReplyDeleteYAY for taxes being done! I finished mine too -- guess you're in the same procrastinating camp that I'm in LOL. Love those socks and pincushions -- very happy and bright and pretty!
ReplyDelete