Friday, January 30, 2015

a mish mash of finishes

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

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?
 I'm happy to say that photographing socks is getting a wee bit easier. Hurray!
I used my basic sock pattern, which is available as a free download here. I can't tell you how much I love wearing hand knit socks. I'm pleased that my collection is growing.

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!
This one was NOT a quick finish and it was a bugger to turn. Inspired by my bright birch trees quilt,  it uses the smallest of scraps. I LOVE how it turned out!! It's about 3.5" x 3.25" finished. Tiny!
Here is my bowl of happiness for the week. Be prepared for a pin cushion update, weekly, for the foreseeable future. :)

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!

41 comments:

Jade said...

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. :)

Svetlana said...

Your pincushions are beyond adorable. And what a fantastic idea to have a "candy dish" full of pincushions, lucky visitors :)

Jayne said...

How can you not love that basket of sweet goodness! Adorable pin cushions!

Quilting Stories said...

The cutest pincushions!

Deanna said...

Your little pin cushions are so cute. Do all of them have crushed walnut shells in them?

Kris said...

Love those pincushions! Our guild is doing a swap next week so great inspiration!

Cathy said...

Love the socks!

Anina said...

Love the socks, but love the pincushions even more!

Marle said...

Your pincushions are so sweet!

Pieced Brain Quilt Designs said...

Girl, these pincushions are so cute and so tiny! I would call that a Candy Dish, too!

Julie said...

Oh, you're socks are great! I love love your happy attitude!

Barbara Konkle said...

I 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!

Aimee said...

had no idea you can buy walnut shells at pet stores!

Karisma said...

What 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.

SuperMomNoCape said...

Your pincushions are adorable.

Tessa @ TheSewingChick said...

Sweet mother of cuteness! Those pin cushions are darling! I think there may be some pinnie making going on around here this weekend!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Those 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.

SarahZ said...

I 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 :)

Heidi said...

I 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!

Thank you for hosting!

Kathleen said...

Thanks for the tips on filling the pin cushions. I was actually going to ask that question!

Karen said...

I 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!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

Love those socks - I downloaded your free pattern - one day I will learn to make these!

Anonymous said...

Nice socks.

And yea for finished taxes.

Kelly Cline said...

Sweet pincushions!!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

gorgeous socks! The bowl of pincushions is so cute! I can see why they'll be more ;)

Dresses and Spurs said...

Awesome, I love those pincushions and the candy bowl idea.

Happy Crafting!!!

Erica from Dresses and Spurs Blog

simple :: dream :: quilts said...

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

Bluebell Ridge Handworks said...

Love your fun socks...they look totally comfy!

Anonymous said...

why do I suddenly feel overcome with a desire to make a pin cushion? Thank goodness its the weekend!!

Unknown said...

I'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!!

Christine L said...

Super Duper Adorable Pinnies!! Love Them all!!

Angelina said...

Any ideas what to fill the pincushion with besides the crushed walnut shells. I am horribly allergic to walnut!

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

I 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

jenni said...

I'm amazed by your socks, maybe someday I will knit socks!

Kristin said...

I am super inspired by your pincushions! Thanks for the tips. :)

Stephanie said...

That grid quilting looks fantastic.

Ellsie320 said...

I'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.

michelle said...

your 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.

michelle said...

your 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.

Ellsie320 said...

I'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.

Thimbleanna said...

YAY 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!